Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-07-02
Oats
Continued From First Page.)

makes it unlawful, for instance,
for newspaper correspondents to
make public information regard
ing any enterprise, institution. in
stallation Or measure that Is
important for the defense of the
republic or its allies" Even the
reporting of crimes. against the
defense OF the republic would be
illegal Under this law, unless such
information had been released
officially. ~
The official Czechoslovak news
agency, reporting on Mr.. Oats
trial, said the AP reporter is &C
cuSed of heading a. spy center di-
rected by the Associated Press.
The Associated Press says this
charge is so preposterous it will
deceive no one in the free world -
The two United States Embassy
observers at the trial-the only
Americans permitted to attend,
said Mr.. Oats, as if acting on in
structions, did not look around
at the spectators as he was led
into the courtroom. He was not
wearing his glasses. Mr.. Oats
spoke slowly, in a firm voice, paus-
ing often to wait for the trans
lators. The observers said he adj
mitted he had obtained political,
economic and military informa-
ton which was not officially pub
lished by the Czech government
Mr.. Oats, 81, native of Marion
Ind, has been in Prague one year
as AP chief of bureau.
No Western correspondents were
in Prague to cover his trial. Sew
eral had been expelled and the
last three Western reporters with
drew after Mr. Oats arrest. The
embassy observers at the trial are
relaying their reports to the United
States High Commission Office in
Frankfurt. which is making the
reports available to the Western
press.
The Czech prosecutor charged
in court today that the last three
Western reporters to leave Prague
Russell Jones of the United Press
Robert Bigio of Reuters and Gas
ton Fournier of the French Press
Agency. also engaged in spying.
Mr.. Oats and three Czech ma
tionals employed y the Associated
Press in Prague are charged by
that country's Communist govern
ment with having operated ar
espionage center" under orders
from Associated Press headquar.
tiers in New York. The Czech.
charged yesterday that the Asso.
ciated Press bureau even fosterec
murder plots.
The official Czech news agency
told inquirers it would not issue
Mr.. Oats has been held in jai
without chance to see a lawyer
friend or American diplomatic
representative. He is the first re.
porter holding American citizen
ship to be arrested by an Iror
Curtain country.
The Associated Press statement
in reply. issued in New York
said the Czech charge falsely
accusing the Associated Press Of
espionage is so preposterous il
will deceive no one in the free
world"
Mr.. Oats, 37-year-old news.
paperman from Marion, Ind, was
arrested April % and has beer
held in Jail without a chance tx
see a lawyer, friend or American
diplomatic representative. He i,
the first reporter holding Amer.
lean citizenship to be arrested BIZ
an Iron Curtain country.
The Czech government charged
Mr.. Oats on April 81 with ."secur.
ing and verifying certain secre
reports and spreading "natena
insulting to the Czechoslovak re-
public and its order"
Yesterdays Czech statement
also accused Mr.. Oats three pre-
decessors as bureau chiefs-A. ]
Goldberg, Richard Kasischke ant
Nathan Polowetzky of beini
trained spies"
All three denied the charges
saying they were "ridiculous" ant
"nonsensical."
The AP said it had "the~fulles
confidence the conduct of William