Lot 55D128: Black Book, Tab 145: Telegram
The Commander in Chief, Far East (Ridgway) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff
C–58194. CINCUNC Adv msg HNC 490 for info.
“Report of Armistice Conference 28 Nov.
“1. Convened 1100. Nam Il opened with further comment on principles offered by UNC yesterday. He indicated Communist agreement with 1, 2, 6 and 7. He sought clarification of 5, the current wording of which is designed to retain during the period of the Armistice Coastal Islands off North Korea which are now under UNC control.
“2. With respect to the third UNC principle Nam Il contended that in order to achieve a thorough peaceful settlement of the Korean [Page 1195] question, all foreign troops must be withdrawn from Korea. In this event, he said, there will be no question of supplies, equipment and facilities exceeding those existing at the time of the signing. It is because peace can be achieved only by withdrawal of foreign troops said Nam Il that his side wants a conference at a higher level. It is improper to seek a conclusion of such questions in the conference the objective of which is a military armistice. Therefore, he said, the UNC third principle exceeds the scope of the present conference and the fourth principle which requires free access for joint observation teams to all parts of Korea is entirely unnecessary. In summary Nam Il opposed the third principle on the grounds that it goes beyond the proper scope of a military armistice conference and the fourth principle on the grounds that it is unnecessary.
“3. UNC made a statement on the scope of a military armistice and stated that insofar as item 3 is concerned the 7 basic principles stated yesterday by the UNC clearly define the scope of the armistice which should be reached.
“4. UNC went on to offer an explanation of each of these 7 principles, closing statement with expression of view that these principles constitute a sound basis for the solution of agenda item 3.
“5. Nam Il replied that items 3 and 4 are beyond the scope of the present conference and that if these matters are discussed it should be under agenda item 5. The third and fourth principles, he said, are clearly connected with the withdrawal of foreign troops and if this last question cannot be solved neither can the other 2.
“6. UNC again defined an armistice as a cessation of hostilities under mutually agreed conditions and stated that a cessation of hostilities as a prelude to a settlement of the Korean problem was possible only under an armistice which would prevent either side building up a decisive military advantage for its duration. The UNC said it could not agree to an armistice which did not contain minimum safeguards to prevent the resumption of hostilities and provide for the security of forces. At suggestion of UNC session recessed at 1240 to resume at 1500.
“Signed Joy.”