Evening star., 1951-12-25
Public Begins Drives
To Pay Fines Of Flyers
In Hungarian Prison
Members Of Congress,
However, Denounee
Communist 'Runsom'
BY the Asseeiafed Press

Signs of public and congress
Sional anger spurred State De-
Ipartment recommendation today
on whether to pay $12O,O0O te
Communist Hungary to get foul
United States airmen out of Jail
But there was no advance in.
dication whether officials will ad.
wise President Truman to pay
what Senator Hickenlooper, Re-
publican, of Iowa called "the
cheapest kind of a shakedown.
The fines were levied by a Com
munist military court against the
airmen, whose cargo plane was
forced down by Soviet fighters ir
Hungary November 10.
The general public seemed
about ready to take the matter
into its own hands.
Truckers Offer Full Sum.
The Wichita Kans.) Beacon
opened a public funds drive yes
terday to obtain freedom for the
four"
1t started the fund off with its
own $500 contribution.
The motor truck industry is
offering to put up S130.000.
Ralph Rayburn of Wilmington,
ILL.,, said the American Highway
Carriers Association will put up
that amount "for the release of
those boys, and We'll raise it to-
day."
Mr.. Rayburn, president of the
association, said the sum will be
taken from the associations treas
ury.
And down in Memphis, Tenn,
a railroad engineer Clipped in $5
as the start of a $4,000 fund to
free Sergt. James A. Elan OF
Kingsland, Ark.
I'm mad" Engineer j. j. jolly
said.
In Shawnee, Okla, friends of
Air Force Capt. Dave H. Hender-
son, another of the four jailed
flyers, began circulating a petition
to raise money for his release.
IF the State Department won't
do something. we'll do it here at
home" said Elmer Kennison, Sec
retary of the town Chamber OF
Commerce.
Legion Taking Donations.
Editor Phillip H. Parrish o1
the Portland Oregonian's editorial
page said his paper would CO.
operate with any one "to raise
funds for the release" of the quar-
tet. And the American Legion ir
Oregon said it would accept con.
tributions.
The other two airmen are Capt
John j. Swift, Glens Falls, N. Y.
and T/Sergt. Jess A. Duff, Spok.
ane. Wash.
The alternative to buying tht
flyers release was a three month
Jail term for each.
Baffled State Department anc
IPentagon officials wrestled will
the tough pay-or-not-to-pay ques.
tion most of yesterday to shape
Recommendations for considera-
ton of Secretary Of State Ache.
son. He was expected to confer
by telephone with Mr.. Truman al
Independence, Mo-, before taking
any action.
Called Blackmail.
Majority sentiment in Congress.
appeared to be against paying ths
fines. Members of both parties II
Senate and House yesterday de-
nounced it as "blood money,
ransom" and ''blackmail."
Regardless of the stand taken
the episode brought the admins
tration one of its most painful
dilemmas since last April when ,
series of concessions were granted
to Hungary to free the American
businessman Robert A. Vogele
from a Budapest prison.
Mr.. Vogeler had served 1
months after being found guilt.
of spying"
Mr.. Truman himself noted hov
: helpless the United States is II
retaliate effectively. Discussing
the plight of the flyers with re
porters yesterday before boardin,
ia plane to spend the Christina
holidays at his independence
{ (See FLYERS. Page A-3.)