Waite Won’t Return to Beirut Now : But Envoy Optimistic 2 More Americans Could Be Freed Soon

Anglican Church envoy Terry Waite today ruled out an immediate return to Beirut, saying he will drop from public sight and work through his Middle East contacts for the release of U.S. hostages in Lebanon.

The envoy also told a news conference that he remained “cautiously optimistic” that two more American captives--Terry Anderson and Thomas Sutherland--could be released soon.

“When I have been able to resume these contacts and get information I need, then it may well be that a return to Beirut will be in the cards,” Waite said.

No Interpretation of Mission

He said he was returning to London immediately and “I shall not be returning immediately to Beirut. That is not to be interpreted that my mission has run into the ground.”

Waite met with reporters at the U.S. Air Force’s Lindsey base in Wiesbaden, near the hospital where freed American hostage David P. Jacobsen was undergoing medical examinations.

The envoy said he will “drop out of the public eye” for the next few days while he works on resuming his “church and religious contacts” with people in the Middle East.

“I’ve got information that would suggest to me that the course of action I’m proposing to take is the right course of action,” he said.

“Frankly, I wish it had been different. I wish we had a few more people out a few more days ago,” Waite added.

Suggestions of Freedom

The envoy said Tuesday there were “reasonably strong suggestions” that Anderson, an Associated Press correspondent, and educator Sutherland, both held since 1985, would be the next hostages freed. “That is where our best chances lie at the moment,” he said.

Waite said then that he expected to hear by today about the prospects for the two captives’ release by Islamic Jihad, a pro-Iranian Shia Muslim group that also had held Jacobsen.

When asked today whether he had heard from Middle East contacts on a possible release, Waite responded: “I’m not going to answer that.”

Asked whether anything had changed his assessment of the prospects for the release of Anderson and Sutherland, Waite said: “I’m not yet sure. . . . That’s why I need to have some time away from a high public profile.”

U.S.-Iran Negotiations

Published reports in the Middle East claim that Jacobsen was freed as a result of negotiations between the United States and Iran.

“I know nothing about alleged Iranian-U.S. negotiations,” Waite said today.

“I have to say the rumors and information spread in the last day hasn’t helped,” he said.