Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-23
Special Tribunal to Handle POW Cases.?
To the Editor of The Stor:

4 lean people In their first encounter
with Communist military forces Is UNI
precedented in American history. The
questions and the answers which must
be forthcoming will affect every man,
woman and child in America for many
years to come. Hence some extraor-
binary legal action must be taken now.
The eyes and ears Of the entire
world. both inside and outside the Iron
and Bamboo Curtains. are turned to-
ward the United States. the acknowl-
edged leader Of free nations in the cold
war struggle for mems minds. Every
one wonders "Howsis America going to
handle the Korean POW returnees?"
Here are some questions Americans
are asking:
Did Congress ofiicially declare war on
North Korea or was 1t police &C
ton? Are the returned POWs sub
ject to the Articles of War? II so. are
the Articles Of War governing the
conduct Of military men so clearly
enunciated as to cover .brainwashing,"
mental and physical torture?-
Were our military forces properly in
doctrinated as to what treatment they
might expect to receive as POWs? Was
there q foreseeable danger Chased on
World War II experienced that the
enemy would not abide by the rules Of
the Geneva Conference relative to
treatment Of POWs? II 80, were our
GIs psychologically tested at time Of
induction?
Is there to be Q double or triple
standard of conduct-one for 0Is-one
for offlcerS-one for State Department
employees? What about Gen. Grow
and his famous diary-what punish
ment did he receive and was 1t ade-
quate? What about the United States
Minister to China-Angus Ward-who
was prisoner of the Communists? He
confessed and later repudiated it. Was
he investigated and his intestinal forth
tude questioned before the American
people and the world? Does the aver
age military man have more knowledge
than a State Department oficial or
employe and II he breaks under cruel
and inhuman treatment is his punish
ment to be greater or less than any
other employe OF the Government? II
so. all Americans are entitled to know
the standards. State Department off,
Gals and employees live with an ever
present danger Of being picked up by
the Communists.
Was the Secretary Of Defense cor
rect in ordering dishonorable discharges
tas reported) in the cases of the 81
who did not return from Communist
control in Korea? Does he have ir-
REPUTABLE proof Of their disloyalty to
the United States or is it an asSump-
mn h c NoVf1
condemned without q fair and i'm
partial trial. without an opportunity
to defend themselves? These men can
conceivably be under the control or
domination Of two or three hard-core
Communists in their group. notwith-
standing the assurances we have re-
ceived from the Indian General that
no duress exists. How does he know?
Are the President and the military
expected to solve all these problems
alone? How about Congress, what are
they doing? Will the fathers and moth
ers of future military men and women
want the answers to some of these
questions next election day? What will
be- the reaction to the present in
veStig atoms by the general public rela-
tive to future recruitment for our mill
tary establishment? What will be the
result or effect Of these investigations
on our career men and women In
military service today? What must
the GI-to-be think as he awaits his
draft call?
The President should consider the
following procedure:
(a) Delay the investigations or hear
ings now in process.
tb' Request Congress to enact legis-
lation to establish a Special Extraordi-
nary Commission to sit as a quasiju-
dicial body and hear testimony from
all concerned under OATH
Co This Special Extraordinary Com
mission should comprise IL members:
One from the Supreme Court; three
from the Circuit Courts of Appeals;
two from Congress-one Senator-one
Representative: four from the military
one from each service and one mem
her from the State Department.
Such a commission would be repre-
sentative Of all the American people.
There would be no politics involved.
The trials at Nuremberg and Tokyo
left many Americans dissatisfied or
unhappy about the results. Let US
handle the many problems of the
Korean POWs in true democratic fash
ion and to the satisfaction OF all the
American people. firmly believe
this suggested procedure will at least
safeguard the rights and serve the
best interests of the vast majority Of
the people.
1t is palpably unfair to shift the
entire burden, which should be borne
by all Of us, onto the shoulders Of
the military as we are now doing. No
matter how sagely the military handles
this problem Of the returned POWs,
they can't possibly satisfy all the
people.
The United States is leaving itself
wide open to Communist propaganda
charges. which are hard to diSprove
to the other peoples Of the world, by
placing the entire problem in the hands
Of the military.
The rules and regulations governing
such matters are left in the hands