Iranian Students Hold Alumna Hostage; U. S. Confirms Her Status at Embassy

Elizabeth Ann Swift '62 is one of two women hostages still held in the U.S. embassy in Iran, a close friend of hers confirmed yesterday.

U.S. State Department spokesman last night confirmed that Swift is on assignment in Teheran, but added, "We cannot absolutely confirm that she is a hostage. We have no list of names."

The close friend, who wished to remain unidentified, said Swift, a senior Foreign Service officer, has been stationed in Teheran for "two to three months at the most."

The friend added that the Swift family thinks the Iranians did not release Swift because a news organization unofficially listed her as a hostage shortly after the militants decided to free the blacks and women. Thirteen of the 62 hostages returned to the United States late last week.

Donald Hamilton, the State Department spokesman, said the government does not believe the publication of Swift's name, prior to the release of the 13 hostages prompted the Iranians to continue holding Swift.

"We acknowledge some are held because of their office," he added, but refused to discuss her official position. The Swift family refused to comment.

Swift attended The Madeira School in Greenway, Va. and came to Radcliffe as a transfer student from Stanford. The former Cabot Hall resident and history concentrator joined the Young Democrats of Harvard-Radcliffe, although friends recall "no alignment" with any particular political stand.

"She was always serious about her work and professional about her approach to government," Joan C. Dine '62 who also lived in Cabot Hall, said yesterday.

Most of Swift's friends contacted described Swift, a Washington, D.C. native, as "highly competent", "very able" and "considerate".

The close friend said that, although Swift speaks only elementary Farsi, the official language of Iran, "she is a remarkable person and that may have been a factor" in the militants' decision to keep her hostage.

The Iranian militants have held hostages in the embassy since November 4 hoping to exchange them for the former shah of Iran, the Mohammed Reza Pahlevi, currently receiving medical treatment in New York City.

Although the followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini refuse to negotiate with the United States about the release of the hostages, the foreign minister of Iran, Abolhassan Bani-Sadr plans to come to the United States later this week.

"At this point, we're hoping that when the Foreign Minister gets here, something will be resolved," the close friend added.