Daniloff Fears He Won’t Be Freed Soon as Tensions Escalate

Jailed American reporter Nicholas Daniloff fears U.S.-Soviet tensions over his case are “escalating dangerously” and believes he won’t be released soon, his wife said today.

Earlier in the day, Foreign Ministry spokesman Gennady Gerasimov told reporters a “mutual solution” to the Daniloff case could be found, but he declined to be specific. Daniloff was arrested Aug. 30 and accused of spying.

Ruth Daniloff, accompanied by U.S. Consul Roger Daley, met with her husband for the third time in Moscow’s Lefortovo prison.

She has accused the Soviet government of framing the 51-year-old journalist and holding him hostage so an exchange can be arranged for Gennady F. Zakharov, a Soviet U.N. employee arrested in New York and indicted today on spy charges. (Story, Page 1.)

After seeing her husband for an hour and 20 minutes, she told reporters that he looked drawn but was composed and gave her a thorough rundown on his conditions and KGB interrogations that have covered 28 hours.

‘Long Haul’ Expected

“He is philosophical. He thinks it will be a rather long haul,” she said.

Daniloff, correspondent for U.S. News & World Report magazine, was arrested by eight KGB agents after a Soviet acquaintance handed him a package later found to contain military photographs and maps marked “secret.”

On Sunday he was formally charged with espionage, which under Soviet law can carry a prison term of seven to 15 years or the death penalty. Daniloff has denied the charge.

“He thinks his case is escalating rather dangerously and that he wouldn’t like to see it torpedo the summit or torpedo U.S.-Soviet relations,” his wife said, referring to the possibility of diplomatic reprisal by the United States if Daniloff is not released.

Isolated, Frightened

Mrs. Daniloff said her husband feels isolated and finds its frightening “when you are alone in your cell and people are talking about death sentences.”

Daley was asked whether Daniloff would agree to being exchanged for Zakharov.

“He is interested in being released,” Daley said. “The options aren’t really of great concern at the moment.”

At his news conference, Gerasimov said “U.S.-Soviet relations should not be held hostage to this case of Daniloff. If both sides make serious efforts, I think it would be possible to find a mutual solution to this question.”

In Washington, President Reagan and Secretary of State George P. Shultz briefed congressional leaders today on the Daniloff case, but pledged their audience not to divulge what steps the United States is considering in retaliation.