Iran allows U.S. clergymen to minister to hostages

Press, 26 December 1979, Page 1

Iran allows U.S. clergymen to minister to hostages

NZPA-Reuter Teheran Four Christian clergymen spent almost five hours at the occupied United States Embassy in Teheran early yesterday. One of them later told reporters that the 50 American hostages held there were in very good condition in spite of their seven-week ordeal. The Rev. William Coffin, pastor of Riverside Church, New York, said he and his fellow clergymen conducted three separate Christmas ceremonies with the hostages and were afterwards allowed to talk with them. Mr Coffin, two American colleagues, the Rev. William Howard and Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, and the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Algiers, (Cardinal Duval), left the embassy comp md at 4 a.m. after holding the midnight servicer The four men, who arrived in Teheran on Monday evening at the invitation of the Iranian authorities, were whisked back to their north Teheran hotel under police escort. The hotel buildmg was guarded by revolutionary guardr armed with automatic rifles.. Cardinal Duval said the

hostages he had seen were in good health. “We were able to speak to them for a long time,” he said. Informed sources said the Muslim students holding the hostages allowed them to write letters to their families for the clergymen to deliver. The clergymen made no reference to the possible release of any of the hostages to coincide with the Christmas celebrations. But a French parliamentary delegation which returned to Paris from Iran on Christmas Eve said it had been assured by Revolutionary Council members that three of the hostages would be released soon. Senator Brigitte Gros, the delegation’s leader, said, “I have the assurance of several members of the Revolutionary Council that three hostages will be freed today or tomorrow and that other clemencies will follow.” In Washington, a Christmas message from the chief American diplomat being held in Teheran expressed hope for an “ultimate triumph of reconciliation and brotherhood” between Muslims and Christians. The message to . the American people from the

Charge d’Affaires (Mr Bruce Laingen) was read at a Christmas service in Washington Cathedral. “Together with our colleagues held in silent hostage in Teheran we are at one with you this morning in welcoming again the great promise of the Christian message,” he said. "We join with you, in the words of St John’s Gospel, in welcoming the promise of that light that shines in the darkness. And we join with you, in the voices of the angels, in celebration of this day 7 of new birth and new hope in the promise of peace on earth and good will among men. “May that light of Christmas and that promise of peace strengthen each of us to face every challenge with courage and every disappointment with hope. And in the words of St Paul may God from ' the wealth of his glory give us the power through his spirit to be strong in our inner selves. “We extend to you our grateful thanks for your support, your good will, and your prayers, above all for your cathedral’s vigil prayer for the ultimate triumph of reconciliation and brotherhood that is the promise of both the

Muslim and the Christian faith.” Families of several of the hostages were in the congregation during the reading of Mr Laingen’s message. The cathedral holds a daily prayer vigil for the c a "p--tives. Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Minister (Mr Sadeq Qotbzadeh) said explosives had been found in mail going to the American hostages, according to Teheran radio. He had warned earlier that some of the tens of thousands of Christmas cards and packages sent to the hostages might be boobytrapped with explosives intended to kill the Muslims holding the Americans. On Christmas Eve about 1000 employees of the State radio' and television company marched past the embassy calling for the trial of the hostages on spy charges as Iran called on Panama, the fomrer Shah's latest refuge, to extradite the deposed monarch. The State radio led its main news bulletins with a Christmas Eve message to the Christian world from Iran’s revolutionary leader. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeiny. He prefaced the message with a verse from the

Gospel according to St Matthew: “Blessed are they which do hunger after righteousness for they shall be filled,” coupled with a verse from the Koran: “Do not allow your hatred for other men to turn you away from justice. Deal justly, justice is nearer to true piety The United States pressed ahead yesterday with its demand for world e c o n o m.i c sanctions against Iran. The State Department welcomed visits to the hostages by the clergymen but warned against’ any distraction from Washington’s steadfast policy that all the hostages must be released without delay. Mr. Donald McHenry, the American Ambassador to the United Nations, asked on Monday for an early meeting of the Security Council to “consider the measures which should be taken to induce Iran to comply with, its international obligations.” The officials were not sure when the Security Council would be called into session on the American request but some reports said it could be as soon as. today or tomorrow. Shah’s niece vows to restore monarchy, Page 6.