KOREA: The Web of Responsibility

Soon after India's 5,000-man Custodial Force sailed last fall for Korea, Prime Minister Nehru promised his followers that India "would not run away from her responsibilities." These were: 1) hold the 22,500 anti-Communist and 350 pro-Communist prisoners, with minimum bloodshed, for 120 days; 2) supervise explanations, prevent coercion and guarantee repatriation for those who requested it; and 3) release all remaining P.W.s as free civilians at the end of the 120 days —at 12:01 a.m., Jan. 23, 1954-India's disciplined troops and civil servants handled the first two jobs in a calm, conscientious manner that won the respect of the...