Evening star., 1951-12-07
Korea Reds Hint
They Hold Only
Ha|fU. Missing
Say Rotio Is Normal;
Allies Agree to Talk
Of Troop Removal
BY the Associated Press

MUNSAN, Korea, Dec. IA
Communist correspondent hinted
today that no more than half the
10000 Americans reported missing
in Korea are prisoners of war.
The report came from Chi-
nese neWSman at Panmunj jom,
where Allied truce negotiators to-
day opened a major effort to
reach agreement on a compromi
program for policing an armistice.
The Allies dropped their de-
mand for joint U. Communist
inspection teams. They also told
the Reds the question of with
drawing troops from Korea could
be brought up and discussed
later" But they said troop with
drawal early in the armistice
definitely is out.
Calls Proportion Normal.
Chu Chipping, Communist
correspondent, told Allied news
men he knew of no war in which
more than half of the soldiers
listed as missing were prisoners.
II do not see why the Korean
war would be different from other
wars in this respect" he said.
Chu referred to the fact that
only part of those reported miss
ing in action are taken prisoners.
The others are killed in action
and their bodies not recovered.
Allied correspondents did not con-
strue his statement as confirm
ing the recent report by Col.
James NJ Hanley, chief of the
United States 9Th Army's judge
advocates section, that the Reds
had slaughtered approximately
$500 American prisoners.
Other Red correspondents at
Panmunjom said all Allied pris-
oners are being held in big camps
in Korea near the Manchurian
border. He said none have been
taken to China.
Progress on Three Points.
Allied truce negotiators
launched their effort to obtain
agreement on program for en-
forcing the truce lby rewriting
the Communist plan to include
U. N. demands.
The two-man subcommittee
reached general agreement on
three points, left three for further
discussion, and were sharply di-
vided on two when the four-hour
session ended.
! The subdelegates will meet
again Saturday at II am. % pm.
EST Friday.
Before Fridays meeting broke
up. U. N. delegates told the Reds
they were receptive to any ideas"
the Communists might have for
breaking the deadlock.
When the Reds raised their
favorite withdrawal of all
foreign troops from Korea-Maj.
Gen. Henry I. Hodes said the U. N.
Command was willing to discuss
the matter after agreement is
reached on policing the armistice
and exchanging prisoners Of war.
Turner Reports Progress.
Mai. Gen. Howard M. Turner,
chief U. N. subcommitteeman.
told newsmen:
"We made some slight progress.
"On some points I would say
we came into very close agree
ment. We proposed broad prin-
ciple for an armistice commission,
not necessarily military and not
necessarily neutral. but they were
not willing to accept that. They
wanted to discuss details which
we were not willing to discuss at
this time"
Gen. Turner again pressed the
Reds for a reply on his suggestion
that second subcommittee work
simultaneously on exchanging
prisoners of war. The Commu-
nists again baked at an answer.
Revised Proposals.
The Reds said they would study
these revised proposals:
l. All armed forces to withdraw
from enemy-controlled territory
within five days after an armistice.
The U. NJ would retain coastal
islands it holds off North Korea.
2. Both sides designate an equal
number of members to form an
armistice commission to supervise
the armistice.
The U. N. spokesman. Brig. Gen.
William P. Nuckols, said there was
general agreement on the follow
ing three proposals:
/. All armed forces to cease
hostilities within "a hours after
the armistice goes into effect.
2. All armed forces to withdraw
from the demilitarized zone with
in u hours after the agreement.
3. All armed forces, except
agreed military police. to keep out
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