The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-10-15
Chinese Prisoners Of War Reject
First Communist Persuasion Trv
Long.A,caited
Interviews
Are Resisted
In Pann,,,njon,

PANMUNJoM Cr-Balking Chi.
nese prisoners dealt the Commu-
nists a singing propaganda blow
today by rejecting 49-l the first
Red attempts to coax them home.
All but 10 of 500 Chinese who
met Communist intCTviewers in the
first clamorouS explanation ses.
sions chose continued captivity
over repatriation TO Red China,
said the Neutral Nations Repatria.
ton Commission.
The Reds had claimed the q, 400
unrepatriated Chinese aad North
Koreans were being held against
their will.
This ong-delayed psychological
phase of the armistice began only
after Indian custodian troops pried
the wildly demonstrating Chinese
from their compounds with threats
Of force. The Indian commander
said later, 1--WE used patience, per-
suasion and firmness
Many POWs shouted and sang
in the faces of the three.man Red
interview teams. Indian guards
with sticks had 70 restrain some.
A few danced defiantly on the
wooden tent floors.
| At first, the MIRO forced the
prisoners to listen to the explana-
tons for five minutes, but this
was cut to one minute after q
U.N. representative protested.
The explainers reminded them
of their homes and family and told
them Father MAJ Cred Chinese
premier Mao Tse-Tung) wants you
back"
Many Pows replied with Oh.
scenities.
Then. except for the 10, they
chose to leave by a door which
meant continued captivity until
their fate is decided by the i'm.
ipending political conference or they
are released Jan. e.
The 10 who chose the door %
communism were returned to the
Reds Thursday night In q cere.
mony at Panmunjom.
After defying two Indian ultimat.
ums, the first 200 rock.throwing,
bugle-blowing, anti-Red Chinese
finally submitted to Communist In
terviews. The explanations began
more than seven hours behind
schedule.
They originally were to have
started Sept. rs but were delayed
by wrangling over facilities.
Seven Ask Return
An Indian spokesman said the
seven Chinese would be returned
to the Reds in a ceremony Thurs.
day night at Panmunjom.
/ He said Communist persuasion
teams will talk to 1000 prisoners
Friday, including at least 500
North Koreans.
The atmosphere was charged
with tension In the opening of this
vital psychological phase Of the
armistice, but there was no vio-
lence.
Indian guards had TO prevent the
first prisoner from slipping away
az he was taken before the inter-
viewer.
A U. N. interpreter said the Reds
told the POW: "You must 20 back
to your home, to your family"
Refusing to face the interviewer,
the prisoner answered, mo, I
want to 60 to Formosa.
do not be cheated By She
u. M" the Red interviewer ar
gued.
II have made up my mind" The
POW replied.
i Prisoner Decides
i When the Reds saw they were
making no Roadway. they gave up,
the observer said. Then the Prism
er was left alone to make his
choice between two doors-ons 20
repatriation and Red China, The
other back to his compound. He
chose the latter.
Steel-helmeted Indian guards
with rifles stood outside the expla-
nation center and others with big
sticks were outside the explanation
booths.
Still more guards were posted
| Continued On Page Twol