74. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Switzerland1

264. Re Deptels Bern 259 Stockholm 133 London 705 Paris 508.2 Murphy and Robertson reviewed NNSC situation with Swedish [Page 141] Chargé and Swiss Minister separately August 9 advising them of CINCUNC’s instructions reftel and determination UNC take necessary steps protect NNSC personnel, including if ultimately necessary, removal to DZ. He stated that while Department would have been prepared accept May proposal3 for partial reduction, military authorities (including General Taylor and others, speaking with authority of first-hand experience) felt strongly that acceptance such partial reduction wrong and if made several months ago would have led ROK Government to precipitate sort of riots now occurring. Murphy said military continue feel strongly definitive solution, either in one stage or two, must be found now. Asked Swedish and Swiss Governments review matter light present situation to see if further steps possible.

Swedish Chargé referred previous hints that if NNSC proposal accepted Sweden would have moved to second stage of complete withdrawal about October and tho he doubted Government would now be disposed produce new plan or withdraw under apparent ROK pressure, promised consult Government re possibility they would be able assure us definitely, at least privately, that second stage of complete withdrawal would be carried out this autumn if in return UNC would accept NNSC proposal as first stage. Swiss Minister suggested that with general diminution of tension best solution might be negotiate with ChiComs revision of Armistice Agreement to replace NNSC with some other arrangement, which Murphy pointed out not practical as would lead to protracted negotiations and would provide no solution present problem.

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 795.00/8–1055. Secret. Drafted by Allen and approved by Murphy. Also sent to Stockholm, London, and Paris and repeated to Seoul and Tokyo.
  2. This telegram informed the Embassies that CINCUNC had been instructed to reject the South Korean ultimatum to the NNSC and that the Department intended to call a meeting of the Sixteen to explain the situation. (Ibid., 795.00/8–955)
  3. See Document 41.