Protest quelled in Seoul as Bush issues US praise

Hundreds of riot police broke up an antigovernment demonstration outside a Seoul cathedral hours after Vice-President George Bush spoke to South Korean authorities. Mr. Bush delivered to President Chun Doo Hwan a letter from President Reagan congratulating the Seoul government for its steps toward national reconciliation.

The demonstration occurred after a mass for a priest arrested for allegedly giving shelter to suspects in the March 18 arson of a US cultural center in Pusan. At the service, Archbishop Youn Kong Hi, who had attended the speech by Mr. Bush earlier, said the government and news media were trying to mislead Korean public opinion into believing the church fostered left-wing dissidents.

The demonstration began as the mass ended. Police detained several youths for questioning and one youth may have been injured.