THE SPY TRADE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00149R000100020005-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 29, 1998
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: April 26, 1964
• Content Type: NSPR

LONDON SUNDAY TIMES .
26 April 1964
.FOIAb3b
traces the step-by-step story of the. cloak-and-
dagger bargainings that led to the first deal between the Russlanj
and American governments for an exchange of captured spies
In the best traditions of dip
-lomatic douhletalk, Russian
and . Britain each swear the
other side made first move
towards the Wynne-Lonsdale
exchange. A thick official fog
shrouds the actual negotia-
tions which led to the swap
on the Ileer Strasse. But, co-
incidentally, James B. Dono-
van has just told in America
the first full account of his
nerve-racking week's bargain-
ing in East Berlin which
secured the Abel-Powers ex-
change He sharply illuminates
the conspiratorial techniques
which govern such deals, and
the thickly theatrical atm
phere in which they are con-
ducted-and there is an
immediate parallel between
his story and the Wynne
Lousdale swap. In both cases,
the Russians achieved the
same objective: they retrieved
a lost master-spy by adroit
manipulation of pawns. Al-
ready, there is some evidence
that the actual tempo of the
negotiations was similar-the
Russians using their "hot-
and-cold " technique again.
DONOVAN'S STORY; re-
created from his diaries and
reports, tells how he played a
remarkable two-handed game
with the Russians and East
Germans, ostensibly independ-
but in fact collaborating in
an attempt to confuse him. In
the end he freed two other
Americans, one from East Ger-
many, one from Russia, as well
as the U.2 pilot.
Donovan, it Catholic, is a
well-known American lawyer
P (fdG'krTa Nuremberg prose-
tutor and was in the O.S.S.
He defended Abel at his .trial
in 1957. Abel got 30 years-
ent allowed censored correspond-
and while serving sentence was
ence with his family in cast Germany. The U.S, intel-
was, in fact, a group of Soviet
ligence men thought the family crashed his U.2 near Sverd-
agents, In May. 1960, Powers
lovsk, and the Russians gave
him a 10 Year sentence. Imme-
diately, there was talk of an
exchange in America-but, is
in the Wynne case, neither'
Government coveted the
honour of the initiative. it
was a year later, according to
Donovan, that: Abel's "wife
to his office suggesting
an exchange, It took the U.S.
Government another seven
months to d e c i d e . On
Thursday, January 11, 1962,
I?nnovan, then 45, was sum-
mooed to Washington: it had
uss
a
or p
otographing
l
The number would
Germ ny
military establishments. night and day, while
to fix it?
There was an East German tion ran. Clearly,
Immediately Donovan LL~~
an ca led lawyer, the contact went on,
os-
Abel in Leipzig, East German
Y~ represent the Abel and the
from Washington to Frau l } d the mood chai
There, had been " significant (American) Pryor families.
developments," he said, and This man had just sent a mes- .
Qf Len Deighton--bu
concluded: " My proposal is sage to the U.S, Mission in
that 1 meet you at the Soviet West Berlin: Mrs Abel was sure
Embassy in East Berlin on that Pryor and Makinen would came more like Thi
Came in from t
Saturday, February 3 at 12 be freed with Powers if the
tOn Saturday, Fe
noon, It is imperative that no U.S. returned Abel. Your
publicity be given this meeting mission, Donovan was told, is
day with "a cold in
, . . Accordingly, if the fore- to swap Abel for Powers-as
going meeting is satisfactory, for the rest, play it by car.
Donovan woke to awhich felt like pleu luck ") and took th
11,15 he entered
please cable my law' office only " I resolved," says Donovan,
station in West Berl
the message Happy New Year.' " to try for all." The contact
a round-trip ticket (
Donovan was obviously said Donovan would not have
right in the spirit of secret any American diplomat with
minute ride to?Fricd
him on visits to East Berlin.
in East Berlin. Ile wa
He now asked for a letter to It would be too embarassing if
service work. guards-at that
his discretion " in go
guarantee the U.S. Govern- anything went wrong. .1 Your
ment's . intentions to the situation is very different, There
Russians, and late in the could be no embarassmcnt tors were sonlot
through, sometimes
afternoon received this, on De- since you will have no official
Donovan got past
partment of Justice. paper: status."
