Lot 55D128: Black Book, Tab 32: Telegram
The Commander in Chief, Far East (Ridgway) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff 1
C–55852. HNC 591. “1. Sub-delegations met to consider agenda item 2 at 251400 Oct 51. The question of which side should first propose a demilitarized zone was discussed for about one hour with neither side submitting a proposal. UNC Representatives then requested a recess of 20 minutes at 1450 hours. The meeting reconvened at 1510 hours. After another attempt by Hodes and Burke to get the Communists to submit a proposal for the demilitarized zone, Hodes submitted in writing a proposal substantially the same as outlined in HNC 361 as modified by HNC 375.2 This proposal was accompanied by a map substantially the same as submitted with memorandum of 20 Oct 51. The map handed the Communists showed only the northern and southern boundaries of the demilitarized zone. Our concept of the line of contact was not presented. The Communists requested a recess until 261100 Oct 51 to study the UN proposal. The Communists stated that they will express their opinions concerning the UN proposal at next meeting.
“2. Sub-delegation meeting was conducted in same manner as previous meetings except that Communists asked our agreement to add a Chinese interpreter to translate Korean into Chinese Heretofore, Lee had translated Korean into Chinese for Hsieh Fang. This new development would be a desire on part of Chinese sub-delegate to insure that he gets from his own interpreter what is said in Korean.
“3. Meeting recessed at 1542 hours to reconvene 26 Oct 1100 hours. Time set at Communists request.”
- This telegram was signed: Joy.↩
- Telegram HNC 361, dated October 15, and the emendation contained in telegram HNC 375 were both sent from Admiral Joy in Korea to General Ridgway in Tokyo, but were not repeated to Washington. Upon request they were sent to the Joint Chiefs of Staff; see p. 1066 and footnote 5, p. 1067. (Memorandum attached to Tab 32 in Black Book.)↩