Evening star., 1955-11-06
CUT OFF
5 Americans
Stoy Behind
In Red Hunoi
By GERALD wARrNG

consulate here are ready to close
up shop In this capital Of Indo-
Chinese communism.
There's no useful purpose In our
staying here any longer" Consul
Thomas j. Corcoran of New York
City told me. But Of course the
decision to leave isn't up to me-"
With MIR. Corcoran are vice Con-
suls Robert H. Wenzel Of North
Andover, Mass. and Douglas G.
Bonner of New York City, and
Archivists Louis F. Rosso OF West
erly. r. L. and Donald Barrett of
Redmond, Wash.
The i've have been stationed in
Hanoi since September, 1854. The
Communist Wet Mimi government
took over from the French here
q month after their arrival. and
since then they've received no mail
or supplies. Their only link with
Washington was the short wave
radio transmitter in the consulate,
by which they sent reports to the
American Embassy at Saigon, South
Wet Nam.
Wouldn't Permit Signoff
Last month the Wet Mimi au-
thorities ordered Mr.. Corcoran to
stop using his radio. They gave no
reason for the order. and they re-
fused to let him send final mes
sage to Saigon to advise the em-
bassy he was going of the air.
MIR. Coreoran. at IS one Of the
State Departments Far Eastern ex-
perts. told me he and his stan had
been doing only normal consular
reporting" There was little else
for the consulate to do. he said.
pointing out that there Is no trade
between America and North Wet
Nam, practically no one travelling
between the two countries. and
only one piece Of American-owned
property in North Wet Nam. Stand
ard Vacuum's former oil depot at
Hanoi.
was only the fifth American to
visit North Wet Nam in Q year.
The earlier four also were journal-
lists.
Mr.. corcoran said the ban on the
use OF the radio was the first overt
act Of the authorities against him
and his staf. Two staff men had
left Hanoi during the year. he said.
but it had been impossible to re-
place them because the Wet Mini
would not permit their successors
to enter the country. The consul
was certain he and his stan would
have no difficulty In leaving II they
received orders from washington
to close the Consulate.
Group Without Stotus
The position Of Mr.. corcorai and
his aides has been anomalous be-
cause the Wet Mimi authorities
have refused to grant the consul
late any officiaI status. in view Of
the fact that the United States has
not recognized the government of
North Wet Nam. Consequently the
I'VE Americans. an bachelors. have
been careful not TO leave any OPEN
ings for Wet Mini action against
them as ordinary civilians. They
drive their own cars. remain within
the city limits, and take no chances
on being caught abroad during the
curfew from II pm. to I am.
The Americans have been using
Consulate stockpiles Of supplies,
cigarettes and whisky. and canned
food to augment local purchases.
It has been impossible to replenish
the stockpiles.
Social Boycost inflicted
The Wet Mimi government.
which often denounces United
States Imperialists and their lack
eysa of South Wet Nam and charges
that America wants to partition
Wet Nam permanently and make
the south d base for q new IndO-
China war, bOycotts social events
to which members Of the American
Consulate have been invited.
The Indian Consul didn't know
this when, soon after his arrival
here. he sent invitations 70 the
Americans to attend his first offi-
cial reception. When Wet Mini
ofIiciais declined his invitations on
this account. the Indian called on
Mr.. Corcoran and explained the sit
uation in great embarrassment.
With tactful understanding, the
American Consul withdrew his ac-
ceptance Of the invitation.
When the former Canadian truce
commissioner. Brig. Sherwood Lett.
drew up the invitation list for the
Dominion Day reception last July
|. he included both Wet Mini ON
ciaIs and the American Consular
officials. After the invitations had
been delivered, he received an in
quiry from the Wet Mini asking
who else had been invited. Conl-
missioner Lett informed the Com
munists that while he had accepted
their suggestion as to what govern
ment officials he should invite, who
ever else he invited was none Of
their business.
Despite the rebuff. the Wet Mini
ofiicials attended. led BY the present
Prime Minister, Pharn Van Dong,
and Defense Minister vo Nguyen
Clap. They ignored Mr.. corcoran,
Mr.. Wenzel and Mr.. Bonner who
in turn ignored them.