guard, but "when
Dear Mr Donovan,
Donovan asked if he
a corner through a ro
With respect to the recent
should carry a weapon, or any
dor Ifound about 1
conference with you regarding
recording gear. Ile was told
herded in lines and
executive clemency for your
passport clearance.
assure you.
client, this is to a in
at all from the Fleming-like
(lint upon the fulfilment of
minutes only one or sons had been pro
element of his story, his arrival
circumstances as outlined, the
c
in London by Pan Am on
reason set forth in the letter to
entry and the delay
Tuesday. January 30, made up
your client's wife as to wh_y
be deliberate.
executive clemency should not
sgrnewhal. lie booked straight
place in the line an
be considered, will no longer
$ into Claridges and was soon
up to the neare
nct by "a young, very com-
Gloweringly, I loudly
Reed Cozart, potent `Mr W}rife'," who
in German that appointment at noo
Pardon Attorney. alerted him to leave for "Berlin
Sincerely yours, escort ques Soviet Embassy. escort
Donovan. But already the deter- name in London would be " Mr
Soviet Governments was clear: some West German marks, and
they'were going to avoid actual I gave him a morning bracer of
head answered routine Do Unter den Linden Do
At the massive E
contact with each other as far Claridges' brandy."
told to try next door
,
told it was all he would get. Donovan checked out of
sulate. A bell o
Donovan new names go ito into East the story ~-uood-looking, around 40,wltli~
Donovan's diary entry for Clauidge's before dawn, In
formidable door to
Thursday, January 25, was Connaught Square " we picked
s,~m ng young woma
brief: " This Morning tt try a young lady representing
rr'o you do? "she sai
10 o'clock I received at my law l(ritish security'' and drove to
khe daughter of Rud
office a cablegram from Berlin a U.S. air base where the
This is my mother, F
which read 11APPY NEW' liritish girl left them. It was
and her Cousin Ker
snowing heavily when the
YEAR and was signed HELEN:
" On the Saturday, January 27, U.S,A.F. plane skidded into
s entry began in a Buchan- Tempelhof to be met by "an
his
esquc vein: "I took a cab to American named Bob, who had
the Harvard Club to meet a a small automobile parked
Washington contact for my final nearby." Nobody objected
briefing, . , ." when they drove away 'without
The contact brought two any formalities. Bob,_' tall,
~
been el'athatcthe deal tiw^3owAoitcs~i'ao~rfdSIctTe~00100020005-7
t ~charges. Before the Wall w nt
Ftp Pryor had been dot tg
I h.D, research on trade be hi d
the Iron Curtain, and had
apparently dug rather too deep.
The public prosecutor - . was
demanding death-in the hope,
apparently, that U.S. Public
opinion would demand diplo
matic recognition of East
Germany, so that moves might
he made to save Pryor's life,
Donovan was also told that
Marvin Makinen, a University
of Pennsylvania student, had
been given eight years in
R
i
f
h
private house in Berlin,
"s'ou'l} live here alone," ob
said, " Every morning a stfe.
G ruing maid will come, L fix
your breakfast and make the
bed upstairs . . . You'll find
everything . , . American cigar-
ettes, , twelve - year Scotch,
current magazines."
After dinner, " Bob " drove
Donovan to the Berlin Hilton
and showed him the dim-lit
Golden City Bar. After each
foray into East Berlin, Donovan
was to call him from the Golden
City at an unlisted number,
which he was to bmemorise.
be manned,
the opera-
it little bit
t the n,x1
e Cold'.
bruary 3,
-filled
sleet-filled
my back
ri
sy." At
the Zoo
in, bought
" for good
e twenty-
richstrasse
s
to " use
past
tting
time me visi-
not,
first
I the rounded
ped
corri-
for
After ten
two per-
for
esse seemed to
I d left my
d marched
st Vopo.
told him
had an
n at the
e clicked
ed me to
queue. I
tions . . ,"
mbassy
in
novan was
the Con-
period a
-
disclose. a
"
n.
ll
d
. " I r ot
olf A 5e}.
rau ,bql,
r Drews,"
 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP75-00149R000100020005-7
CPYRGHT
ff'fhe daughter, some thir y-
Ii;f'c years old, was " obvid sly
cry sharp. 1 took her to be
Slavic. ' Frau Abel' looked
about sixty and'a typical house-
wife; she reminded me of a
German character actress.
