Evening star., 1951-12-27
KnowIand Demands
U. 5. Seek Release Of
Citizens Held byChina
BY the Assoeiotsd Press

BY the Asseeiotsd Press
Red China is detaining 1863
American citizens, Senator Know
land. Republican, of California,
said yesterday. He demanded
that the Government arrange for
their release during the current
ase-flre talks in Korea.
Senator Knowland said his in
formation is that SO Americans
are now jailed in China, 80 or
more are under house arrest and
800 were refused exit visas when
they tried to get out of the
country.
What want to know specifi-
eally is whether or not the Depart
ment Of State has taken steps in
the current cease-f1re negotiations
to assure that the Americans
-. are able to leave Red China
and return to the United States"
, Senator Knowland said in tele-
gram to Undersecretary of State
James T.. WeDb.
Il do not intend to remain silent
when, if this opportunity passes,
these Americans may remain pris-
oners or compulsory residents of
China for months or years to come !
unless a strong stand is taken by
this Government now"
List Held Classified"
Mr.. Webb had taken the Cali
fornia Senator to task for disclos-
ing the names of 80 Americans
who Senator Knowland said are
! languishing in Chinese jails. SEN
ator Knowland made the list pub |
lie December 8 at Los Angeles. |
Mr.. Webb said the State Depart |
ment had given him the names as
classified information" to be kept |
secret.
Senator Knowland'S Office made |
public yesterday an exchange of
communications between him and
Mr.. Webb in which the Senator
defended his actions and promised |
to push the issue in the Senate
after Congress convenes next
month.
Senator Knowland's telegram
was sent to Mr.. Webb December
81. It replied to a letter Mr., Webb
sent him December IA.
There was time in our history
when the Government of the
United States was prepared to use
more than words in protectingl
Americans abroad" the Senator
told Mr.. Webb. THAT was prior
to the time the Government of /
the United States embarked upon
a polly of vacillation and weak
ness in a matter of this grave
nature.
Roosevelt Action Cited.
President Theodore Roosevelt
In 1904 enunciated the doctrine of
'Perdicaris alive or Raisuli dead >"
uon Perdicaris was a wealthy |
American who had been seized
and held for ransome by Moroc-
can bandit chieftain named
RaiSuli.
(John Hay, Teddy Roosevelt's
Secretary Of State, had drawn up
lengthy protest which he in
tended to send to the Sultan Of |
Morocco. 1t was heavy with an
guage dictated by protocol and
diplomatic usage.
(Mr. Hay showed it to Edwin M. !
Hood, an Associated Press re-
porter and an old friend, asking
his opinion. eff I were you, I'd
boil all this down to five words"
MIR. Hood said. He then scrib- |
bled the laconic message which |
Senator Knowland quoted and |
which. being sent, effected Mr..
Perdicaris' release in three days.) |
Webb Explains Stand.
Mr.. Webb had written Senator |
Knowland that the list of Ameri-
cans held in China had been sent |
to him Gin confidence" and ION
the understanding that it was not |
to be released to the public" Mr..
Webb said there were three prin-
cipal reasons for not disclosing
the names:
81. We could not guarantee that
such a list was exact.
"(2) In many cases either the
persons themselves or their rela-
tives or associates have asked /
that no publicity be given for
fear if impairing rescue moves or
for fear of serious consequences
to the individuals themselves.
"(3) The governments which
are seeking to aid those indi-
viduals have warned that pub
licity might jeopardize their ef-
forts.' i
Senator Knowland contended /
that he has received "a consider
able number of communications"
from relatives of prisoners ex-
pressing their appreciation for his
action in making the names
known to the American people.