U.N. STAND ON TRUCE

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27094, 18 July 1953, Page 7

U.N. STAND ON TRUCE

“No Reasons For Delay”

WASHINGTON, July 16. The United Nations Command has firmly told the Communist truce negotiators in Korea to take immediately the steps necessary for me signing of an armistice. Authoritative sources said today that the Allied negotiators had told the Communists that they had been given sufficient assurances that South Korea’s President (Dr. Syngman Rhee> would co-operate in observing the truce terms and there was no longer any reason for delaying signing. The Communists had also been told that the United Nations Command did not intend to comply with their demand for the recapture of more than 27,000 North Korean prisoners of war released last mopth. The Allies had told the Communists that they had released many more prisoners early in the war, and that they would have to accept the release of prisoners in South Korea. Authoritative sources said that, in view of the Communist offensive on the central front this week and the Allied counter-attack, the final determination of the truce line from which the opposing armies would fall back would have to be decided before the signing of the armistice.

Colombo Plan Meeting.— The Government of India will be the host at the next meeting of the consultative committee of the Colombo Plan for the development of South and Southeast Asia, Mr R. Maudling, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, said today. The meeting will be in New Delhi at the end of September and the beginning of October, he told the House of Commons in reply .to a question.— London, July 16.-