RUMANIANS ESCAPE FROM EMBASSY

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28129, 19 November 1956, Page 11

RUMANIANS ESCAPE FROM EMBASSY

(Rec. 11 p.m.) BUENOS AIRES, November 17.

A young mother who fled the Rumanian Embassy with her family appealed today for mercy for an 11-year-old daughter still in Communist hands in Rumania. Mr and Mrs George Coman and their two boys were granted political asylum by the Argentine Government and placed under protective custody, but Mrs Coman said they feared for a daughter, Maria, in Bucharest. “Don't let them do anything to her,” she pleaded to Argentine authorities. “Please get her free.” Rumanian Embassy officials recaptured Mrs Coman and her younger son in a vain attempt to use them as hostages after the family had made one break for freedom yesterday.

The break came while Mr Coman. his wife and their two children were being escorted from the embassy to drive to the airport to be returned to their homeland. Mr Coman, an embassy chauffeur, had been “convicted” of becoming “too bourgeoise” and was ordered to be taken back to Rumania.

Mr Coman, aged 31, pulled a pistol, which he had slipped from the Rumanian Minister’s desk, and started to run with his four-year-old son, Gig, toward a policeman. He shouted to his wife to follow with nine-months-old Luciano.

Their cries and struggles against the Communist escort brought police, and a huge crowd of Argentines, on the run.

While the police asked questions, a Rumanian official darted from the embassy. grabbed the baby from Mrs Coman’s arms and ran back inside. A few minutes later, a maid appeared and seemed to offer the baby back. Mrs Coman moved toward, the embassy doors and men leaped out and dragged her screaming inside.

A short while later, she climbed on to a second-storey window ledge and clung there until rescued by Argentine workers. The Argentine Government demanded and won the release of the baby on the ground that he was an Argentine citizen because he was born in Buenos Aires. Mrs Coman said she was menaced by the Rumanian Minister (Mr Anton Moisescu) with a burning cigarette lighter and was beaten on the face and body with fists. She said she was told she would be killed. She said she escaped the second time by telling her captors that she was ill. She ran to an adjoining

room, locked the door and climbed out of the window. The Comans told their story at federal police headquarters after’ the dramatic and successful second bid for freedom.

Mr Coman said he was “tried” by the Rumanian Minister and two Communists, who came to South America ostensibly as diplomatic couriers, but who actually were sent to execute party orders in Argentina and Chile.