Some Hostages Feel ‘Sympathy’ for Shias : Understand Distress Over Kin Held in Israel, Spokesman Says

American hostage Allyn Conwell said in an interview from a seaside resort in Beirut today that many of the 39 TWA hostages being held by Shia Muslims have a “profound sympathy” for their captors’ cause.

Conwell made the statement in an interview with ABC News reporter Charles Glass, who also met with the Rev. James McLoughlin of Geneva, Ill., and Ralf Traugott of Lunenberg, Mass. All three appeared unshaven and somewhat tired but otherwise healthy.

Glass apparently was called by the captors and given a time and place to meet with some hostages. He said the only condition was that he not reveal the place.

Release of 735 Sought

Members of the Shia Amal militia are demanding the release of 735 Lebanese held in Israel.

“Fortunately or unfortunately . . . we find that many in our group have a profound sympathy for the cause, for the reason the Amal have in saying, ‘Israel free my people,’ ” said Conwell, of Houston.

He said the hostage situation “sort of fell into the Amal’s lap. I think they’re dealing with it the best they can.

“I certainly do not exonerate them from blame. I say that they are indeed capitalizing on the situation, but let’s face it, if someone captured my wife and children and had them across that border, I also would be taking drastic actions and doing things that would be indeed against my principles to secure their freedom.”

Glass said that during the interview the hostages were surrounded by six Amal militiamen but that only one was armed. He said the three appeared to be on good terms with their Amal guards and were even “laughing and joking together.”

Glass was told the hostages were being held in five groups.

McLoughlin, 46, a Roman Catholic priest, was asked if he felt he was being used for propaganda purposes.

He said he felt that the interview gave him a chance to “speak directly to my family and the people of my parish . . . an opportunity to show them by seeing me on the TV that I’m doing well.”

Traugott, 31, who Wednesday night was allowed to telephone his girlfriend in Massachusetts, said he thought negotiations could be speeded up if the hostages were moved to the French Embassy in Beirut.

Spokesman for Group

Conwell, who acted as spokesman for the group during a news conference last week, added, “I can’t imagine having the opportunity for securing the safety of the hostages and turning it down.”

Conwell said the hostages themselves originally turned down offers to speak to reporters “out of fear of someone in our group saying something that could cause an inflammation of the situation.”

“We still have that concern,” he said, adding, “We have an equal concern that none of us are party to a war of propaganda . . . either here, or in the States or in Israel.”