Evening star., 1955-01-22
U. 5. Financing
Trips
Raises Issue
Potter Objects.
Cites Propaganda
Vulue to Reds


visit II Americans jailed in Red
China became an issue today as
Senator Potter said proposed
legislation to pay the fare would
serve. only to flame. the fires
of vicious propaganda"
The Michigan Republican. q
legless World War II veteran.
conceded that extreme SYM
pathy" for the relatives would
make it "awfully difficult" to vote
against legislation to underwrite
the transportation.
Such bill was proposed yes
terday by Representative Keat-
ing, Republican, Of New York.
Senator Sparkman, Democrat, of
Alabama said he was thinking
along similar lines
Would Obscure Illegal Act.
But If the United States Gov
ernment were to give the Red
Chinese offer any kind Of off,
cial standing, Senator Potter
said, the Communists would be
able ito play it up all over the
world" He said this might tend
to obscure their illegal action
in jailing the Americans"
This also was the view of
Air Force officers although they
were hesitant to take any stand
since the whole affair was being
handled by the State Depart-
ment.
So far the families of only
two of the jailed Americans have
accepted the Red Chinese offer
to let them come.
Some others who hesitated
mentioned the expense angle.
and some obviously had taken
notice of an Air Force warning
that this Government cannot
assume any responsibility for
| your travel in Communist China.
which must necessarily be under
taken at your own risk"
No One to Help.
| This referred to the fact that
since this country has never
recognized the Red Chinese re-
| gifne--there are no United States
diplomatic representatives IN
China who might be called on for
help. should any OF the visiting
Americans run into trouble. No
American has been authorized to
visit China In the five years the
Reds have held sway there.
/ At United Nations headquar-
/ ters in New York, it was reported
last night that the U. N. was
ready to make travel arrange
ments for the relatives. but a
spokesman said the international
| organization has no funds to pay
their expenses. Round trip plane
fare would come to nearly $4,000.
The American Red Cross
4 stepped in yesterday and SAID it
| would provide up TO the full
amount of the trip cost to any of
the next Of kin who may be "au-
! thorized by the U. S. Government
and desire to go to Communist
China but need financial help
! to get there.
MIR. Keating said yesterday he
will introduce legislation to pay
"all reasonable transportation,
| subsistence and other expenses"
! Mr.. Keating said lit would be
tragic for the men themselves,
as we'll as their families. II any
one held back because Of the
expense.
Might Use Air Force Planes.
Senator Sparkman indicated
he might offer similar legislation
In the Senate II the executive de-
partments could not defray the
cost any other way. He added
in an interview that Air Force
4 planes might carry relatives Of
the imprisoned Americans at
least as far as Japan or elsewhere
near the Chinese mainland.
/ Fifteen of the American pris-
oners are United States airmen
captured during the Korean
war. Eleven of these have been
sentenced to prison terms. rang
| ing UP to life. on spy" charges.
The Reds have said the cases
Of the other four airmen still
are under study. The two re-
naming American prisoners are
civilians, also convicted as
spies
/ So far, the State Department
has taken the position that the
United States Government cam