Lot 55D128: Black Book, Tab 5: Telegram
The Commander in Chief, United Nations Command (Ridgway) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff
operational immediate
C–52688. Subject is summary of liaison officers meeting this morning. Met at 1000. Chang opened referring to large area of agreement and expressing hope of further progress. Murray replied: “On several occasions during yesterday’s meeting Colonel Chang cited the letter from Generals Kim Il Sung and Peng Teh-Huai dated 9 October as constituting a portion of the terms of reference for these liaison meetings. My superiors are now thoroughly familiar with the contents of that letter. My instructions have not been altered. Colonel Chang stated yesterday that it is the view of your side that the current objective of the liaison meetings is to create provisionally a favorable environment under which the delegates can be brought together. The United Nations Command agrees wholeheartedly in this objective in so far as it goes but it is not enough to bring the delegates together. The objective of the United Nations Command in these meetings is to create an environment under which the delegates can not only come together but can remain together in harmony and proceed immediately to the discussion of the substantive issues of the armistice negotiations without wasting time in procedural matters such as security arrangements. It is recognized by your side, as well as ours, that the transfer of the meeting place from Kaesong to Pan Mun Jom creates a requirement for modifications in the security agreements associated with the conference. It is our view that the progress of the negotiations can be expedited by arriving at these agreements in draft form through the liaison meetings. The proceedings of the [Page 1015] plenary session of the delegations are necessarily formal. They do not lend themselves readily to the settlement of the details of agreements such as those pertaining to the arrangements for the meeting. The liaison meetings, on the other hand, constitute an informal medium of exchange where differences in detail can be quickly and easily resolved. Such matters have been handled in this way in the past. For these reasons it is the position of the United Nations Command that all matters pertaining to the resumption of the negotiations should be the subject of the draft agreement reached through the liaison meetings prior to the time that the delegates meet. The United Nations Command has submitted its proposed agreements to your side for its consideration. We propose that this be used for the basis of an agreement to be drawn up by the liaison officers for submission to the delegations. Thus at their first meeting the only work for the delegates in this regard would be the ratification of the agreements reached by us or the settlement of any differences in our respective points of view.
We are prepared to consider any proposals you may care to make on matter related to the resumption of the negotiations.”
Meeting thereafter consisted largely of exploration of area agreement. Communists now prepared to accept in substance paragraphs 1, 3, 4, 7 and 8 of United Nations Command proposal as expressed in C 52616. They will accept 2a and 2b with the deletion of Kaesong. They believe inclusion of Kaesong unnecessary. With regard to 2c they consider no agreement needed on Kaesong as it is covered by existing agreement. They will give a general assurance not to attack Munsan but will not as yet associate it with the specific area shown on map presented them yesterday since “this involves the question of the enlargement of the neutral zone which is to be covered in the first meeting of the delegations”. No agreement on 5. Communist liaison officers continue to refuse to discuss paragraphs 6 and 9 on grounds they should be discussed by delegates.
Morning session was adjourned at 1200. Will resume at 1500. Afternoon may result in a draft agreement which will contain subjects on which agreement has been reached and United Nations Command version of matters in which agreement has not been reached. Anticipate limited agreement as indicated above on 2b and c, but anticipate difficulty in securing agreement on 5, 6 and 9 at this time.
Murray will contend the area of agreement is too limited and will continue to press for all United Nations Command proposals.1
- The press release issued by the U.N. Command following the conclusion of the second meeting on October 11 indicated no substantial progress had been made in the discussions (telegram ZX–42964, October 12, from Tokyo: Black Book, Tab 7).↩