China Silent On Airmen Issue

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31117, 21 July 1966, Page 15

China Silent On Airmen Issue

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter —Copyright) TOKYO, July 20. China today remained silent on the North Vietnamese plan to try captured American airmen as war criminals. Radio Peking, monitored in Tokyo, the New China News Agency, and the “People’s Daily,” the official Peking mouthpiece—have so far made no comment on the Hanoi threats, monitors noted. In Washington, United States congressional leaders warned yesterday of “serious consequences” if North Vietnam went through with its new threat to try the American fliers as war criminals. Mr T. H. Kuchel. of Cali-

fornia, the assistant Senate ' Republican leader, said that

any such move would “bring down the wrath of the world,” on Hanoi. “If Hanoi breaks the promise it made in signing the Geneva Convention and commits this monsterous crime, it will bring down on it the wrath of the world,” he said. The Senate Democratic leader, Mr M. Mansfield, of Montana, said he hoped Hanoi would not put the captive airmen on trial. “If they do, I do not know what we can do to stop this ordeal for our men,” he said.' “But Hanoi should recognise the feeling in this country both among its citizens and its Congress, on this matter and consider the consequences.” The Republican leader, Mr E. M. Dirksen, of Illinois said there will be “an emotional wave” of revulsion in the

United States if Hanoi goes through with its threat.

At the White House, the press secretary, Mr W. D. Moyers, had no comment on the statements attributed to Hanoi’s envoy in Peking. Asked if it was his impression that North Vietnam was announcing plans for trials, or only reserving the right to conduct them, Mr Moyers said he, and others in Washington “find it very difficult” to interpret Hanoi’s statements. In the circumstances, he said, “we just find it better not to speculate.” A State Department official said he had no comment beyond what the department has previously said that the United States considers North Vietnam, as a signatory to the Geneva Convention for humane treatment of war prisoners, should treat United States captives as prisoners of war and not war criminals.