Evening star., 1961-01-31
LINER
u. S. Admiral Boards Liner
For I o|ks With Rebel Leader

Continued From First Page
president (Quadros)," Galvao
said.
Gov. Lacerda earlier told
neWSmen In Brasilia he ex-
pected Galvao would be given
"a hours to debark the pasSen-
gers, refuel and depart again
for the high seas. IT, he seeks
asylum, Gov. Lacerda said, it
win be granted, but the ship
probably would then be re-
turned to its owners.
The Bazilian navy was under
orders from the outgoing ad-
ministration to seize the Santa
Maria for return to Portugal
and to intern Galvao and his
70-man band ct least for ques-
tioning.
Meanwhile the liner Vera
Cruz. Q sister ship Of the Santa
Maria, decided to bypass Recife
on her voyage back to Lisbon
from Rio de Janeiro. It was
announced the ship, carrying
a security guard Of Portuguese
secret police, win head for Lis
bon directly from Salvador, 400
miles down the coast from
Recife.
The Smith -Galvao meeting
came IS miles southeast Of
Recife and about IS miles off
the Brazilian bulge below this
city. -
The admiral's mission was to
arrange release Of the passen-
gers, about twoscore Of them
Americans, caught up In the
seafaring political intrigue.
Destroyers Wait
The Damato steamed into
the scene 10 minutes before
Admiral Smith boarded the
Santa Maria. The Damato and
the Gearing circled the liner
slowly for a while. Then they
took UP stationary positions
three-quarters Of q mile away
on each side Of the liner.
The conference consumed
slightly less than three hours.
Then Admiral Smith returned
to the Gearing. II
From Q United States Navy +,
plane, Admiral Smiths de-
stroyer was seen approaching I
the rendezvous. The Santa j
Maria was steaming slowly
northward at five knots. Both ,
vessels halted their engines ,
when they were Q bit more than
Q quarter mile apart. :
The decks Of the Santa
Maria appeared deserted except :,
for a few persons who might
have been crew members in the
aft section.
The Gearing attempted radio. Z
contact with the Santa Maria
In the English language. Lis
tening to the conversation on
the planes radio, newsmen
heard the Santa Maria ask the y
Gearing to repeat the message
in Portuguese. q
Speaks In Portuguese
The United States consul in
Recife, Ernest s. Guaderrama,
spoke on the Gearing's radio
in Portuguese to notify the
Santa Maria that the de-
stroyer had arrived in ac-
cordance with arrangements
for the rendezvous.
A message from the Gearing
said the official party boarding 4
the Santa Maria would include :
Admiral Smith, his aide and :
two other officers; an attache
of the United States Embassy
in Brazil: Comdr. Charles ,
Rainey, Smiths public infor-
nation officer; Comdr. Dias :
Fernades Of the Brazilian navy's =
3rd naval district; Consul =
Guaderrama and two official :
navy photographers.
The Santa Maria replied that \
1t would lower stairs along the /
port side of the ship to receive S
the party. {
Mr.. Guaderrama informed a
the Santa Maria that about so
newsmen and photographers e
aboard the Gearing wanted to
board the ship. q
The Santa Maria replied they t
would be welcome, but confined s
to . first-class salon aboard .
ship. n
Combat Position" Protested
The Santa Maria then asked \
II a Portuguese national radio 6
correspondent named Artur {
Agostino was aboard the Gear !
ing. It said he was unworthy ,
of being aboard on the ground :
that, in broadcast from Rio Y
de Janeiro, he had called Galvao d
and his followers killers, MUIR q
derers and thieves"
The Gearing replied that Mr.. =
Asostino was not aboard and
no further mention was made t
Immediately about q visit Of the \
correspondents. <
The radio conversation sud- !
denly hit a critical note. r
A new speaker on the Santa c
Maria radio, identifying himself {
in Spanish as the commander r
Of the ship, said sharply:
I'VE are obliged to reject as {
an unfriendly act toward our r
conduct the fact that the t
American destroyer has come s
into a position of combat" 2
Mr.. Guaderrama quickly an F
swered: This was done for /!
your own good" 2
The Spanish voice answered: I
"As an old war sailor, have c
that impression. Our conduct Il
does not oblige North American \
authorities to come to speak +
while prepared for combat" v