' Cousin Drews' was a lean,
hard-looking man about fifty-
five; lip kept opening and ?
closing his hands . an Otto r
the Strangler type." They were
all shabbily dressed.
At twelve precisely the ante-
room door opened and a
tall, well-proportioned, neatly-
dressed man with rimless
glasses entered. He introduced
himself as Ivan Alexandrovich
Schischkin, second secretary at
the Soviet Embassy, and moved
the party into a conference
room. " Secretary Schischkin,"
said Donovan, " I have come to
Berlin for only one reason. An
East German lawyer named
Wolfgang Vogel sent a message
that Mrs Abel believed that the
release of her husband would
student Pryor, held in East
Germany, and the American
student Makinen, now in prison
in Kiev."
Schischkin drummed 'his
fingers on the table. Donovan
passed him the justice Depart-
ment letter. " Very vague,"
said Schischkin. Details had
been omitted from the letter
said Donovan so that there
would be no loose talk by
stenographers,
e~ pause Schischkin;
[r>iic nlaccrc, said:
" Over a year ago these Abel
people came to my office.
. . . They are East'Germans.
I told them I would
intercede with the . Soviet
Government, to see whether
Powers might be exchanged for
Abel. I received a favourable
r,eply from Moscow, because
certain Fascist factions in the
U.S. have sought-to link this
East German with the Soviet
Union. We would like to see
this eliminated, in order to
promote greater understanding
between our two countries. '
" However, as to these
students Pryor and Makinen,
I have never even heard of their
cases. You have introduced a
new matter, and I woulq be
unauthorised to discuss it at
this time." His English was
immaculate. .
Donovan said that if the
Russians would not discuss the
" new matter " he was going
home-but first he we 'd
describe the U.S. arrangem 'nt
for freeing Abel if Vogel's
proposal should be ratified.
Abel would arrive in Berlin by
military aircraft, with the U.S.
deputy-director . of prisons
carrying a pardon signed 'by
President Kennedy, but requir-
ing counter-signature.. The
deputy-director would sign the
pardon at the suggested
exchange-point: the Glienicker
Bridge. " Are you sure such a
document has been signed?"
asked Schischkin. " Definitely,"
said Donovan. He wrote Bob's
secret number on a card and
passed it to Schischkin, saying
that was how to reach him if
the Russian Government was
LONDON SUNDAY TM ES
26 April 1964
The conference was over, after
two hours. Abel's " family "
had not spoken a word, and
with the first fencing out of the
way, Donovan could see clearly
enough who was his real anta-
gonist. U.S. Intelligence later
told him they thought
" Schischkin " was really the.
Westw European head of the
Russian intelligence force KGB.
A?} 5 p.m. on Monday,
February 5, Donovan was back
in the consulate, where he met
Miss Abel and Drews in the
ante-room. Mother was unwell
in her hotel, he was told (she
never reappeared). Suddenly
Schischkin appeared, took
Donovan into the inner office,
without the family and porten-
tously opened a big leather
portfolio. He took out a
document:
1. The Soviet Government
has humane feelings and in this
spirit agrees to exchange
Powers for Abel.
2. This humane action on
both sides and the elimination
of a permanent source of anti-
Soviet propaganda should con-
tribute to better relations
between our countries,
3. If the American Govern-
ment is interested in the free-
ing of Makinen, who is now
in Kiev, the Soviet Government
is ready to exchange Abel for
Makinen, but a simultaneous
exchange of both Powers and
Makinen for Abel is impossible.
It is up to the Americans to
make their choice. If the
matter is properly concluded,
and better relations result,
further developments could
occur.
As to the case or Pryor,
this matter is out of the pro-
vince of the Soviet authorities
and must be accomplished
through the East German
Government. This can be done
throtfgh Mrs Abel and her
attorney Vogel, who already
have communicated to Donovan
tha? their petition has received
fav urable consideration by the
East German Government.
Scl ischkin added that the
GlienIcker Bridge was " not
bad" as an exchange-point.
Continued from Page'15
'Donovan replied. that, in view
of the number used, that was one
of the things he wanted to ka .;'..
The Abel family were present
when you gave it to me,' said
-Schischkin. "The number was
written on a card which I passed
directly to you," said Donovan.
" Some people have sharp eyes."
was the bland reply..
