SOUTH KOREANS’ ATROCITIES

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26264, 8 November 1950, Page 7

SOUTH KOREANS’ ATROCITIES

British Papers Call For U.N. Control (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 7. Two mope London newspapers—- “ Reynolds News” and the “Sunday Pictorial”—have followed the Communist “Daily Worker” in publishing details of the article on atrocities by Dr. Syngman Rhee’s South Korean forces, which (both papers say) Mr Edward Hulton, proprietor of “Picture Post,” refused to publish. An announcement last week by the Hulton Press said that the “Picture Post” editor, Mr Tom Hopkinson, had been dismissed “following a dispute over the handling of material about the Korean war.”

The “Observer” says that Mr Hopkinson wished to publish a report about atrocities. Mr Hulton forbade it. Mr Hopkinson’ included the report in a magazine make-up and Mr HuKun thereupon replaced him. "Mr Hulton apparently interfeied >only to avoid giving the Communist! a splendid propaganda card,” says tne "Observer.”

“However, the atrocity report was promptly published in the 'Daiiy worker; and the Communists are making the most of it while loudly calling attention at the same time to what they regard as atrocious conduct by the capitalist press.” The “Observer” says: “Dr. Syngman Rhee is unchecked in exercising what, from all reports, appears to be a police terror of the most kind, “Surely it is a matter of the utmost urgency for the United Nations to take control in Korea, before harm is done to their reputation by a vindictive Oriental tyrant whose present constitutional credentials are as doubtful as his record of past misgovernment is glaring." The "Yorkshire Post,” after saying that some people evidently considered it unwise to turn the full light of pub licity on the atrocities because it might not be loyal to a Power enjoying United Nations .help, urges the Unitea Nations to investigate the reports. "If the atrocities are allowed to continue the cause of South Korea will be debased and the United Nations shield besmirched.” it says. "If it is proved that the South Koreans are unfit io stop the atrocities, they must be put under the supervision of a Power whose hands are clean.”

"Reynolds News” Quotes this extract from the article: “Political prisoners of the South Korean Government are roped and manacled. They are compelled to crouch in the classic Oriental attitude of subjection in pools of garbage. "They clamber, the lowest common denominator of personal degradation, into trucks with the numb air of men going to their death. Many of them are."

The “Sunday Pictorial” says that the suppressed material, in addition to a description of inhuman treatment of captives by the South Koreans, included an appeal to the United Nations to stop such behaviour by the people they are rescuing from the results of aggression. It recalls that stories of Souxn Korean atrocities had previously been substantiated by "The Times" correspondent. who said he was appalled by the brutalities committed.