Meeting with Oatis

In the New York Times:

U.N. BODIES TO GET NEW HEADS

For 53 weeks, while A.P. Correspondent Bill Oatis lay in jail in Prague, the Czech government had refused to let any American talk to him. Last week U.S. Ambassador Ellis 0. Briggs finally managed for the first time to see him, was allowed a carefully supervised, 30-minute interview at Prague police headquarters. The Czechs insisted that a police official and two Communist translators be present, thus prevented Briggs from asking any but innocuous questions, lest he jeopardize the chances of getting Oatis released.

Oatis, Briggs reported, said he was in, good health, recently had dental care, gets enough exercise, and is allowed to read. He asked Briggs for a volume of Shakespeare's works and a book on his hobby, harmony and composition, in addition to the Bible that Briggs brought for him. Ironically, Briggs also brought the first word to Oatis that the Overseas Press Club in the U.S. had awarded him the George Polk Memorial Award for "courage, integrity and enterprise"--for the same kind of reporting that the Reds had called "spying." The State Department cautiously pointed out that the interview should not be construed as indicating that Oatis was any nearer to regaining his freedom than before.

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