Donovan said he trusted. the
Soviet had no intention of with-
drawing. Schischkin leant back
in his chair: the Soviet Govern-
ment, he said, was not in the
habit ? of changing an expressed
position. "However," he said,
"I wish to make a few personal
observations. You tell me now
for the first time that you have-
arranged with the East German
Government to release Pryor in
return for Abel.. Before that you
Donovan asked if the reference
to Makinen meant the
U.S.S.R. would grant Makinen
clemency later if the Abel deal
resulted in better international
relations. Schischkin said he
would " inquire."
Because of Donovan's sore
back (now rather obvious) they
arranged that the U.S. reply to
this counter-proposal would be
given, not in person, but
through diplomatic courier.
Outside the Embassy Donovan
told Drews and Miss Abel what
had happened, and she said:
" We must go immediately to
see Herr Vogel." A half-hour
cab trip took them to a shabby
building in a second-class dis-
trict. Blankets covered the
windows. " The entrance was
poorly lighted. I made out a
flight of stairs, with bare walls
on either side. It seemed so
unlike the approach to the
office of any attorney that with
Cousin Drews behind me I
grew apprehensive and looked
over my shoulder more than
once. At such moments one
is comforted by the thought
that. there. is no point in worry,
since there is no place to run."
Vogel ushered them into a
small, well-furnished office. He
was a good-looking 37-year-old
with a flashing smile. He wore
a hand-made grey flannel suit,
a white-on-white shirt, silk tie
with matching handkerchief,
and elaborate cuff-links; alto-
gether a startling sort of East
German. Vogel asked if Dono-
van spoke German, and when
u ?
Cousin Drews surprisingly
volunteered as interpreter.
Several attempts were made to
see if Donovan knew more
German than he admitted.
Vogel produced a letter in
German from the East German
Attorney-General:
" It is hereby certified that
the petition for release of your
client to American authorities
can he granted if the conditions
known to you are met by the
Americans."
different buyers and is asking
both for payment," Q
Donovan answered: "In \ view
of your Government's tated
position of the independenke of
bast Germany,. why' is it any
concern of yours what the East
Germans may do in recogni-
tion of the commendable U.S.-
Soviet accord? If for 'humane
reasons ' the East Germans
decided to release Pryor, or a
herd of sheep, on the bridge at
the sarne time as the Powers-
Abel exchange, how is this a
matter which 'concerns you? "
Schischkin almost smiled, ? but
did not answer. When Donovan
went on to say that if t'ester-
day's deal was not ratified, he
would go home, Schischkin said
he thought Donovan should go to
Vogel's office and talk things over
with him. " Please feel free to
.-return here later today," he said.
release Abel in exchange for . keep Donovan shuttling', bctw'cen
. Donovan, wondering how the
East German attorney had seen
the U.S, justice Department'
letter on which this was so
obviously modelled, told Vogel
he wanted a simple answer to
a simple question: if the tenta-
tive plan for the exchange were
approved by all concerned, did
Vogel now. guarantee the East
Germans would produce Pryor
at the same time and place for
" the tripartite exchange ?
" Definitely yes," said Vogel.
By 7.10 Donovan was
in the Golden City bar tele-
phoning " Bob." It all looked
good: they were getting Powers,
and a good promise for
Makinen, from the Russians,'
and getting Pryor, the man
threatened with death, from the
East Germans. But just as
Donovan was going to bed,
Bob arrived with a message
which had just come into the
secret number from a West
German call-box-a man speak-
ing in German: " Unexpected
difficulties have arisen. Must
speak with you urgently in my
office at 11 a.m. tomorrow,
February 6--Vogel."
Was it a trap? They decided
Donovan should not visit Vogel,
but call on Schischkin and
demand an explanation., Don-
ovan rang the Consulate door-
bell at 10 a.m. next day, and
after a wait of 15 minutes
Schischkin came to him.
Schischkin expressed surprise at
the visit.
Donovan told Schischkin that
the U.S. Government was will-
uwg WAt-t f?'v c
and Pryor on the understanding
that Makinen would receive
clemency soon after. Schischkin
nodded. Then Donovan said
that " last night's mysterious
message," when reported to
Washington, had disrupted all
the plans. He handed Schisch-
kin a copy of the message, and
Schischkin said: How very
strange a message: What does it
mean? "
Continued on Page 16
" Pavlov " tactics, Donovan called
them, designed to shatter his
i Morale by constantly buildin( up
I'is hopes and then exploring
tem.
