The Korean War, 70 Years Ago, The Inquirer, Philadelphia PA
Korean War Weekly Front Pages
5 April 1953 – 11 April 1953
The Inquirer, Philadelphia PA
A prisoner exchange pact is finally signed.
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General Mark Clark asked the Communists on Sunday for a “detailed statement of suggestions” as to how they would implement their plan for overall settlement of the prisoner issue – the sole question blocking a truce in Korea. The new Clark note to the Communist high command concerned the surprise offer broadcast last Monday by Red China Premier Chou En-Lai to repatriate all war prisoners on the voluntary basis demanded by the UN since 2 January 1952. The Chou proposal rejected the “principle” of voluntary repatriation. Nevertheless, it agreed that only those prisoners who “insist” on being returned to their own flags should be sent back. Clark wanted clarification on how the Communists proposed to dispose finally of prisoners who did not wish to return.
The next day, UN negotiators met with Communists at Panmunjom and reported “distinct progress” toward an exchange of sick and wounded war prisoners. The liaison officers agreed to go ahead Tuesday with discussions. That day the Communists suddenly agreed with the UN to exchange all sick and wounded prisoners on a voluntary basis. The agreement included prisoners with mild disabilities who were expected to recover within one year and even those whose mental health might be improved by being sent to a neutral nation. But the next day brought a setback: the Communists said they intended to exchange only 600 sick and wounded Allied prisoners, including 150 non-Koreans. The UN spokesman protested that the number was “incredibly small” and asked the Reds to review their figure to see whether they couldn’t find some more.
Late in the week the Communists presented the Allies with a detailed plan for settling the controversy over and exchange of all prisoners of war. Signing of an agreement on exchange of sick and wounded prisoners was delayed slightly while negotiators worked out the final details, including safe conduct for the captives through the war zones. On Saturday, the pact was finally signed, and prisoner exchange was planned to start within ten days. The Communists also asked that full-scale Korean armistice negotiations be resumed.
President Eisenhower voiced cautious hope for peace in Korea but warned that US and Allied troops would “have to stay in that region for quite a while” even if the war ended. In a conference of the United States Fund, he expressed prayerful hope for peace but warned against any major “bring-the-boys-home” sentiment.
(Photo courtesy newspapers.com, Philadelphia Inquirer)