795.00/11–2350: Telegram
The Ambassador in Korea (Muccio) to the Secretary of State
priority
[Received November 23—3:36 p. m.]
431. Continuing Embtel 412, November 20 and previous on Chinese intervention: contact with Chinese both on ground and in air has been virtually negligible last three days.
During this period, most significant development has been recovery of 27 wounded US POW’s. While reports reaching Seoul are incomplete and subject to verification, these 27 appeared in US lines evening of 21st. Reports reaching here indicated they part of 8th [Army?] cavalry regiment which was cut off on November 3. These and other US troops were surrounded, overpowered and made prisoners by Chinese. They were then taken overland to the town of Pyoktong on Yalu River where they were kept in schoolhouse. They were treated well, not even their valuables being taken from them, and [Page 1217] they were interrogated, but the questions related mainly to their political ideas and beliefs, not military matters. On evening of November 19, 27 enlisted men were selected and put on trucks. They travelled southward two nights, spending intervening day in village. When within four miles of UN lines, their Chinese captors patted POW’s on back and shook hands with them and directed they return to own units. Recovered POW’s reported there approximately 300 other US POW’s and 600 ROK prisoners at Pyoktong; UN forces have been endeavoring yesterday and today to effect contact through aerial reconnaissance, but thus far efforts not successful.
Recovered POW’s now being interrogated carefully and verified report should be available by tomorrow. Chinese motive in releasing US POW’s is not clear; however, it is recalled that during Sino-Japanese war, Sino-Communists on occasion released Jap POW’s after political indoctrination in hope they could influence Japs against continuing hostilities.