Let Anglican Mediate, Ex-Captive Says

The Rev. Benjamin Weir, a hostage of Muslim extremists for 16 months until he was freed last weekend, suggested Friday that an envoy of the Church of England, with a proven record in freeing kidnaping victims, intervene to help negotiate the release of the six other Americans held in Lebanon.

Weir, 61, a Presbyterian minister, proposed that Terry Waite, a senior Anglican official, be used to make contact with the Muslim extremists holding the remaining Americans.

In one of a series of television interviews, Weir said Waite “apparently is willing now to be available to try to help establish contact . . . to try to bring the two parties together in communication.”

Weir was released by his captors Saturday to relay a message to President Reagan: Unless the United States persuades Kuwait to free 17 fellow terrorists, they may begin to execute the American hostages.

The Reagan Administration has rejected the demand, reiterating U.S. policy against negotiating with terrorists.

In one of his Friday interviews, Weir cited “the possibility of a civilian negotiator such as Terry Waite, who has been a successful mediator in other similar situations in behalf of parties to establish communications.”