Evening star., 1952-12-17
5U.S. Correspondent
See No Prospects for
Early Truce in Korea
BY the Associated Press


NEW YORK, Dec. 17.-Five
American war correspondents
agreed in a record radio broad
cast from Tokyo last night that
there are no prospects for a.
truce in Korea in the near future.
The correspondents were heard
on the American Broadcasting
Co.'S Americas Town Meeting
of the Air" answering question
from radio listeners in ABC'S New
York studios.
The correspondents also were
in agreement that, with the
Stalemate in truce talks, an all
out offensive by United Nations
troops in Korea would "best be
understood by the Communists"
But they questioned whether
the U. N. forces have the capacity
now to bomb Manchurian bases,
whether Chinese Nationalist
troops should be used in Korea,
and whether an ultimatum to
Russia in the U. N. would be
effective.
Correspondents Listed.
The Tokyo panel of correspond
ents included Lindsay Parrottl
of the New York Times, Henry
Hayward. Christian Science Moni-
tor: Walter Simmons, Chicago|
Tribune; Robert Prosser, News
week magazine, and Robert Eun-
son, Associated Press.
The program was led off with
brief statement from Gen. Mark
Clark. U. N. commander in the
Far East, who said he was happy
to send this word of greeting to
the American people on this
significant broadcast" He added
Il know these reporters will
answer your questions with the
same honesty, frankness and
integrity which distinguishes the
writing of their dispatches on the
battlefront.
II am confident that this panel
discussion will reward you with a
fuller understanding of what this
struggle in Korea means to each
of us in the free world we are
determined so resolutely to pre-
serve"
Truce Thought Possible Earlier.
Mr.. Eunson, Associated Press
bureau chief for Japan and Korea, /
said he and other correspondents /
thought six months ago that an
armistice was possible and that |
agreement had been reached on
the exchange of North and South |
Korean prisoners.
But when screening of Chinese /
prisoners showed that $4,000 out |
Of 10000 would "kill themselves
or try to escape" rather than re-
turn home, he said, that broke
up the ball game"
I'm the intervening six months,
Mr.. Eunson added, "the Com |
munists have taken advantage of /
the situation and built up to such /
depth it would take many casual /
ties on our part now to crack the [
line and bring them to their knees /
again and make them want to |
talk"
Mr.. Hayward said the prisoner |
issue had been so thoroughly dis /
cussed that it probably isn't the |;
only thing that is preventing an
armistice.
THE general opinion of many
people here is that an armistice |
could be obtained in a few hours
almost any afternoon if Moscow
or Peiping would give the word"
he said.
Replying to a question how the
war could be won without bombing
in Manchuria, Mr.. Simmons said
he did not think I'VE now have
the capacity out here to bomb
Manchuria."
Mr.. Hayward said he thought
Chinese Nationalist troops might
be used effectively to chase guer-
rillas in the South Korean hills or
guard non-Chinese prisoners, re-
leasing other troops for front line |
service.
But Mr.. Simmons said chasing |
guerrillaS is "a touchy political
thing" and added:
THE guerrilla question in Korea
Is very much tied up in politics and
will probably be intensified if you
put Chinese or Americans or any,
body else chasing after Koreans. 81