Lot 55D128: Black Book, Tab 46: Telegram
The Commander in Chief, Far East (Ridgway) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff
C–50633. The Kaesong “neutral” zone was established to facilitate the armistice conf. Since 22 Aug the conf has been suspended by Communist decision. Meanwhile, the existence of the zone provides the scene for an ever-increasing nr of alleged incidents. The enemy seems to be using these alleged violations as a pretext for continuing the suspension of armistice talks. Each investigation by UNC liaison officers of alleged violations only educates the Communists further in how to make their fabricated presentations more technically accurate. In addition, the existence of the zone provides the enemy a mat mil advantage. There are indications that sizable Communist forces are using the neutral zone as a refuge. Operations by UNC Forces are hampered by the inviolability of the zone. The UNC has repeatedly stated its willingness to resume the conference. Despite this fact, the enemy continues to stall and to fabricate new allegations, under cover of the neutrality of the Kaesong zone which we respect.
There is no present need for a neutral zone around Kaesong. When and if discussions are resumed, new scty arrangements may or may not include a neutral zone. It may be that a guarantee of immunity from atk of participating pers will suffice.
My conclusion is that the neutrality of the Kaesong zone should now [Page 901] be terminated in order to remove one more basis for Communist stalling tactics, and to deprive the enemy of the distinct mil advantage he now enjoys.
Subject to your contrary instr, I therefore now propose to make another effort to break the curr impasse by addressing a statement to Generals Kim Il Sung and Peng Teh Huai which will cover the following points:
- a.
- Inform them that, eff 24 hours after the delivery of my msg in writing to the Communist liaison officers, providing they will come to receive it, or after my broadcast in the event of their refusal to receive it, the immunity from atk of the Kaesong area by my forces will terminate.
- b.
- Base this action on the lack of any valid reason for continuing this immunity any longer.
- c.
- Reiterate my willingness to dispatch my liaison officers to meet with theirs at the bridge at Pan Mun Jom to make arrangements for the resumption of negotiations whenever they, the Communist commanders, are ready to terminate the suspension of negotiations they declared on 23 Aug, and which they have continued to date.
- d.
- Inform them of my willingness at that same time to provide their liaison officers and accompanying pers with immunity from atk by UNC Forces while this liaison party is at the conf site and enroute to and from it, providing they furnish me the nec adv notice.
- e.
- Confine this statement solely to the termination of immunity from atk of the Kaesong area by my forces.
- f.
- Lay down no conditions which can in any way be construed as an act on our part of either suspending or terminating the negotiations, or even of refusing to consider their possible resumption in the Kaesong area.