Lot 55D128: Black Book, Tab 67: Telegram

The Commander in Chief, United Nations Command (Ridgway) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff

secret
operational immediate

HNC–078. Intelligence reports from EUSAK given me this morning include the reported displacement of the Eighth North Korean Division Southeast across the Yesong River on or about 1 July. Reports derive both from our agents and prisoner of war interrogations. EUSAK now accepted that en/division in the area South and Southwest of Kaesong.

The dates of this movement, if correctly reported, coincide with the first broadcast message from the en commanders to me in which they evidenced their desire to initiate armistice discussions. I consider this item of major significance as further evidence that the en commanders have not approached and do not yet approach this conference—in good faith. Further, the unremitting flow of radio broadcasts on the official Pyongyang and Peiping stations continues to conceal and pervert the basic major factors of our meetings and discussions [Page 675] to date. In order that a major effort may be made by all influential agencies to establish our meetings and discussions in an atmosphere of good faith, I respectfully suggest prompt consideration by appropriate authorities, including those of the United Nations, of some prompt effort to cause these stations to cease these viciously false broadcasts. They can seriously prejudice such chances as may exist for fruitful discussions concerning an armistice. I am considering what further action I should propose to the en commanders that they take with respect to any forces they may have in an area which so dominates Kaesong as that in which the Eighth North Korean Division is reported recently to have entered.