Evening star., 1953-09-25
Neutral Commission
DeIaysA|Iied and Red
Persuasion Of P0Ws
Continued From First Page.0


lay but asked that it be deducted
from the 90-day explanation pc
riod, which the armistice terms
say must start September 25.
There are these main points of
conflict between the allied and
Communist views:
l. The Communists insist on
interviews with individual pris-
oners; the allies demand groups
of 25.
2. The U. N. Command wants
the prisoner to have the right to
refuse to listen to the explana-
tions; the Communists demand
that all prisoners listen.
The allies object to individual
interviews on the belief that a
prisoner appearing before Red
explainerS might be intimidated
by threat of repriSal and other
means.
Hopes to Avoid Coercion.
The U. N. holds that chances
for coercion would be at mini
mum in a crowd. Moreover, the
u. N. view is based on the be-
lief that the groups of Is who
have been together while in cap
tivity are under the orders of
their leaders and would resist
repatriation to Communism.
The U. N. command says a
prisoner should be allowed to re-
fuse to go to the explanations on
the ground that he already has
made his choice and that any
reversal must be done by IAN
overt" act on his part-that is,
by applying to the repatriation
commission for repatriation.
The Communists also demand
that the explainers be allowed
to talk to the prisoners repeat
edly.
The allied command is pre-
pared to let the prisoner make
his decision after one explana-
ton. Those still undecided
could be interviewed as often as
they wish but only voluntarily.
The U. N. Command has called
on the repatriation commission
to guarantee that no force,
threat or affront to personal
dignity be permitted against
prisoners. Terms of the agree
ment on prisoners attached to
the armistice document clearly
state that no intimidation should
be permitted and only yesterday
the repatriation commission gave
prisoners such assurances.
May Resist Explanations.
The temper of the nearly 5000
North Korean and 14,600 Chi
nese anti-Red prisoners is such
that some will resent efforts by
the Communists to win them
back and may even resist ap-
pearing for the explanations.
On their arrival at the COM
pounds in the demilitarized zone,
anti-Red prisoners hurled rocks
and shouted abuse at Communist
observers outside. Within min
utes after they arrived, these
prisoners put up signs and BAN
ners proclaiming down with the
Communists" and other anti-Red
slogans. They raised hundreds of
Nationalist China and South
Korea flags over the compounds.
Gen Hamblen pointed out that
three-fourthS of the Chinese
volunteers" captured by the U.
N in Korea are among the 22,600
Red soldiers refusing repatria-
ton.
% Americans Included.
The. % Americans, l Briton
and S55 South Koreans listed by
the Reds as refusing repatriation
arrived at the demilitarized zone
singing the 'Internationale." an
them of worldwide communism.
Announcement OF their names
by Red China's Peiping radio
brought reactions o; almost
unanimous disbelief from their
families across the United States.
Many felt the men had been
pressured into refusing to go
home.
There was no indication of
what they will be told, but Gen.
Mark Clark, U. N. Far East COM
mander, said last week:
I'VE plan to interview these
men and explain fully their rights
and privileges as American citi-
Eens."