Lot 55D128: Black Book, Tab 49: Telegram

The Commander in Chief, Far East ( Ridgway ) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff

secret   priority

C–56468. HNC 417. “Sub-delegation reports as follows: Morning session devoted to:

(1)
Communist prepared statement upholding their proposal and denouncing our proposal as unfair, etc, with emphasis on Kaesong area.
(2)
In order to clarify a remark of Lee’s to the effect that their proposal was their maximum effort we asked, ‘Is that an ultimatum?’ Lee would not give a direct answer and developments indicated clearly that he did not in any way want to infer that he was issuing an ultimatum.
(3)
Demonstration on our part by referring to the map to consider certain adjustments closely coinciding or coinciding exactly with their zone in the eastern three fourths of the battle line.

“The afternoon session began with a firm re-statement of our position with emphasis on its fairness and our requirement for the Kaesong area, Hsieh of course refuted again all arguments to our justification for this area. The Communists insist on avoiding all consideration at this time of islands as an additional bargaining point possibly with the intent of having us drop them at a later day as unimportant. Although no visible progress made today, this was only second day after their proposal and therefore too soon to expect any sign of Communist weakening.”