Evening star., 1952-01-12
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Allies Might Accept
Oral Pledge by Reds
Not 10 Build AirfieIds
BY ne Associated press

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BY The Associated Press
MUNSAN, Korea, Jan. 12.-
United Nations command truce
negotiators asked the Communists
again today for a clear statement
of their present stand on con-
struction Of North Korean air..
fields during an armistice and
again they got no satisfactory
reply.
But some observers felt the q. N.
command might now be willing to
settle for less than a formal ban
on military airfield construction.
They believed Maj. Gen. Howard
M. Turner in effect is asking the
Reds for an oral pledge not to
build or repair airfields while an
armistice is In force. Such a
promise would become part Of the
conference record. but not Of the
armistice agreement itself.
An oral pledge not to build or
repair military bases, If accepted
by the q. N. Allies, would elm
mate the final obstacle barring
agreement on how to supervise q
truce. This single issue has dead
locked the armistice talks for the
past two weeks.
Wrangle Over Prisoners.
The subcommittee discussing
prisoner exchange spent most Of
the day wrangling over whether
war prisoners and civilians should
be allowed to refuse repatriation.
The Allies insist on freedom of
choice. the Reds want all prisoners
exchanged.
Both subcommittees scheduled
sessions for II am. Sunday 60
pm. EST Saturday. in Panmun-
jom.
Washington sources said Friday
that nations fighting under the
U. N. flag in Korea have agreed
substantially to an American plan
to back up a truce with a warning
that if the agreement Is broken
the Chinese mainland will become
the target Of sea and air attacks.
Such a warning might make a
formal, written agreement to ban
airfield construction less impor-
tant to the Allies.
Gen. Turner told the Reds
Saturday the U. N. made clear its
position on airf1eld construction
as late as January 6 and added:
"Your refusal to do so thus de-
is cloaking in confusion
your attitude toward the single
remaining issue before us.
I'VE can only conclude your
side is uncertain regarding the
position regarding airfields. I
would like to have expressed by
you your present intent"
Reds Call 1t Internal Matter"
Brig. Gen. William P. Nuckols,
official U. N. spokesman, said
Gen. Turner emphasized the word
present" in asking for the Com
stand on airfields.
Chinese Maj. Gen. Hsieh Fang
replied, as usual. that the ques-
ton of whether to build. or not to
build airfields is for North Korea
to decide-an internal matter.
Rear Admiral r. E. Libby sai6
United Nations delegates on the
prisoner exchange subcommittee
spent the day in trying TO pin
them tthe Reds1 down man ex-s
planation about their inconsist-
encies in repudiating the doctrine
Of free choice"
The Allies have said the Reds
championed free choice in an
that thousands of South
Koreans willingly Joined the
Communist armies following cap
ture. but repudiated' freedom of
choice in demanding enforced
repatriation" Of prisoners.
Government sources in Wash
ington said the United States
plan to threaten an attack on the
Chinese mainland is designed
solely to provide maximum as
surance that a truce would not
be broken by the Communists.
No Ultimatum Is Intended.
They emphasized there is no
of handing the Reds an
ultimatum threatening an attack
If they do not come to terms soon
On an armistice. These officials
said the United States and its
allies are determined to negotiate
an armistice at Panmunjom if
possible.
United States authorities be-
lieve that once a truce is signed
i it is insured by a warning of
attack-U. N. forces could be
pulled out of Korea as rapidly as
Korean troops are trained and
equipped to take over the job of
Most informants apparently be-
lieve that If the Reds sign an
armistice they will abide by its
terms. United Nations author
ties are said to be hopeful the
Chinese would be motivated by
good faith and a recognition that
the war In Korea was not profit
able to them.
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