PROTEST BY BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27072, 22 June 1953, Page 9

PROTEST BY BRITAIN

Note To South Korea (Bee. 8 pun.-) LONDON. June 20. Britain will shortly send a stronglyworded protest to the South Korean Government against the release by the President. Dr. Syngman Rhee of nearly 30,000 anti-CmSmunist North Korean war prisoners, report diplomatic quarters. _ ote is expected to condemn the South Korean President for seriously prejudicing the prospect of an early cease fire, on the peninsula and to reserve Britain’s freedom of action in future military and political negotiations with the Communists. Official quarters in London today were perturbed by reports that Dr. intended to recruit the escapees into the South Korean forces, and that the prisoners were being advised to ignore the United Nations appeal to them to return to their camps. Mr John Strachey. a former Labour War Minister, said in a speech at Keswick, Cumberland, today that circumstances may arise in which it will be impossible to justify the loss of further British lives in Korea. Mr Strachey said: ‘‘l feel very deeply on S 1 1? matter. As Minister of War I had the direct departmental response-

Ibility. under the Cabinet, for sending our men to Korea. I do hot regret | that decision for one moment. I Tam convinced that resistance in J Korea was an indispensable part of | our defence effort, but now we may ; have to reconsider our position.” Mr Strachey said he did not blame ! anyone except Dr. Syngman Rhee for 1 the tragic thing which had happened | in Korea but could they doubt that in 1 the shape of Dr. Syngman Rhee the I Americans had created a Frankenstein I whom they would find it difficult to control. moment we can only hope 1 that this criminal attempt to sabotage I has not succeeded. I The Chinese would be foolish and | R rong to let Dr. Syngman Rhee have I ay and . wreck truce negotia-