Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Korea, Volume XXIII, Part 2

133. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Robertson) to the Secretary of State¹

Washington, April 20, 1956.

SUBJECT

• Chinese Communist Note of April 9 on Korea

The Chinese Communist note (Tab A)² proposes a conference on troop withdrawal and Korean unification. It states that until these problems are solved, the NNSC problem cannot be solved. The note is designed to halt Swiss-Swedish negotiations on the NNSC and to place the U.S. in a bad propaganda position if we eliminate the NNSC teams.

Despite possible serious repercussions, I believe the UN Command must now act unilaterally in removing Czech and Polish NNSC members from the area on the grounds that Communist obstruction of the NNSC and violations of the reinforcement provisions of the Armistice have suspended our obligation to permit their activities south of the Demilitarized Zone (DZ). It seems pointless to press the Swiss and Swedes further. Our main objective now should be to secure the support of our Allies for such action. Reply to the note, which the British can send in behalf of the 16 participating Nations, must include the NNSC problem, although we would make the detailed announcement in the Military Armistice Commission (MAC) and report it to the United Nations.

Our Allies probably will support rejection of the conference proposal on the ground that it would serve no useful purpose and will accept also our views on the NNSC if we press our views strongly. The problem of replacement of obsolete matériel should not be raised at this stage because it would confuse the discussion on the NNSC problem, although action will be required on it in the near future.

Recommendations

That after consultation with Defense:

1. We meet with the 16 April 26 after preliminary discussions with key countries, indicate solution of the NNSC problem can no longer be deferred, and propose the attached reply (Tab B) to the Communist note.

2. We inform the Swiss and Swedes that we are consulting with the 16 to determine our course of action on the NNSC.

3. Simultaneously with delivery of the note we announce in the MAC and report to the UN, suspension of our obligations to permit Czech and Polish operations south of the DZ, and move the Czechs and Poles to the DZ.³

[Attachment]

DRAFT REPLY TO CHINESE COMMUNIST NOTE OF APRIL 19, 1956⁴

We have long regarded the frustration of the hopes of the Korean people for unification of their country as the basic problem in Korea. At Geneva we set forth in detail our position with regard to a just settlement of this problem in conformity with the objectives of the United Nations. This position was reiterated at the past two sessions of the General Assembly, where it was endorsed by an overwhelming majority of the Members of the United Nations.

With regard to the Communist proposal for a conference on the withdrawal of foreign troops and the unification of Korea we are not aware of any change in the Communist position which would render such a conference fruitful. Until the Communist side is prepared to negotiate sincerely on the basis of the United Nations objectives, another conference would only bring about a repetition of the deadlock which resulted at Geneva. For our part we remain ready to discuss the unification on the basis of the United Nations objectives. If the Communist side has concrete proposals for a settlement of the Korean question in conformity with the objectives of the United Nations, we are prepared to give such proposals every consideration.

We do not regard the problem of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission as linked in any way with the question of the unification of Korea. Pending agreement on unification, the Armistice Agreement remains in force in Korea, and all parties concerned should endeavor to maintain the effectiveness of the Armistice and to correct problems that arise regarding it. We wish to reaffirm our support of the Armistice Agreement and our intention to contribute to peace in the area.

The Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission has long since ceased to fulfill its functions under the Armistice Agreement because of Communist obstruction. We believe the proposals of the Governments of Switzerland and Sweden to withdraw all Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission personnel to the Demilitarized Zone are reasonable. They present a practical solution to this problem, given the attitude of the Communist side toward their reporting responsibilities and the obstacles they have presented to effective supervision by the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission north of the Demilitarized Zone. The Communist side has now rejected the proposals of Switzerland and Sweden and it is evident from the Chinese Communist note of April 9, 1956, that the Communist side does not intend to agree to a solution of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission problem. Under these circumstances, the activities of the Czech and Polish components of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission south of the Demilitarized Zone are an inequitable burden on the United Nations side. The United Nations Command will announce its position on this matter fully in the Military Armistice Commission.

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 795.00/4–2056. Secret. Drafted by Norred and concurred in by Murphy, Phleger, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Francis O. Wilcox, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Jacob D. Beam.
2. Not found attached; see Document 131.
3. Dulles initialed his approval of the recommendations.
4. Secret.