Office of the Historian

Lot 55D128: Black Book, Tab 119: Telegram

The Commander in Chief, United Nations Command (Ridgway) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff

secret
operational immediate
Tokyo, 21 November 1951—10:18 p. m.

C–57723. HNC 469. “1. Following report of sub-delegation meeting of 21 Nov:

“a. Communist representatives opened by advising of agreement in principle to UNC proposal but objecting to form thereof. They then presented proposed ‘changes’ in the form of a new proposal which reads as follows:

“The sub-delegations of the Delegation of the Korean People’s Army and the Chinese People’s Volunteers and the Delegation of the UNC reach the following agreement on the 2nd item of the agenda, ‘fixing a military demarcation line between both sides so as to establish a demilitarized zone as the basic condition for the cessation of hostilities in Korea:’

  • “(1) The principle is accepted 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 sub-delegations check immediately the present line of contact, so as to fix the actual line of contact agreed upon by both sides as the military demarcation line, with the 2 lines 2 kilometers away on both sides of the military demarcation line constituting the southern and northern boundaries of the demilitarized zone.
  • “(3) In view of the fact that hostilities will be continued until the signing of the armistice agreement, if agreements are reached on all the items of the agenda within thirty (30) days after the 2 delegations approve in the plenary session this agreement and the specific [Page 1160] location of the above-mentioned military demarcation line and demilitarized zone, the military demarcation line and demilitarized zone already fixed shall not be changed regardless of whatever changes that may occur in the actual line of contact between both sides; if agreements are not yet reached on all the items of the agenda by the time the 30 days transpire, the military demarcation line and demilitarized zone already fixed shall be revised in accordance with the changes which have occurred in the actual line of contact between both sides prior to the signing of the armistice agreement.

“b. UNC representatives pointed out in detail the inconsistencies and ambiguities contained in the new Communist proposal, particularly with respect to para 1, most of which were the same as those ascribed to the 10 Nov proposal made by the Communists. Numerous questions intended to clarify the Communist proposal were asked but specific answers could not be obtained.

“c. UNC suggested recess to allow it to study further the Communist proposal with a view to rewriting it in clear and unambiguous form and submit revised proposal at tomorrow’s meeting. Our proposed rewrite will be forwarded in separate message.

“2. Sub-delegation meeting will be resumed at 1100 hrs 22 Nov. Signed Hodes.”