Evening star., 1947-08-23
Reds 10 Release
; Seized GIs in
Korea Tomorrow
Russians Soy They
Will Free Trio
At Zone Border
BY the Associated Press

SEOUL, Aug. 23.-The Rus
sians announced today that
three American enlisted men
taken into custody just inside
the Soviet occupation zone in
North Korea August Il would be
released tomorrow.
The American liaison officer at
Pyongyang, Russian occupation
headquarters, was informed by
representative of the Soviet COM
mG I'd that the Americans would be
released at the point where they
crossed the border.
The three are T/5 Tommy F.
Gugsley of Renton. Wash; Pfc. John
D. HOPPE of Seattle and Pfc. Gerald
K. Geffen of Port Chester, N. Y.
An American intelligence officer
said they would be interviewed in
Seoul tomorrow morning.
Skepticism Voiced.
The intelligence officer expressed
some skepticism of the Russian an
nouncement, however.
Our attitude here" he said, "is
seeing is believing" and added
that the Russians had promised to
release the soldiers once before, the
day following their seizure. CThe
Army had not previously disclosed
the earlier Russian promise to re-
lease the men.)
1t. Gen. John R. Hodge, COM
mander of the American (southern)
occupation zone of Korea, had
lodged two strong protests against
the arrest of the Americans, who
were on an official mission to in
spect telephone lines connecting
American headquarters in Seoul
with those at Pyongyang.
His protests and demands for an
explanation were answered only
with a +. st statement that Gen.
KorotoVf(Russian occupation zone
f7a5 fG%"l 's'' is handling the case
Plebiscite Proposed.
Meanwhile, the United States
proposed an internationally y-super-
vised plebiscite in Korea as means
of breaking the Russian
deadlock on the type of government
desired by the people of this occu-
pied nation.
Maj. Gen. Albert E. Brown, chief
of the American delegation to the
Korean joint commission, said the
Soviets have not replied to Secre-
tary of State Marshall's August 8
proposal for a Joint report on the
commissions deadlocked efforts.
The Russians want to obtain
Korean opinion on self government
through consultation with political
parties and social organizations.
The Americans are for consulting all
groups agreeing to uphold a deci-
sion, regardless Of any views on
trusteeship of the nation.
American occupation authorities
say trusteeship of Korea is not now
the issue. The Soviets refuse to
consult rightist opponents of trus-
teeship on the theory they are not
upholding the major powers deci-
sion to place Korea under a trus-
teeship.
Two Proposals Rejected.
Gen. Brown said the American
move for a general election followed
Soviet rejection of two other Ameri-
can proposals. They were:
Cd That the Russians consult
North Korean (Russian occupation
zone) elements and that Americans
consult those in the south: and
(2) That the joint commission con-
suit northern and southern groups
the Soviets are willing to hear, and
the Americans unilaterally consult
South Korean parties with whom the
Russians refuse to meet.
The latest American proposal fol-
lowed an announcement by 1t. Gen.
John r. Hodge yesterday of the ar
rest of many Koreans accused of
widespread activity of a revolution
ary nature" The American occupa-
ton zone commander hinted of
tieup between the alleged plot and
"the North"
The election proposal suggested
that the commission dispense with
future oral consultation and accept
opinions already expressed-in an
swers to questionnaires on the type
of government and ppolitical char
ter-as consultation" under the
Moscow decision.
The proposed plebiscite would
name a national legislature and
such other officers as agreed on.
Gen. Brown said an election with
free campaigning, secret and multi
party ballots under international
supervision would permit "even
wider expression of opinion than
consultation.