Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, Korea and China, Volume VII, Part 1

Lot 55D128: Black Book, Tab 31: Telegram

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

secret   priority

Tokyo, 13 August 1951—4:44 p. m.

C–68855. This message in 5 parts. Subject: Armistice Conference at Kaesong 13 August 51.

Part 1. Summary: Meeting consisted of Joy giving answers to 5 questions posed by Nam Il on 12 August 51. Answers reaffirm position of United Nations Command on Demilitarized Zone and offer to discuss adjustments based on military logic. Nam Il declared answers unsatisfactory, reaffirmed his position on 38th Parallel as Demarcation Line. Joy presented Nam Il map showing the actual line of contact compared with line of contact shown by Communists on their map presented yesterday. Joy again suggested shift to item 3 or 4. Nam Il refused. Meetings continued tomorrow at 1100K.

Part 2. Progress: None.

Part 3. Attitudes: No change.

[Here follows Part 4, an abridged transcript of the proceedings of the 23d session.]

Part 5. Conclusion: The UNC Delegation believes: Communists appear very anxious to hear another proposal concerning zone from United Nations Command Delegation. However, no evidence warranting conclusion Communists ready to drop 38th Parallel as Demarcation Line. I concur.