Without Takers

Communist China's first visas for U.S. newsmen in seven years became available last week, and at least four restless correspondents * prepared to go after them in defiance of the State Department's refusal to validate their passports (TIME, Aug. 20). In Hong Kong, other correspondents nervously determined not to be left at the post. U.S. news executives pressured the State Department to back down, and one wanted the department to show that it had the support of the President.

Just as the race for the border seemed ready to break out, the State Department announced that President Eisenhower had given "full concurrence" to its policy. (Actually, the President had been consulted when the department took its stand.) To sharpen the newsmen's dilemma, Peking lifted its deadline for the proffered visit and, in effect, extended its invitation to any U.S. journalist who cared to apply. But for the moment, at least, the President's public intervention seemed decisive. Still protesting, one news executive after another announced that he would abide by the President's wish, cabled his Far Eastern correspondents to sit tight.

* A.P.'s John Roderick, U.P.'s Robert Miller, NBC'S James Robinson, the Chicago Daily News's Keyes Beech.

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