Evening star., 1953-05-17
Resumption Of Trade
With Czechs Possible
Now, u. ). Indicates

The State Department pro
fesses to be as baff1ed as anyon,
else concerning the real reason
for Czechoslovakia's release O
Associated Press Correspondent
William Oats.
But it says the action puts thi
Government in a position wher,
it can now begin to consider tn,
removal of restrictions slapped
upon the Czechs in retaliation TO
their imprisonment of the Amer
lean newsman two years ago.
Department Press Officer Lin
coin White told newsmen fatty
There wasn't any deal be-
tween this Government ant
Czechoslovakia."
Then he added:
1--WE imposed certain sane.
tions as a result of his impris.
onment. With his release we are
now in a position to give con-
Sideration to the removal OF
these restrictions"
Czech Exports Banned.
The major sanction against
the Communist satellite coun-
try has been a ban on Czech ex-
ports to the United States. which
stopped a trade estimated as
high as $40 million a year. This
has been accompanied by an
equally rigid ban on all United
States exports to Czechoslo-
vakia. All Americans except
those on essential official bus
mess have been denied pass
ports for Czechoslovakia. And
Czech commercial airliners have
been prohibited from flying over
the American zone of Germany.
In it's formal statement on
Mr.. Oatis' release, the State De-
partment said:
Following continuous repre-
Sentations to the Czechoslovak
Government since the impris-
onment of Mr.. William Oats on
April %, 1851, Ambassador
George Wadsworth saw Prime
Minister Villain Siroky and For
eign Minister Vaclav David at
6 pm, Prague time. May Is.
THE Ambassador was in
formed by the Prime Minister
that in accordance with the
Czechoslovak constitution the
President of Czechoslovakia
Antonin Zapotocky, was pardon
ing William Oats on the basis
of petition received from Mrs.
Oats in November, 1852.
Arrangements for his release
and departure from Czechoslo-
vakia were made at this time.
THE release of Mr.. Oats re-
moves one of the obstacles which
has so far stood in the way of
any improvement in relations
between the United States and
Czechoslovakia.
THE Department of course is
greatly pleased by the release of
Mr.. Oats from the incarceration
which this Government felt
from the outset was a gross in
justice"
Peace" Move Discounted.
State Department officials made
it clear they regarded Mr.. Oatis'
release as long overdue and no
more than simple justice. They
refused to consider it a part of
any so-called Communist peace
offensive" though they predicted
the Reds will try to make it ap-
pear so. .eas-,s s.
Any one who really knows
the facts" these officials said,
"wil! not be fooled by Commu-
mist propaganda.
Mr.. White mentioned one
other American, John Hvasta,
who is believed to be- held by the
Czechs. Mr.. Hvasta, one-time
student and former American
consular employe who was jailed
in Czechoslovakia, was later re-
ported to have escaped and has
not been heard from for many
months.
He said there was no connec-
tion between the Oats case and
a long -drawn-out wrangle which
has delayed shipment to the
Czechs of a steel mill they pur-
chased in the United States sew
eral years ago. He was unable to
say what effect Mr.. Oats re-
lease might have on the steel
negotiations.
While members Of Congress
welcomed the Oats release, few
saw in it any real indication of a
change in Communist tactics.
Senators generally appeared in
clined to go along with the State
Department in considering re-
moval of the economic sane
tionS.
II think we can well now re-
consider the reprisals we took
on Oats imprisonment" said
Chairman Bridges of the Senate
Appropriations Committee.
Senator Ellender, Democrat,
OF Louisiana, said he favored re-
storing normal relationships with
the Czechs now that Mr.. Oats
has been released. He added:
Il think we ought to meet
these Communist nations more
than half way. If we don't they
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