Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-08-02
Committee Condemns
OATS imprisonment;
Press Club Also Acts
CONTINUED From First Page.)

NS0AAV4A4ANA n A0A1 u AAoU es6Csk
Communist China of ermine, fox,
IkolinSky, marten, mink, muskrat|
and weasel furs. A similar ban on
Russian furs will be applied later.
The IS Communist areas COW
cred by yesterdays directive-ex-
|cept Romania-had no firm trade
agreements with the United States.
An agreement with Romania was
subject to cancellation on 80 days
notice, and this has been given.
This Government also has
served notice of intention toll
terminate or modify agreements
with Russia, CZechoslevakia, Bull
garia. Hungary and Poland. The
various types of agreements with
Russia, Bulgaria. Hungary and
Poland have longer termination
|periods-six months for Russia
and Poland, three months for Bull
garia. one year for Hungary. They
are expected to be added to the
list when these periods expire.
Czech Case More Complicated.
Czechoslovakia's case is more
complicated because it signed the
General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade before the Czechs came un-
der Communist rule. There is no
express provision in the agree
ment for ending concessions to /
one country without approval of
other members. American officials
expect to win approval at q Sep
TENDER meeting of the trade
agreement members of proposal
to dissolve formally all United
States-C Czech obligations under
the agreement.
But President Truman may actl
Ito suspend American tariff con-
|cessionS to CZechoSlovakia in
advance of the formal action. His
advisers believe he has authority
to do this. Officials said such a |
move still is under consideration.
Secretary of State Acheson told
IA news conference yesterday that
further action to try free Mr..
Oats is under preparation by this
Government. He refused to say
what this may be.
Text of House Resolution.
The 37-year -old Oats, a native
|of Marion, Ind, was convicted in
Prague last month on trumped-up
spy charges and sentenced to 10I
years in prison.
The resolution denouncing this
sham trial" approved by the
House Foreign Affairs Committee
yesterday is due for House action
next week, after which it will goI
to the Senate.
Text of the resolution follows:
Whereas the arrest and con-
viction of William N. Oats, cor
respondent for the Associated
Press in Prague, Czechoslovakia.
is a shocking violation OF the
fundamental freedoms granted inI
the United Nations Charter: and
Whereas the treatment of Will
liam N. Oats demonstrates that |
the Czechoslovak government has
wilfully repudiated the principle
OF free information which is so |
essential to peaceful cooperation
and friendly relations among the
people OF the world, and
Whereas the persecution by the
government of Czechoslovakia of
other American citizens is con-
demned and deplored by the |
people Of the United States, and
throughout the free world: Now |
therefore, be it |
Resolved by the House of Rep
resentatives (the Senate concur
ring), that the Congress of the
United States expresses its pro-
found Indignation at the arrest
sham trial and unjust conviction
OF William N. Oats; that the
executive agencies of the Govern
ment be requested to take all pos
sible action to bring about his re-
lease; and that the sense of thisI
resolution be conveyed by the
proper officials of our Government
to the United Nations and to the
officials of the CzechoslovakianI
government"
Meanwhile, the Ohio Republican,
House delegation urged the Gov
eminent to break off Immediately
all commercial relations with
Czechoslovakia and restore those
relations only If and when MI.
Oats is freed.
The Ohio Republicans also de-
manded that the State Depart
ment take steps to evacuate all
United States nationals from |
CzechoSlovakia if Mr.. Oats is not
freed within reasonable time. u
The move would be preliminary to |
"severing diplomatic relations with
that government"