April 8, 1975

Eastern Airlines has agreed to provide transportation out of Cuba for 350 Cuban prisoners and their immediate families if their release is approved by "the proper government agencies in the United States and Cuba."

Both Eastern officials and State Department sources emphasized Monday, however, that they have no indication the release of any prisoners is imminent or even contemplated by Cuba.

The Eastern offer came in response to a query about transportation from one of several groups that have been working for years, largely without success, to obtain the release of Cuban political prisoners.

"Our company will provide such transportation when, and if, it is legally and practicably possible," Thomas McFadden said in a letter to the group. "As you are aware, formal authority for such a program would have to come from the proper government agencies in the United States and Cuba."