Evening star., 1954-04-13
Mother Is Reunited
With Sons, Freed by
Reds After I Years
Nv the As.oeiated Press


NEW YORK. April 13.-Away
from prying eyes, Mrs. Lygia
Georgescu was reunited today
with her two sons who were held
as hostages for seven years in
Communist Romania.
Government officials and crew,
together with other passengers.
understandingly first left the big
Pan-American plane which
brought Constantin, 10, and
Peter, Is. from London to Idle
wild Airport.
Then a public health official
signaled to Mrs. Georgescu, who
had waited in an Office. She
walked toward the plane. then
broke into a run. AS she neared
the planes doorway the older
youth emerged and embraced his
mother.
Then they stepped inside the
plane and the little family group
met privately for a few minutes.
Also present was the boys father,
Valeriu GeorgeScu, 50-year-old
Oil company executive who met
them in Munich yesterday.
Proud" of Their Father.
After the reunion the youths
stepped from the plane and told
reporters they we're proud"
that their father, a naturalized
American citizen, had refused
to spy against the United States
in their behalf.
The Georgescu case broke into
headlines last year when the
father disclosed to the State
Department that a blackmail
attempt had been made by
member of the Romanian Lega-
ton.
The boys. rosy checked and
healthy looking. smiled con-
stantly during their impromptu
meeting with the press alongside
the plane.
They spoke little English. ex-
cept for constantly repeating
Thank you very much" Their
father translated for them.
Constantin said they had
heard through friends that their
father had told of his refusal to
spy on Radio Free Europe and
the Voice of America. Asked for
their reaction, Constantin said:
I'VE are very proud of what
you have done and never lost
faith that you might ever COM
nit an act of betrayal in order
to save us. We knew you and
are proud of you"
The youth again repeated the
Romanian phrase, "Suntem
mandi." which means 1--WE are
proud of YOU
Long, Long Seven Years.
The boys. who had just one
piece of luggage. were then
cleared rapidly by Government
immigration. health and customs
officials. and the family was
taken to the airport terminal
building for newsreel appear
ances.
Speaking for the family. the
father said:
I'VE are all very happy that
at long last we are together
again. It's been a long. long
seven years. God made this pos
sible. Only God could have
done it. It's like miracle. We
want to thank every one for this
happy reunion"
The boys attractive, 46-year-
old mother was too busy en-
bracing her sons and clasping
their hands to pay much atten-
ton as the family was inter-
viewed by newsmen, but finally
she said:
you can see how wonderfully
happy I am. They look Won
derful to me. Just look at me
and you can see how feel"
She beamed and the boys
smiled.
Mr.. Gorgescu was asked il
the youngsters had been mis-
treated and replied:
The boys say they have not
been ill-treated in Romania.
They have for two years been
working in rehabilitation camps.
Constantin as an apprentice au-
tomobile mechanic and Peter as
an electrical apprentice"
1t was disclosed last night
that. among other appeals for
the boys release. was personal
plea by President Eisenhower to
the Romanian government.
MIR. Georgescu said he did not
know exactly what caused the
Romanian government to act as
1t did.
"I don't know how it hap