JConceding a point, ' Dono' an
took a cab to the office, where he
found Vogel and Drews. Miss
Abel was " taking . care of her
mother," (she never reappeared),
but Vogel read to Donovan a
lengthy document on cheap, lined
paper which he said she had pre-
pared. It started: " Last night
after we had departed .1 was
summoned by Mr? Vogel and he
told me bad news "-and moved
into a declaration that ' the
East German Government had
nev s meant to swap more t?tan
one person for one person, nd
wer< most surprised to hear tat
Don van had. fixed up with ,~he
Soviet Union for an cxchangeof
" So it is three for one they want," said Schischkisal d -
ti'_vely. " One artist,' rep ie
Donovan, " is always worth
more than three mechanics."
Approved For Release : CIA-RDP75-00149R000100020005-7
 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP75-00149R000100020005-7
CPYRGHT
LONDON SUNDAY TIMES
26 April 196
r
yon amt. y in partcu1ar. to have the Attorney-General
Donovan exploded. East Ger- -, change his mind."
many and Vogel were obviously Donovan a?reed, but, said he
in bad faith. Any idea of an would like some lunch, and he
exchange of Abel for Pryor was had ' no East German money.
out of the question. Schischkin' Vogel gave him 50 marks, and
and Vogel, said Donovan, were Drews asked if he might join
obviously trying to make a fool Donovan for lunch, Vogel and
.of him.. He got. up and began to Donovan walked downstairs
pull on his greatcoat, while Drews " booked a table"
Vogel pressed a buzzer. The (as the restaurant turned out
ofli `e door snapped open.' A man almost empty, Donovan duct d
marched up to Voge]'s desk and, it was a call to Schischkin). But
h ~d nodding like a parrot, said Vogel, watching over his shoulc or
the Attorney-General had just for Drews, gave Donovan a
rung, The Attorney -General thumbs-up sign and said: "No
someone else. The Attorney-
Get oral's office had now deter-
nii ed that " in case of the
A. -erican refusal to exchange
Pr or for Abel, they will start the
tr al and make a sensation out of
it," with " negative results for the
P
f ?1 "
retreat," " He obviously was try- Abel that-his family was abandon- sidered the message with Bob."
ing to carry water on both ing him, and perhaps he should A trap? Another skirmish in the
s bulders," decided Donovan. reconsider his refusal to co- war of nerves? Eventually
" Jrews then came downstairs, operate with U:S. intelligence. Donovan decided he must go.
-a id we al] entered Vogel's car, a Next day ? was Wednesday, His taxi drew up outside the
s irprisingly attractive new sports "'February 7, dark and sleet-filled. Soviet Embassy at 3.45. Schischkin
model..." The Washington cables corn- appeared, and took him into a
Drews and Donovan were finish- plained that Donovan was over- private office. A, table find been
ing'lunch about 3.15 when Vogel playing his role, and endangering set up with a .bottle of Armenian
came in. A terrific battle with. the main business of swapping brandy, mineral water, biscuits
the Attorney-Genera], but he had Abel for Powers. They added and a bowl of fine apples. The
finally been victorious. All diffi- that if he went back to East crustal and silver were glorious.
culties had now been removed- Berlin, it would be at his own risk. Schischkin filled two glasses with
as far as the East Germans were Donovan's . concern about being the brandy . ("our best-very
concerned, Pryor could go over seized himself had some founda- expensive ") and proposed a toast
with Powers, The entire trouble tion. Vogel pointed it up lightly of " good luck." They clinked
had stemmed from the fact that once when Donovan got rid of glasses. Thank you, Professor
Donovan had gone to see East German marks to comply Pavlov, thought Donovan.
Schischkin first, not the Germans.. with border rules: " It is lucky
you are so scrupulous, or we Everything was fine, said
B
k
h
ac
to t
e Soviet Embassy, might have to exchange you. At ' Schischkin-Powers and Pryor
where Schischkin elaborately 3.15 p.m. a message came to the would be released simultaneously.
introduced himself to Vogel as a. unlisted phone number: Moscow approved. Only-the
complete stranger, " and took two actions would not take place
Donovan. Unfortunately we
Donovan away for
rivale talk
h
p
,
at t
e same point, because Fast
Another switch was coming. The to got get it reply tomorrow y.1. hope Germany was a separate Govern-
W Wail in
S
oviet Government. Schischkin form immediately- .
