Reischouer's Condition Stuble After Move to Local Hospital

Retired Harvard Professor Edwin O. Reischeaer, a Japanese history scholar and a forrier ambassador, as in "stable and satisfactory condition" after being rushed to a Boston hospital Wednesday, a hospital statement reported yesterday.

The statement revealed that during one of his frequent trips to Japan Reischaoer was afflicted with gastritis, an inflammation of the stomach lining, and bleeding. He was then admitted to a Japanese hospital for treatment.

The statement added that Reischauer's bleeding has now stopped and he is "fully conscious, alert, and resting comfortably."

But sources close to Reischauer said yesterday that the former professor of East Asian Studies was in stable condition by the time he was transferred to the United States.

"He became better before he came back," explained Albert M. Craig, professor of History and Reischnuer's former student and colleague.

James P. King, a spokesman for Harvard affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital, said that Reischauer decided while in Japan that he wanted to be admitted to the Boston hospital; The professor was flown to the United States Tuesday and taken to the hospital by ambulance the following day.

King declined to say whether Reischauer's gastritis was connected to past illnesses. Reischauer has had liver problems since 1964, when as a U.S. ambassador to Japan, he was stabbed in an assassination attempt and given a transfusion of hepatitis-contaminated blood.

Reischnuer also suffered a stroke two years ago and was in poor health for several months afterward.

King said he had no information regarding further treatment for Reischauer, and did not know when the professor would leave the hospital.

In 1961, Reischauer was chosen by then President John F. Kennedy '40 to serve as ambassador to Japan, a post he held until 1966.

Craig called Reischauer "by far our most successful post-war ambassador" to Japan.

"He was able to reach not only the government, but because of his speeches and writing he was able to communicate with the Japanese people," Craig said.

After his term as ambassador, Reischauer came to Harvard, where he taught until his retirement in 1981.

Reischauer has written many books on Asian history, including "Japan The Story of a Nation." "The Japanese," and "East Asia Tradition and Transformation," which he coauthored with Higginson Professor of History John K. Fairbank '29