Evening star., 1963-02-15
SEARCH

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Continued From Page Al
craft carriers down through de-
stroyers, transports and sub
marines.
Until early this afternoon the
Government had provided little
or no information about United
States participation in the
search.
throughout yesterday, the
Government had used a tech
nique applied in the early days
of the Cuban crisis-tossing
questions by newsmen between
the State and Defense depart
ments, with neither providing
answers.
However, it was announced
today that from here on the
Defense Department, instead of
the State Department, would
handle information on the
search.
Will Tell Venezuela
State Department informants
said that when search craft
locate the ship their first step
will be to tell the Venezue-
lanS." The State Department
understood that the Venezue-
lans have ships actively in pur-
suit of the freighter.
THE prospects are good for
finding the ship" one official
said. "The chances of its get
ting through to Cuba, if that's
where it's going, are remote" |"
The Venezuelan Ambassador,
Enrique Tejira-Paris, called at
the White House, talked with
Preident Kennedy and on leav-
ing told newsmen that earlier
reports the freighter had been
located were in error.
Mr.. Tejira-Paris said the
erroneous report stemmed from
the fact that Venezuelan planes
yesterday sighted an uniden-
titled ship in the Caribbean
which at first was believed to
be the Anzoategui.
The Ambassador said his
country had asked for the CO.
operation of other nations,
including the United States, in
an effort to apprehend the
freighter in accordance with
international law.
But he said that when the
ship is found the "apprehen-
sion" will be by a Venezuelan
warship.
Presented Credentials
The Ambassadors call at the
White House was to present his
credentials, but he intimated
that there had been a discus
sion Of the Anzoategui.
He did not go into specifics,
saying only that the United
States was among other ma
tions that had been asked to
aid in the search for the Vene-
zuelan freighter.
Shortly after the vessel was
seized early Tuesday, the Vene-
zuelan government aske d
United States authorities for
assistance in locating it. Com
munist radio reports had made
clear in a general way what
had happened. reporting Of
ficers and members Of the crew
were under arrest.
The United States threw
Navy search planes into the
hunt and surface vessels were
dispatched to the area south Of
the Dominican Republic where
Venezuelan and United States
authorities thought the ship
would be found.
United States authorities
were prepared to intercept"
the Anzoategui II necessary. In
Perception would mean halting
the ship and taking II under
control. That, however, was OBJ
viously not the preferred line
OF action for either the United
States or Venezuelan govern
ments, and the longer the
search went on the less likely
1t appeared to be.
Limited Goal
With Venezuelan vessels
pushing into the action area,
the belief here today was that
United States participation
could be limited TO finding the
ship. reporting It's position and
keeping II under surveillance
until Venezuelan authoritie,
were able TO board II.
II more drastic United State,
action became necessary there
seemed 10 be no doubt II woulc
be taken.
The United States Joined the
search because Of a request
from Venezuela-not because oi
any piracy-United States au.
A A. a