Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-29
Three NeWsnlen
On China Visit I
Lose Passports
BY the Associated Press

Three American newsmen who
enteSed Red China this week
have had their passports revoked.
except for travel back to the
United States. They also may
face legal action by the Govern
ment.
The State Department yester-
day announced the moves
against William D. Worthy, 4
Negro reporter for the Baltimore
Afro-American, and a Look Mag.
azine team-reporter Edmund
Stevens and photographer Phil.
| lip Harrington.
1t accused them of misusing
their passports by going into
Communist China where travel
by Americans is banned under
United States Government pol.
icy. Newsmen of other natious.,
face no such restrictions by thelrw
governments.
Mr.. Worthy entered ComrnIi.
mist China through Hong KONG
last Monday. Mr.. Stevens and
Mr.. Harrington were reported To
have reached Peiping from MSSJ
COW last Wednesday.
In Baltimore. Editor C. w.
Mackay of the Afro-AmeriMiHiA
said, I'VE do not care to 9nod3s
ment." Look Magazine, in tNaNt
York, also declined comment on,
the State Department actioH ~.
Passport Violation Charge, ~
The department said it., had.
Learned the three United SE&teSs'
newsmen "have gone to ConQnhQr
mist China despite the factTthat
the passport sissued to them ...@
were specifically marked not &o1
valid for travel to ComnfHMsto
China" ,to9ffa
"They did this" the statesosuto
continued, although the 4niteds
States Government opposes travel.
by American citizens to an xtNgi
where their fellow citizerNqR f9V
held as political hostages. s91oni
"As a result of this misuse oft
the passports issued to them.
their passports will be made Valid
only for return to the UaReF
States" doUm
The United States lonsodaea
prohibited 'travel by its CITIZEN.
in Red China, whose reginie tfhiiiEs
country does not recognize aif6u
lomatically. 9visnsf
The main reason for the ham
however, is the continued .tm-.
Iprisonment by China MAAW
Americans, despite a Chinese
agreement 16 months agottQ Sraef
all United States citizens. IL had,
in prison or in detention. Some
Americans were freed but GHO IOs
have been kept back. ,19dmun
impeachment" Cit9dS 81 or
Referring to this situatloArEf0d
department said the Qhi1aseo
Communists have created
special impeachment to the tfAve1
of Americans in the AIRED WncM
they control" by impDiS6AtpEi
Americans and using them aNakb
political hostages for baroainii1a
purposes" III nSni
This obstacle has NOT YEP
been removed" the depar0neTllD
asserted, despite our effopts1tlD
secure the release of the Apaeri,t
cans now imprisoned" o" ~
Last August, the Communist
Chinese invited a numben1Ol1
American newsmen for q visit.
But the State Department ruled
against such travel. and the ihQi
vitations were turned down. tUq
Mr.. Worthy. Mr.. Stevens ariao
Mr.. Harrington we're the firstl
newsmen to defy the ban. !,
The hint Of possible legal ac-i
ton against them came in q
reference by the State Depart
ment to their cases being called
to the attention Of the Treasury
Department in view Of the rele.
want provisions of the Trading
With the Enemy Act"
Officials explained that act
contains authority for possible
punitive action against the three
newsmen. For example, they
said. the law would premit seiz-
ure Of such assets Of the news.
men as their bank accoiInfR