PRISONERS OF CHINA

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28480, 9 January 1958, Page 9

PRISONERS OF CHINA

Visits Paid By U.S. Mothers

(Rec. 8 pm.) NEW YORK, Jan. 7.

Communist China had refused to accept the passports of throe American mothers visiting the Communist mainland to see their prisoner sons, the American Associated Press reported today from Hong Kong.

But they were granted visas on separate pieces of paper to allow them to enter the country. Peking Radio said today the passports were returned when a Chinese official noted the United States State Department had described Communist China -as “those portions of China under Communist control.’.' The broadcast said the Americans were told that such phrases showed the United States Government’s hostility toward China and the passports could not be accepted.

However, the visitors were not responsible for the statement in the passports and because they had travelled a long distance, the visas were granted. The three women are Mrs Mary Downey of Connecticut. Mrs Jessie Fecteau of Maseachusetta. xorK. au* uowiKy w** *ceom« panied by her son, William. The American Aseocteted Press said the three mothers and Mr Downey went shopping end sightseeing in Canton today while waiting for plane passages to other points of China.

Western Replies To Russia (Rec. 11 pjn.) PARIS. Jan. 8. The Permanent Council at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation meets today and will consider replies of the Western Powers to Marshal Bulganin's "peace" letters last month. France, the United States and Belgium are among thorn who have completed drafts tor submission to the meeting. Norway has not yet reached that stage. West Germany is expected to advocate a change of approach. A French Foreign Ministry spokesman said yesterday he thought that nothing-about the contents of the proposed replies would be revealed in the immediate future. The Soviet Prime Minister, in his letter dispatched on the ova of the N.A.T.O. summit conference last month, proposed a top-leva! East-West meeting.