Lot 55D128: Black Book, Tab 55: Telegram

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

secret   priority

C–56667. For info, CINCUNC Adv HNC 425.

“Sub-delegates report on 5 Nov meeting which opened at 1100: Communist delegates opened with prepared statement on their proposal which they described as a strict settlement on the line of contact with appropriate adjustments, or in the event adjustments could not be agreed upon, a withdrawal of 2 kilometers from the line of contact by both sides without major adjustments. UNC delegates explored the proposal throughout the morning reaching the conclusion that Communists would agree that as a matter of principle adjustments in the line were desirable and that in general such adjustments would be equivalent, but that each case would have to be decided on its own merits. Recessed at 1300. Resumed at 1500. UNC delegates presented statement substantially as set forth in HNC 4231 with the addition of an article establishing the agreed width of the demilitarized zone as 4 kilometers. Communists immediately set about exploring the meaning of ‘appropriate adjustments’ asking first, does this mean that you drop your demand on Kaesong, then trying by more diplomatic questions to get the same information. UNC delegates took the position that the question of what was or was not an appropriate adjustment could be determined only in relation to a specific line of contact; that is, the line on the date the agreement is finalized. Communists expressed [Page 1091] a tentative conclusion that although both sides used the same words in describing the principle upon which agreement was sought, there was no actual agreement. At 1725 they took the proposal home for study. Sub delegation to meet at 1100 hrs 6 Nov. Joy.”

  1. Dated November 4, p. 1087.