Lot 55D128: Black Book, Tab 106: Telegram
The Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Commander in Chief, Far East (Ridgway)
priority
JCS–87239. From JCS.
1. Reur C 57217,1 JCS believe both Ground Obsr Teams and Aerial Obsn and Photo Rcn highly desirable. However, they do not believe that negotiations should be broken off on issue of Aerial Obsn and Photo Rcn. JCS have assumed that your phrase “Joint Aerial Observation” is intended to mean Joint UN and Communist occupancy of specially designated and marked airplanes.
2. JCS consider that determination of a final position on Item 3 would be premature at this time in view of fact that there may be alternatives to local inspections as guarantees against renewed Communist aggression in Korea. State is exploring possibility of an announcement [Page 1143] by participating nations of an Allied agreement which would serve as a deterrent to renewed aggression in Korea. The agreement would assure punitive action against Communist China in event of a major violation of armistice terms.