Associated Press correspondent William Oatis set liberty! Contrary to all expectations, AP correspondent William Oatis was surprisingly discharged from Czech custody, according to a directive given by the Czech Prime Minister Zapotocky. The discharge went into effect on Saturday. 16 May 1953. In July 1951, William Oatis had been sentenced to ten (10) years prison, due to alleged espionage. On Saturday, 16 May 1953, a few minutes after twelve o'clock, William Oatis crossed the Czech-German border. He was accompanied by US Vice-Consul Mr. Christopher A.Squire and by Mr Nat B. King, a member of the US embassy in Prague, Czechoslovakia. When he arrived at the Czech-German border. Oatis was welcomed by many M.P.'s, and they eyed him during the trip from the border to Nuremberg, Germany. In the late afternoon hours of Saturday, 16 May 1953, the overtired AP-correspondent gave the first interview to many German and American press, television-,broadcasting-and news-reel-reporters and/or correspondents. In downright words, he expressed his own gratitude and gratefulness to the US Government and to many US citizens Oatis said he was not badly treated when in a Czech prison, but he mentioned. "When they screened me they "used police methods" which are usual in some countries, and in others are unaccostumed!"
This is the entrance to the Grand Hotel, Nuremberg, Germany, well guarded by well-armed US Infantry men during the time of his stay here.
Photo measures 8 x 6 inches.
Photo is dated 5-27-1953.
Photo back:
