The Nome Nugget

Korea Peace Talks Recessed As U.S. State Dept. Defends Principle Of POWs' Voluntary Repatriation
MUNSAN, (AP) - The Korean armistice talks recessed until Wednesday after another stormy exchange Saturday over U.N. and Communist proposals to end the long prisoner exchange deadlock.
The Communists angrily accused U.N. negotiators of destroying the "basis" of the negotiations and called on them to "withdraw this absurd proposal."
Lt. Gen. William K. Harrison, charged the Reds with trying "to corece unwilling prisoners to return to unwanted masters."
Harrison said he asked for the three-day recess for "administrative reasons." He declined to elaborate.
Observers pointed out, the recess would provide an opportunity for top-level conferences at a time when criticism of the U.S. position is building up among friendly nations.
The U.S. State Department Friday night took the unusual step of issuing a formal statement defending the "fundamental humanitarian principle" of letting prisoners of the Korean war choose whether they will go home.
There can be no compromise, the State Department said in the statement apparently aimed at critics at home and abroad.
The department said every possibility for an honorable truce will be explored, but there can be no agreement which would condemn some prisoners to "indefinite captivity."
India, Britain and Canada all have brought pressure on the U.S. to reach an agreement on the basis of the Communists' May 7 proposal.
Harrison refused to comment on the criticism.
"I don't know the attitude of our government and our friends across the seas," he told newsmen outside the Panmunjom conference hut. "All I know is what we are doing here."
Harrison pointed out that inside the hut the fundamental positions of the two sides still are "clearly in opposition."