Evening star., 1951-04-28
BY the Assoeiotsd Press


munist Hungarian government
freed American businessman Rob-
ert A. Vogeler today He returned
swiftly to Vienna and a fearful
but joyous reunion with his wife
and two young sons.
Mr.. Vogeler, 39-year-old vice
president of International Tele-
phone and Telegraph Co., reached
his home in the American sector
of Vienna at 1923 pm. (7:23 am.
EST.
He was released at the Austro-
Hungarian frontier exactly one
week after the Hungarian govern
ment promised to set him free
from the 15-year sentence it i'm
posed on charges of spying. He
had served more than II months.
Nobody can be happier than I
am" he exclaimed a short time
after he crossed into Austria at
the border village of Nickelsdorf.
He was sped in an American dip
lomatic car to Vienna, where he
was met at the gate of his sub
urban home by his beauteous,
blond wife, Lucille, "a, his sons,
and his wife's sister, Pia.
simultaneously with his release,
-the Hungarian government m
ndapest announced the price that
Nas paid for Mr.. Vogeler'S free
dom:
/. The United States promised
to open the Hungarian consulates
in New York and Cleveland that
were closed last year.
2. It will lift the ban on travel
by American citizens to Hungry.
8. The Voice of America will stop
using the wave length of radio
Munich for its broadcasts.
4. The United States Govern
ment will help to return Hun.
garian property carried off by the
Nazis in 1914 to the now Ameri-
can-occupied zone of Germany.
The terms, which the Hun
garian government described last
Saturday as "just claims" were
not confirmed Immediately by
American officials.
After Mr.. Vogeler stepped from
the car in front of his home, his
wife fell into his arms. He en-
braced her. There were tears in
the eyes of both as they Rugged
each other briefly and then
turned and went into the house.
Austrian Police Guard House.
Neither said a word. Their two
sons, Bobby, II, and Billy, 81
whooped with excitement as they
clung to their parents and dis
appeared into the house.
Five Austrian policemen guarded
the fence around the house toI
prevent entry by the score of
photographers and newsmen wait
AA16 oO Vic CA4O1 o1lOC.
Mr.. Vogeler looked pale and
thin but otherwise appeared in
good health. He was clean-shavent
and neatly dressed. He wore a
dark blue suit and a white shirt.
American Ambassador Walter j.
Donnelly said Mr.. Vogeler was in
good shape. Col. Grant Williams,
Austrian representative of /. T.
& T., said he thought Mr.. Vogeler
ought to get back to New York
pronto but that future plans would
depend on Mr.. Vogeler's health
and wishes.
II am feeling good" Mr..
Vogeler said in reply to a news
mans query.
Met by Consul General.
Mr.. Vogeler earlier in the day
was met at the frontier village
of Nickelsdorf by Arthur Shower,
American Consul General in
Vienna, and Halvor Eckern. a.
member of the United States Le-
cation staff.
Some so Austrian villagers. at
tracted to thes scene by word of
MIR. Vogeler's release, waved gaily
to him as the American officials
whisked him away in a legation
car for the 40-mile trip to Vienna
They had fiat tire on the way
in to Vienna.
Still held by the Hungarian re-
gime was Edgar Sanders, a British
subject and a colleague of Mr..
Vogelers. Mr. Sanders was
arrested at the same time as Mr..
Vogeler. in November, 1949, also
on charges of spying. Mr.. San
ders was sentenced to 13 years in
prison, after both pleaded guilty
and confessed in court. They were
tried in the same room and by the
same judge as was the case of
(See vOEGELER. Page A-30