Editorial Note
On November 29, President Truman held a news conference at Key West, Florida. At the opening of the conference, he made a statement in response to erroneous press reports of an informal cease-fire in Korea resulting from an order to the Eighth United States Army to cease offensive activities. The President denied that such an order had been issued, and said that there could be no cease-fire since a cease-fire might later endanger the positions of United Nations forces if no genuine armistice were reached. He added that continued pressure [Page 1200] by the United Nations constituted the strongest incentive for the enemy to agree to a just armistice. For the text of Mr. