Those Who Raised

One of the most critical moments of the ransom-for-prisoners exchange with Fidel Castro occurred when Castro threatened to hold back some 700 prisoners unless the U.S. promptly paid $2,900,000, which, he claimed, it had promised for the release of 60 ailing prisoners last spring. It was widely reported that Attorney General Robert Kennedy quickly secured a pledge for $1,000,000 of this with one telephone call to an unidentified friend. It was not until last week, however, that the almost-as-surprising fund-raising power of retired General Lucius Clay was fully revealed.

As head of a citizens committee advising relatives of the prisoners, Clay raised the other $1,900,000 by borrowing cash from banks merely on the strength of his personal pledge to pay it back promptly. Thus Castro got his check and the exchange was completed. Clay then sent telegrams to many of the nation's biggest industrial firms and discovered that, in his words, "the response I got was amazing and tremendous." Soon, he said, "we had all the money pledged to take care of the loan."

Clay's telegram, on its face, did not sound that persuasive. It said, in part: "Regardless of how you may feel in principle with respect to paying money under these circumstances, I think you will feel, as I did, that this exchange could not be permitted to fail at this period for the sake of humanity. We are asking for your help to pay off the loan. Please advise by wire of any amount you feel you can contribute. For your information only, corporate gifts already received have ranged from ten to one hundred fifty thousand."

Clay actually had some powerful help. Reported the Minneapolis Tribune last week: "A spokesman for one large corporation that is currently facing a Government lawsuit said his company received a call from the Department of Justice directing it to supply specific items, plus a specific amount of cash. 'We knew we were being blackjacked, but there was nothing we could do about it.' "

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