Evening star., 1953-08-18
Sanders, Convicted
With voge|er, Freed
By Red Hungary
BY The Associated Press

ANAS@AA5AAOA>\<ANES AuSO1ld aug.
18. - Edgar Sanders, British
businessman jailed by Commu-
mist Hungary for nearly four
years as a spy, crossed into Aus
tria today a free man.
The Red Hungarian govern
ment pardoned the 47-year-old
Briton last night and expelled
him from the country where he
and American Robert Vogeler
were sentenced in February
1850, on charges of espionage
and sabotage. Mr.. Vogeler was
released in April, 1851.
Like Mr.. Vogeler. Mr.. Sanders
came across the frontier to hee-
dom at Nickelsdorf, a little Aus
trian border station. Russian
tanks on maneuvers and Aus
trian farm harvesting machines
cluttered the narrow road on the
Austrian side of the frontier.
Reds Credit Wife's Plea.
Mr.. Sanders crossed the from
tier in a car of the British lega-
ton in Budapest. He looked
pale, wore his customary glasses
and a gray suit.
The Hungarian announcement
Of Mr. Sanders pardon implied
the action was based on a clem-
ency petition submitted to Pres
ident Istvan Dobi earlier this
month by the Briton's wife. VIM
fired. She gave her letter of
appeal to Hungary'S ambassador
in London, Imre Horvath, just
before his return to Budapest on
August IL.
The Czechs in releasing Asso-
ciated Press Correspondent Will
liam Oats earlier this year also
cited an appeal from his wife.
Later it was revealed the United
States had offered to negotiate
the removal of trade restrictions
against the Czechs if the news
man was freed.
Italian Also Freed.
Shortly after Mr.. Sanders was
released. an Italian legation car
bearing Vincenze Sciotto. an
Italian. also reached Austria.
Mr.. Sciotto was convicted of
espionage and sentenced to four
years in prison in 1851.
An Italian Foreign Ministry
spokesman in Rome earlier de-
clined to comment upon MI.
Sciotto. Spokesman said that
publicity on the case might
harm members of his family
who are still in Hungary.
The spokesman said the min
iStry had known of the Sciotto
arrest and that the Italian gov
ernment had sought repeatedly
to have him freed. The Spokes-
man said he was employed by
Hungarian construction COM
pany.
Cousin of Film Star.
Mr.. Sanders, cousin of Film
Star George Sanders and &C
countant for the Budapest sub
sidiary of the international
Telephone and Telegraph Co.,
and Mr.. Vogeler, East European
representative of /. T. & T., were
arrested in November, 1949, and
sentenced after trial the fol-
lowing February.
Mr.. Sanders was sentenced to
13 years in prison and Mr.. Voge-
Ter to is years. Mr.. Vogeler was
released in April. 1851, after
negotiations between the Ameri-
can and Hungarian governments.
During their trial both CON
fessed" their guilt. and both the
British and American govern
ments promptly branded the
confessions the result of Com
munist pressure interrogations.
AS a result of Mr.. Sanders
conviction, Britain broke off
trade relations with Hungary
and the United States also took
retaliatory measures.
Interested in ReOpening Trade.
Hungary recently has shown
interest in reopening trade with
Britain, and it was presumed
the British have readied conces-
Sions along this line in exchange
for Mr.. Sanders release.
Following Mr.. Vogeler's release
the United States permitted
Hungarian conSulates to reopen
in New York and Cleveland, re-
scinded a ban against Americans
travelling to the Communist sat
elite and agreed to aid in the