. meat. Donovan said this seemed
said, had formed the impression Schischkin an' unnecessary complication, but'
In front of an open fire
f
ad
rom
o remarks that
, Schischkin stuck to it, so he
Makinen was regarded as moat Donovan conferred with Bob," finally agreed. But what about
valuable than Powers. Therefore, Alan Lightner, chief of the U.S. M ikinen? Schischkin said he
the Powers offer was withdrawn mission, and Gen. Lucius Clay, had communicated Donovan's
Kennedy's personal representative
b
--
ut they would now swap
thoughts, and the Soviet Govern-
in Berlin. The group agreed that
Makinen for Abel instead, meat approved them in principle.
it would be foolhardy for Donovan
Donovan exploded again. The. to make. another "surprise " visit 'Donovan knew be had got as
Powers-Abel exchange had been to East Berlin through the much as he was going to get-the
basic to the discussions, he Curtain. But eventually Ainbas- U-2 pilot and the student under
snapped. "You have been play- sador Clay drafted a message threat of death. - with ,good
ing chess with me since last which went off to Schischkin by pro'spects' for Makinen, the
Saturday. While I enjoy chess on diplomatic courier: student jailed in Kiev., But the
occasion; I don't now have time Received your telephone Communists were sticking to their
facade of independent " oper-
for a game." "Me? " relied message and regret delay, as
Schischkin. I play only volley- the time which I can spend anions, and he knew they had not
-ball." here is limited. As my back given up hope of -getting more
. The Communists were in fact' still bothers me, I would like out of him'
-playing 'a' very skilful game, and to ask that you come to the Straight-faced. Schischkin sug-
miaking the best. of their three residence of Mr Howard Trivers gusted the exchange be made at
-rather weak "pieces.' But of our mission between 4,00 his.Embassv. Donovan dismissed
Donovan knew that his " one ' and 6.00 p.m. tomorrow. The this. and they agreed tentatively
artist " was still worth more than address is 12 Vogelsong, on 7.30 a.m. at Oberbauni bridge.
"three mechanics." He stormed Dahlem-Donovan. They had some more brandy, and
gut of Schischkin's office without At dawn on Thursday, cut up an apple. Then Schischkin
Rhaking hands, saying if he had February 8, a message came over called an embassy car, and despite
not heard something better by the secret number: the sleet insisted on shepherding
tomorrow ni
ht
he
ld
g
,
wou
go
back' to New York.
Drews walked with him to
riedriclistrasse station. As they
iartd. Donovan said that, if he
aventt home, he would tell. Colonel
reply. Waiting to see you-at
my office 4 o'clock today if"your
health allows you to come here
-Schischkin.
Over breakfast, Donovan con-
wanted'Vogel In. his office at 130
to discuss "the Pryor matt "
furtherg "This is good new ?,"
exclaimed Vogel, looking at is
Berlir} until my appointment is
concluded. I promise I shall try
Donovan into it.
"I returned through the usual
channels and arrived in . West
Berlin at 6,10 p.m.- I gave a,
mess.ige for Washington to Bob
at the Golden City Bar, saying
that the deal was complete and
'the package there' should be
traimportccl immediately."
Donovan and Schischkin met
again at noon on Friday the 9th
.
The Russian said that a review
of that morning's traffic on the
Oberbaumbrucke had led them to
return to the original G]ienicker
Bridge idea. Bur it was furtli,er
awav: make the time 8.30.
Thc,v had one more good thrust
each to finish the duel. Schischkin
argued at length that Pryor
should be released at "Vogel's
office, but Donovan refused any
location inside East Berlin.
Finally, Schischkin said Pryor
could go over at Checkpoint
Charlie, ~
Sanitized - Approved For RePaw :s of
two-way word to Glieniockei where he and
Schischkin ' would exchange
Powers and Abel.
Then: " I urged Schischkin
in
,
his self-interest, to 'release Pryor
'
today so as to
keep the deals
separate, but Schischkin replied
that this would be contrary to
his ins'tructions."
