Lot 55D128: Black Book, Tab 60: Telegram
The Commander in Chief, Far East (Ridgway) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff
emergency
CX–56810. 1. Sub-delegation reports that crux of today’s1 session came during late afternoon when Lee read from a statement formally [Page 1098] proposing the fol. While Lee was reading, Communist representative outside conference tent handed typed copies to UN correspondents:
“The sub-delegation of the Korean Peoples Army and the Chinese Peoples Volunteers formally proposes:
“(1) To decide upon the principle that the existing actual line of contact be made the military demarcation line, and that both sides withdraw 2 kilometers fm this line so as to est the demilitarized zone.
“(2) In accordance with the above-mentioned principle the subcommittee start imm to check the existing actual line of contact on the 250,000 to 1 map, so that the existing actual line of contact agreed by both sides may be fixed specifically as the mil demarcation line and that the 2 lines 2 kilometers away on both sides of this existing actual line of contact be made the Southern and Northern boundaries, marking the demilitarized zone. It also proposes that the fol understandings be reached:
- “a.
- When fixing specifically the existing actual line of contact as the mil demarcation line to est the demilitarized zone, the side which proposes to make an adjustment should give up its proposal for adjustment if the other side is not agreeable.
- “b.
- As soon as the sub-committee has in general determined the location of the mil demarcation line and the demilitarized zone on the 250,000 to 1 map, it should submit to the plenary conference this specific proposal of the mil demarcation line and the demilitarized zone agreed upon by both sides, and recommend that the plenary conference proceed imm to the discussion of the other items of the agenda, while leaving the work of specifically marking the location of the mil demarcation line and demilitarized zone to the committee of staff officers to be formed by both sides.
- “c.
- In view of the fact that it would be clearly inexpedient to alter the specific location of the mil demarcation line in accordance with the minor changes each day in the actual line of contact, if armistice negotiations proceed rapidly and no maj change occurs in the actual line of contact prior to the signing of the armistice agreement, the mil demarcation line and demilitarized zone preliminarily defined by both sides does not have to be revised. Otherwise, both sides reserve the right to propose, prior to the signing of the armistice agreement, revisions of the mil demarcation line and demilitarized zone corresponding to the changes in the actual line of contact.”
2. a. It is realized that a literal reading of the above proposal asks only that the delegations decide upon the “principle” that the existing actual line of contact be made the mil demarcation line and, presumably, “the principle” that both sides (when final agreement is reached) will withdraw 2 kilometers fm this line so as to establish the demilitarized zone.
b. It is fur realized that the provision for veto by either side, if the text is taken literally, applies only to adjustments departing fm the present line of contact and that the later sentence “otherwise, both sides [Page 1099] reserve the right to propose, prior to the signing of the armistice agreement, revisions of the mil demarcation line and demilitarized zone corresponding to the changes in the actual line of contact” provides for later revision of the mil line of demarcation to accord with the then existing line of contact.
3. Notwithstanding the above, it is felt that language difficulties and the known duplicity of the Communist introduce serious doubt as to the validity of the above literal interpretation. The proposal has, there-for, been rejected on the grounds that fixing the demarcation line and the demilitarized zone on the basis of the current line of contact with provision for changes subj to veto by either side would in effect constitute an imm cease fire on the basis of agreement on only one item of the agenda. Regardless of the time spent on other agenda items and of the changes which might occur in the line of contact as the result of mil operations between the fixing of the line and the signing of the armistice no changes could occur in the demarcation line since the consent of the other side would be necessary. Thus, the agreement to this proposal would provide an insurance policy under which the Communists would be insured against the effects of the UNC mil operations during the discussions of other items on the agenda.
4. Careful study of this proposal is now in process. I will report my final conclusions soonest.
- i.e., November 7.↩