Evening star., 1953-10-25
Red Stall

NSU OIOU
Here was the situation in the
neutral zone as the week opened:
Almost 20 explanation" days
had been wasted pickering over
the physical facilities. Then two
sessions had been held with Chi
nese prisoners. OF the $50 men
processed, Oil, or more than 90
per cent, had refused to return to
communism.
American observers were looking
forward to q score just as good
when the sessions were to be re-
sumed last Monday.
The Neutral Nations Repatrla-
ton Commission, led by India, told
Communist explainers that 1000
Chinese prisoners would be
brought, one at time, to listen
to Communist arguments. The
Communists turned that down.
They insisted that 500 North Ko-
reans, not 1000 Chinese, be de-
livered. Indian spokesmen pointed
out that while the Chinese prison
ers were willing to come, the North
Koreans were not. Make your ex-
plantations to the Chinese, the In
dians urged, while we work at
calming the fears of the North
Koreans.
The Communists stood pat, and
explanations we're suspended. The
MIRO met the following day to
decide whether force should be
used on the North Korean POWs.
The Decision
Indian, Swedish and Swiss rep
resentativeS on the commission
agreed on this stand: Resisting
prisoners could be held firmly by
Indian soldiers and marched to
the explanation tents. They
could be held while the explana-
tions were being made. But If
the prisoners were ready to riot
over being pushed to the tents and
if the riot could be quelled only
through Slaughter" of the priS-
oners, then force would not be
used.
Polish and Czechoslovak repre-
sentativeS bridled. The truce
agreement, they said, provides
that each side may make It's ex-
plantations to "all" prisoners. OBJ
viously, according to Red "logic,"
the prisoners would be willing to
listen If their brutal leaders were
not forcing them to resist. Ergo,
the Indian troops should conf1ne
the leaders and march the other
prisoners off to the explanation
tents. AS for possibly resultant
riots, the Poles and Czechs did
not have any helpful suggestions.
Before the question could be put
to a vote, the Poles and Czechs
walked out. They denied, how
ever, that they had broken irrev-
ocably with the commission. They
said they merely refused to par
ticipate in a decision barring use
Of force.
Peocemokers' Move
The Indians then sought to work
around the question Of force.
While explanations were post
poned, Indian spokesmen tried
gently and persuasively to con-
vince North Korean POWS that
no harm could come to them in
the explanation sessions.
Toward the end of the week
there were hints that the North
Koreans were impressed. But
there was no definite word on the
POWS' decision.
Meanwhile, Chinese prisoners
stood ready to undergo explana-
tionS. And still the Communists
refused to talk with them. Indian
delegates were reported to be
exaSperated with the Communist
attitude and were beginning to
doubt If the Reds really wanted
the prisoners to have a free choice
on repatriation.
American observers were more
blunt: The Communists were US
ing the question Of force as a
dodge to avoid more humiliating
scenes. If their prospects for win
ming over the prisoners did not
improve, it was speculated, the
Communists would continue to
find excuses.
AS the week ended, only 49 ex-
planning days we're left, and more
than $1,000 prisoners remained to
be "processed."
Chonqe of Heart