Singers Refused American Visas

Peggy Seeger and Ewan MacColl, the British folksinging team, have been denied visas to enter the United States for a concert tour which was to bring them to Boston on Oct. 31.

MacColl has lodged an appeal with the U.S. Embassy in London, but has said he was giving up hope of obtaining the visas.

MacColl said he did not know the reason for the refusal, but speculated it may have stemmed from what he called "anti-fascist" activities during the '30s. He denied having ever been a member of the Communist party, and stated that his American-born wife, half-sister of Pete Seeger '40, had "never even joined the Girl Scouts."

Manuel Greenhill, manager of Folklore Productions, which was to sponsor the Boston concert, said he had been unable to wait for the results of MacColl's appeal and had canceled the appearance. He said it was a "sad commentary on the State Department that such a thing should happen to two wonderful people."