Evening star., 1963-05-29

AASAV OuAiuuy LlBllJ IOT y
series Of conferences with
State Department officials
on the Haitian crisis.
In describing the feeling
in the country when she left,
Mrs. Thurston said with a
gesture of emotion, there is
no doubt in the whole
city there was an atmosphere
OF fear In all classes cal
culated to keep everyone in
line"
Gets Orders
Mrs. Thurston said that
the Ambassador received
orders from the State De-
partment on Tuesday, May 7
to evacuate all of the en-
bassy wives and children and
he promised to do so by the
18th.
Am mbassador and Mrs.
Thurston were scheduled to
come to Washington on the
18th, he for consultations.
He knew that his wife didn't
want to leave him.
All the wives and children
left on plane flights on May
8 and 8. Mrs. Thurston left
on the 18th, but without the
Ambassador.
Il would rather not have
left it was a tense situa-
ton that I would rather
have shared with my hus-
band" she stated flatly.
The petite, blond Foreign
Service wife was at the air.
port to see each of the flights
off those two days.
She said that they went as
smoothly as possible, consid-
ering the short notice the
wives had, many with three
and four small children. Most
Of them Just picked up a few
belongings and were far un-
der their 66 pounds weight
allowance given by the air.
lines.
There was no sense of
panic, according to the en-
voy's wife.
1t was with real regret
that many a young mother
said goodbye to husband, her
Haitian home and faithful
household servants.
Actually it is difficult to
get rid Of servants" said Mrs.
Thurston. adding that peo-
pie are so desperate for work.
Evacuation is nothing new
to this Ambassadors wife.
This one was clean in
comparison with the evacua-
ton from Italy in June of
l940," said Mrs. Thurston.
Eer husband was a junior
officer stationed in Naples
and when the Italian forces
Joined with Hitler's army the
American dependents were
evacuated on small over
crowded boats on a rough
sea.
Mrs. Thurston calmly
stated that she had heard
over the radio on Sunday
that her husbands departure
had been delayed at the Port
au Prince airport.
She called the State De-
partment and even though
he still had not been allowed
to take off, they told her
that they expected him on
schedule-that was enough
assurance and she went about
her plans to meet him at
Friendship Airport.
SaleswOman
Mrs. Thurston is a great
saleswoman for Haiti.
Her product she feels is a
perfect spot for a vacation
and a rich land for farm in
vestment.
American private enter
prise should be encouraged
and the government (Hai-
tian) should cooperate" said
the Ambassadors wife add
ing. where else could you
find a climate with $50 days
a year Of sunshine?"
She expounded on the
charm, complete change and
the colorfulness" of the coun-
try in glowing terms.
When she spoke about the
Haitian people she said, 1T
is a kind country where even
the most illiterate peasant is
so avidly interested in an ed
ucation for his children"
Ambassador and Mrs.
Thurston are not the only
diplomats in their family.
Their daughter Ruth Joined
the ranks last summer.
Ruth, 10, a student at the
University Of New Hamp-
shire, speaks beautiful Pari-
sian French. which she
learned when her father was
stationed in Paris.
Last summer she Joined
her parents and did a tele-
vision series sponsored by the
United States Information
Service titled Lets Learn
English"
She, Of course, had TO
translate the lessons into
French. the Haitian native
language.
While In Washington
awaiting the State Depart
ments decision on their
future plans, Ambassador
and Mrs. Thurston are stay
ing with his sister and
brother-in-law, Mr.. and Mrs.
Berkley Simmons.
Luncheon