WARNING ON PRISONERS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31113, 16 July 1966, Page 15

WARNING ON PRISONERS

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright)

WASHINGTON, July 15. United States officials have issued a warning to Hanoi that any attempt to try American prisoners as war criminals would inflame public opinion throughout the world.

The officials, who declined to be quoted directly by name, said that any such trials would inflame the American people and outrage the conscience of people elsewhere. They declined, when ques-

htioned, to elaborate on what ' the consequences might be to North Vietnam. They would s not be drawn into any discusi sions of possible counter- ■ measures. Their statements came after the United States Secretary of State, Mr Dean Rusk, told Senators . that several foreign Governments were attempting to dissuade North Vietnam from trying captured American airmen. “Grave Development” Mr Rusk warned that it would be “a very grave development indeed” if the Communists were "so misguided as to abuse” American airmen. In testimony before a Senate sub-committee, Mr Rusk said he doubted that the threatened trials would be carried out by the Hanoi Government. Mr Rusk did not identify the Governments in contact with Hanoi, but he pointed out again that such trials would be in direct violation of the Geneva Conventions on treatment of war prisoners.