Evening star., 1953-04-23
Facts Barred in Probe
OPrisoner Atrocities
Won't Be Published
By Cecil HoIIond

By Cecil Holland
Defense and State Department
officials have agreed to a stepped
UP program of collecting evidence
Of atrocities against American
and other United Nations pris-
oners of war in Korea with a
view toward possible war crimes
prosecutions.
AT the same time. they are
pressing negotiations for the re-
lease of more American prisoners
held by the Communists in
Korea.
These steps were disclosed by
Chairman Bridges of the Senate
Appropriations Committee after
a two-hour closed session with
Defense and State officials yes
terday. The New Hampshire Re
publican said officials had no
idea of how many Americans
are still held prisoner by their
Communist captorS.
Indignation Mounts.
The meeting was held as con-
greSsional indignation mounted
over the reports from American
exchanged prisoners of brutality
and mistreatment at the hands
of the Communists.
Senator Bridges said the COM
mittee had agreed to withhold
testimony about death marches"
and other atrocities at the urging
of Acting Secretary of State Wal
ter Bedell Smith and Defense
officials.
1T would be very unfortunate
at this time" Senator Bridges
commented, Ito publicize some of
the facts now known to our mill
tary forces for fear of reprisals
against our boys still held cap
tive"
He said, however, that the De-
Tense and State officials had con-
firmed the general information
that reports about the atrocities
in Korea were, to a large degree,
sadly and unfortunately correct"
Data Being Collected.
Senator Bridges said the ad-
ministrtaion officials already
were collecting evidence of the
atrocities and that the committee
very strenuouSly urged them to
do "a complete and thorough
job" so that if and when the time
comes this country and other ma
tions fighting the Communists in
Korea would be in a position to
take affirmative action" and the
evidence for war crimes trials will
be in hand.
II think it might be healthy
for the Communist countries to
know this" Senator Bridges said.
Moving warily for fear of the
effect on Americans still held
prisoner, Senator Bridges sched-
uled no further hearings imme-
diately. He said another closed
meeting may be held after some
of the exchanged American
prisoners are returned to this
country in about two weeks.
In addition to Gen. Smith,
those at the hearing included
Col. George Hickman of the
Army's judge advocate staff, and
Col. Patrick Welch, an Army
public relations officer who for
merly served in Korea.
MagnuSOn Urges Caution.
Senator Magnuson, .De,mocrat,
of Washington, a member of the
Appropriations Committee, was
one of those who advocated
caution in airing the atrocity
reports because of the Ameri-
cans still held by the enemy.
I'VE are very hopeful, God
willing" he told reporters, "that
they will come back and the less
said about this the better"
On the House side, Represent
ative Sheehan, Republican, of
Illinois. charged that the Tru-
man administration knew about
the atrocities in Korea but sup
pressed the information because
they did not~want these facts to
influence the election last No.
Vember."
He renewed a demand for an
investigation which he first
made in January and said:
I'm the Pentagon files there
are a great many actual photo
graphs of American boys who
have been the victims of Com
muniSt atrocity murders. Very
few Of these pictures have been
released to the general public"