Lot 55D128: Black Book, Tab 123: Telegram
The Commander in Chief, United Nations Command (Ridgway) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff
C–57788. HNC 474. “1. Folg report of sub-delegation meeting of 22 Nov: Hodes presented UNC re-draft of Communist proposal as stated in HNC 470 and revised by CX 57725.1 Communists expressed general agreement on paras 1 and 2, however, disagreed with para 3, insisting that this paragraph remain as stated in last part of para 3 of Communist proposal. Reasons given were that:
- “(a) Para 3 of UNC proposal was inconsistent with principle stated in para 1,
- “(b) Delegations must clearly solve item 2
of armistice agenda while discussing item 2. Meeting recessed at
1155I by Communists to study further UNC proposal. Meeting resumed at 1500I. Communists
presented revised para 3 as fols:
‘3. In view of the fact that hostilities will continue until the signing of the armistice agreement, if the military armistice agreement is not signed within 30 days after the two delegations approve in the plenary session this agreement and the specific location of the military demarcation line and the demilitarized zone as determined in the second article, the sub-delegation shall revise, after agreements are reached on all the items of the agenda, [Page 1163] the above military demarcation line and the demilitarized zone in accordance with the changes which have occurred in the actual line of contact between both sides prior to the signing of the military armistice agreement, so that the revised military demarcation line will coincide exactly with the line of contact between both sides prior to the signing of the military armistice agreement, and constitute the military demarcation line for the duration of the military armistice’.
“UNC then proposed recess until 1100I, 23 Nov in order to study Communist revision. Meeting adjourned at 1545I.
“2. As a result of my conversation with Gen Ridgway this date, the UNC sub-delegation on Nov 23 will accept the Communist version of para 3 with minor revisions indicated as fols:
‘3. In view of the fact that hostilities will continue until the signing of the armistice agreement, if the military armistice agreement is not signed within 30 days after the two delegations approve in the plenary session this agreement and the specific location of the military demarcation line and the demilitarized zone as determined in para 2 above, the sub-delegations shall revise the above military demarcation line and the demilitarized zone in accordance with the changes which have occurred in the actual line of contact between both sides immediately prior to the signing of the military armistice agreement, so that the revised military demarcation line will coincide exactly with the line of contact between both sides immediately prior to the signing of the military armistice agreement and will constitute the military demarcation line for the duration of the military armistice.’
“3. Staff officers of both sides meet separately at same time as sub-delegation 23 Nov to begin determination of actual line of contact 1 May. Signed Joy.”