Lot 55D128: Black Book, Tab 72: Telegram
The Commander in Chief, Far East (Ridgway) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff
C–57058. For your info CINCUNC Adv msg HNC 435 is quoted.
“1. The sub-delegation reports the following during the 10 November meetings.
“a. Morning and part of the afternoon sessions devoted to debate on the subject of adjustments and merits of each side’s previous proposals. Crux of today’s session came in the late afternoon when Lee made the following proposal:
“‘The proposals our side made and the understandings our side proposed on November 7, should have long settled speedily the second item of the agenda without any dispute. But, very regrettably, your side still opposes the proposal of our side. The reasons you have raised in opposition indicate that, if your side is not intentionally distorting our proposal, your side certainly has not been able to understand our proposal. In order to render it impossible for our proposal to be distorted or misunderstood, we are willing to explain it again and to reformulate it.
“‘First, we propose that the actual line of contact be fixed as the military demarcation line without any adjustment, and that both sides withdraw 2 kilometers so as to establish the demilitarized zone. The reason why we have proposed not to make any adjustment to the actual line of contact is to prevent the second item of the agenda from being procrastinated without end by any unreasonable demand of so called adjustment. Ever since the resumption of the subcommittee meeting on Oct 25, your side has repeatedly made the unreasonable demand of so-called adjustment with regard to the Kaesong area of our side with the result that the second item of the agenda has yet not been settled. As late as Nov 8, your side made the unreasonable demand [Page 1118] of fixing the military demarcation line close to Kaesong. Such unilateral and unreasonable demand as your side proposed on Nov 8 is absolutely unacceptable to our side. This only serves to prove further that the proposal of our side of fixing the military demarcation line in strict accordance with the actual line of contact is the only way of settling speedily the second item of the agenda.
“‘Second, we propose that the subcommittee determine the present actual line of contact, fix it as the military demarcation line and fix thereby the demilitarized zone. It is entirely necessary to do so not only because this clearly stipulated by the second item of the agenda but also because the military demarcation line so determined preliminarily must also be the basis of the final military demarcation line. At the same time, in order that the armistice negotiations may proceed rapidly, we propose further that the plenary conference proceed to the discussion of the third item of the agenda immediately after adopting our proposal, while the concrete work of checking the present actual line of contact, of fixing the present actual line of contact mutually agreed upon as the military demarcation line of delineating accordingly the demilitarized zone can be carried out concurrently by this subcommittee.
“‘Third, since your side appears to have much misgiving with the third item of the understandings we proposed on Nov 7 we would like to rewrite it as one of the items of our proposal in order to avoid any possible distortion. The military demarcation line and the demilitarized zone fixed on the basis of the present actual line of contact shall be revised finally according to the actual changes in the contact line immediately before the signing of the armistice agreement.
“‘It is our opinion that the military demarcation line once fixed preliminarily does not have to be revised according to every minor change in the actual line of contact and that upon mutual agreement revision need not be made. But since you insist that the military demarcation line and the demilitarized zone must be revised according to all changes in the contact line prior to the signing of the armistice agreement, we shall not object.
“‘Therefore, the sub-delegation of the Korean People’s Army and the Chinese People’s Volunteers formally proposes that the subcommittee adopt the following proposal:
- “‘(1) To decide upon the principle that the actual line of contact between both sides be made the military demarcation line, and that both sides withdraw 2 kilometers from this line so as to establish the demilitarized zone.
- “‘(2) In accordance with the above-mentioned principle, the subcommittee check immediately the present actual line of contact so as to fix the present actual line of contact agreed upon by both sides as the military demarcation line, and to fix the two lines 2 kilometers away on both sides of this present actual line of contact as the southern and northern boundaries marking the demilitarized zone.
- “‘(3) After the armistice agreement is fully agreed on and prior to the signing of the armistice agreement, the subcommittee shall make revisions to the above-mentioned military demarcation line and demilitarized zone, corresponding to the changes which [Page 1119] may have taken place in the actual line of contact between both sides.
- “‘The sub-delegation of the Korean People’s Army and the Chinese People’s Volunteers proposes specifically that the subcommittee report to the plenary conference the above-mentioned 3 resolutions as soon as they are adopted, and recommend that the plenary conference proceed immediately to the discussion of the third item of the agenda, and leave the specific work of checking the actual line of contact, of fixing the present actual line of contact mutually agreed upon as the military demarcation line and of fixing accordingly the demilitarized zone to be carried out by this subcommittee concurrently.’
“b. This proposal is substantially the same as their proposal of 7 November in different garb.
“c. UNC sub-delegation counter-proposed the following:
“‘In order to establish a demilitarized zone as a basic condition for the cessation of hostilities in Korea the sub-delegations recommend the establishment of a military demarcation line located at the actual line of ground contact at the time of the signing of the armistice agreement, and the creation of a demilitarized zone four (4) kilometers in width by the withdrawal of each side for a distance of two (2) kilometers from the agreed military demarcation line; the military demarcation line and the boundaries of the demilitarized zone being subject to such minor local adjustments as may be mutually considered desirable.’
“d. UNC sub-delegation stated, immediately after making the above proposal, that the plenary session of the delegations could now proceed to the discussion of the other items on the agenda, leaving the determination of the specific location of the military demarcation line and the boundaries of the demilitarized zone until immediately prior to the signing of the armistice.
“e. Today’s session closed without agreement.
“2. Meetings continue at 1100 hours 11 November. Signed Joy.”