On Saturday, February 10,
Donovan rose at 5.30 and wearily
packed. He drove to the U.S.
military Compound. and, in a
maximum-security cell under-
ground, met his old client Abel
,
"thin, worn and suddenly old,
but as gracious as ever." Abel
said: " Hello, Jim," and. offered
him an American cigarette, say-
i
"
ng wryly:
I shall miss these."
Just before departing for the
bridge. Abel took Donovan's
hand and said: "Your' hobby, I
know, is collecting rare books
.
In my country such cultural
treasures me the property of the
State. But in some way I shall
arrange for you to receive an'
appropriate expression of my
gratitude, within the next.year."
The bridge was bitterly cold,
with U.S. military police every-
where. The disconcerted West
German border guards had been
shoved into a sentry box'to dri:ik
coffee. At 8.15 Abel arrived in a
car full of guards---one of them,
x-comrade 11 .1,
Lightner and d an
ee
g
~
Continued on Page 17 _ ^\g
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LONDON SUNDAY TI OS
26 April 1961'
CPYRGHT
Continued from Page 16
Schischkin roared with laughter,
"I yield to you as a lawyer," he
signed it. At gestures from
Schisclkin and Donovan
Powers
,
j
and Abel, carrying overstuffed
bags, crossed the centre line.
comrade's hand and, walking off
the bridge.
Abel paused, and asked
Wilkinson for .his pardon. "I'll
keep this as a sort of diploma,"
he said. He put clown his bag,
gave Donovan his hand, and said,
I answered: "Good luck, Rudolf."
Schischkin and Donovan clasped
"t Berlin? " Donovan shrugged, and
J with a . sudden attack of
negotiator's paranoia. thought of
the journey thrnuvh the ['nrrirt ,.
out of East Germany. " I think
we're entitled to a few days' rest
here, don't you? " he said. " Of
course," said Schischkin, " Good-
bye and good luck."
On October ii, 1963, after two
reminders from Donovan, Marvin
Makinen was released by the
Makinen ,
Donovan and hook: Irony a
grateful spy
firmation. Someone shouted: I trust your health will not suffer
No word on Pryor yet." from overwork.
antes and a handclasp. Then,
from the Western end Abel, the
mountainous guard, and the
Deputy-Director of Prisons, Fred
Wilkinson, paced forward. From
the Russian end cahie Powers,
in a fur shako, a'nd " two men
like retired wrestlers."
The exchange, Sr id Schisclkin.,
must now take place. Pryor had
been released. Donovan called
back to the radio car for con-
were wrong. The exchange must
be made immediately, before
civilian traffic arrived, Was it a
serious attempt to get Abel and
keep Pryor--or was it just force
.of habit? 11 We, wait right here."
said Donovan, " until my people
confirm that Pryor has been
released. Perhaps Vogel is
arguing with Pryor ahout hislegal
..August, 1962, there was an odd
: incident at the Wall. At the
trigger-happy height of a border
crisis (an East German youth had
been shot down and left to die
by the Vopos) a Soviet courier
came up to . Friedrichstrasse
check-point' with an envelope and
package. They were addressed to
Donovan in New York. The
letter said:
Dear Jim,
Although I am neither a col-
lector of old books nor a lawyer,
I believe that the two old books
printed in the XVIth-century and
dealing with law that i was lucky
enough to find are sufficiently rare
fo be a welcome addition to your
collection. Please accept them as a
Sincerely yours,
Rudolf.
The package contained two rare
Th century vellum - bound
editions of " Commentaries on the
Justinian Code," in Latin.
Secker and Warburg ?will
publish lames Donovan's book
"Strangers on a Bridge" in Eng-
land this autumn. %
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 Sanitized
Sanitized
Approved For Release : CIA-RDP75-00149R0
00100620005-7
00100020005-7
CPYRGHT
 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP75-00149R000100020005-7
LONDON SUND2 Y TD IM
26 April 1964
YOU ARE: 1EAVIN'C,
.`Y i 1'~ 4iCMI S C'O! r
G1ienicker Bridge : exchange point for Abel. and
CPYRGHT
~R. vJ1'isviCiwu.NV.h].f1]Sl'v..?h :vx.x,niLv,..y,.:. f~G5.1v4.c.'u lfm{6YYV ~:WPY`~5e
Colonel Abel, the spy, and James B. Donovan, his counsel
CPYRGHT
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