DENIAL OF REPORTS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29514, 16 May 1961, Page 15

DENIAL OF REPORTS

Powers Hopes To Return

INZ Press Asm—Copyright) POUND (Virginia), May 14. The American U-2 pilot, Francis Powers, had denied reports that he planned to remain in the Soviet Union whgn he was released from prison. Associated Press reported. "I am a citizen of the United States and am proud to be one,” Powers said in a letter to bis parents in Pound. "I might not like all the policies of the United States Government, but I feel sure there are many millions of people in the United States who disagree with them also.” Powers’ letter was shown by his father, Mr Oliver Powers, today to reporters. The U-2 pilot was sentenced to 10 years in prison last August by a Soviet Court. The letter was in response to a newspaper clipping sent to Powers by his father early last month, in which a London newspaper reporter was quoted as saying the pilot would be released about May 1 and planned to stay in the Soviet Union. "I cannot imagine where the correspondent got his information unless he invented it himself. You may rest assured that I will return home, where I belong and want to be. as soon as I am released." Powers wrote. “Remaining here has never entered my mind.”

Bus Crashes.— Eleven persons were killed and six injured when a bus from Mexico City skidded in the fog and crashed into a deep ravine 40 miles north of Oaxaca yesterday.— Oaxaca (Mexico), May 15.