Evening star., 1954-01-10
Reds Warned
Not 10 Block
pow Release
Intervention Risks
Resuming War in
Koreu, Taylor Says
BY the Assoeiuted Press

SEOUL Sunday. Jan. 10
The U. N. field commander said
yesterday his 9th Army is wait
ing now for the January % re-
lease of $4,000 Chinese and
North Koreans from an anti-Red
prison camp and any Commu-
mist armed move to intervene
would risk resuming the Ko-
rean war.
"All our troops will be alerted
for any contingency" said Gen.
Maxwell D. Taylor.
Red China bitterly opposes the
release and last night in Peiping
that nations No. 2 Communist
assailed it as a "co-ordinated
armed action on the part of the
United Nations command" He
made no mention of any Red
plan to resort to military force
in behalf of former Red soldiers
who so far have not returned to
communism.
Gen. Taylor told a Seoul press
conference of detailed plans to
turn over $500 North Koreans
to civilian status in South Ko-
rea where they presumably will
be given the opportunity of join
ing the Republic of Korea army"
He also told of plans to ship the
14,50O Chinese to Formosa-
stronghold of Chang Kai-Shek.
arch foe of Red China.
He said any of the $4,000 who
do not wish release presumably
will stay on in the neutral zone
compound.
Chou Attacks Plan.
In Peiping, Premier-Foreign
Minister Chou En-lai, who is the
right hand man of Red China'S
No. ! Communist, Mao Tze-tung.
issued statement calling the
plan "forcible retention"
Chou's lengthy review OF the
case called for:
/. Resumption Immediately of
"come home" interviews with
the prisoners.
2. Renewal of talks to set up
a Korean peace conference and
to keep the prisoners in custody
until it can pass on their fate.
3. U. N. General Assembly
consideration of the Korean
question with Red China and
North Korea represented.
4. Convening of big, Five
power conference-Red China,
Russia. the United States. Brit
ain and France-to settle Ger
tain pressing international prob
lens in Asia"
There was nothing Mr.. Chou
said which has not been said
before by the Peiping Red radio.
but his position and the timing
accented it.
ROK Officials Threat.
Mounting tension over the
prisoner dispute was heightened
by a statement of South Korea's
foreign minister, Pyun Yung Tai.
Recently after custodian Indian
troops made a head count in
the anti-Red camp which re-
suited in 135 prisoners going
back to communism, Mr.. Pyun
Iashed out. He said South Korean
troops might have to step in
and release Koreans in the camp
if the Indians repeated the ac-
ton. Ehis brought a quick warn
ing from Gen. Taylor that the
United States 9th Army would
resist such a move and request
for a retraction.
Yesterday Mr.. Pyun said he
could not retract the armed
threat because it would create
an impression that this Govern
ment has completely reversed its
position. ~
Gen. Taylor called his press
conference after the U. N. COM
mand had made clear its view
that the come home" interviews
ended officially December % and
that, with no peace conference
In prospect, the release of the
$4,000 at 1901 am. January %
is automatic.
"Will the 9th Army be wait
ing to receive the prisoners even
If the Neutral Nations Repatria-
ton Commission votes not to
release them at midnight Janu-
ary 22?" a reporter asked Gen.
Taylor. (There have been re-
ports that India at the last
minute might vote with Com
munist Poland and Czechoslo-
vakia on the NNRC to retain the
(See KOREA, Page A-4.)