Letter from kidnapped diplomat found

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32462, 24 November 1970, Page 16

Letter from kidnapped diplomat found

(N.Z. P.A. -Reuter—Copyright? MONTREAL, November 28. A letter written by the British diplomat, Mr James Cross, who was kidnapped six weeks ago by Quebec Left-wing extremists, says today that he is being well treated, but will not be freed until his captors’ demands are met. The letter, found in a North Montreal telephone box and with an apparently authentic signature, was addressed “To Whom It May Concern,” and began: “I want to assure those who are interested (if there are still some) that I am in good health and being well treated

It was the first letter from the British Trade Commissioner for 35 days, and was accompanied by a private note to his wife, Barbara, who is staying with the British Ambassador to Switzerland, in Berne. There is no prospect of his captors’ demands—the release of 24 alleged political prisoners—being met. The Government has offered only safe conduct to Cuba for the kidnappers in return for his freedom. Mr Cross wrote that he

was being given hot dinners daily, had access to radio, television and newspapers, and received the medicines he required, He said he was quite sure that he was being bettertreated than the Quebec Liberation Front prisoners in goal. “But time drags heavily after six weeks of imprisonment,” Mr Cross said. “They consider me as. a political prisoner, and will keep me in captivity as long as the authorities do not accept their demands.” He said he had heard his wife’s broadcast, and recognised that his detention must be hard and painful for her. “But,” he added, “it must be the same for the families of the F.L.Q. political prisoners. “What more can I say?” he asked. “What can I expect? When and how will this bad dream end? To whom and on what depends my liberty and my life? I don’t know. But I am still hoping.”

U.N. SUGGESTION His captors, the “Viger cell” of the F.L.Q., appended their own note to the letter suggesting that the United Nations should intercede to obtain the release of Mr Cross and the F.L.Q. detainees. But the indications are still that the Canadian and Quebec authorities are deter-

mined to find Mr Cross and his captors, though a twoday house-to-house search for the diplomat in North Montreal by policemen and troops in full battledress ended yesterday without success.

The Quebec Premier (Mr Robert Bourassa) said last week: “We will not cede to blackmail as long as I am Premier.”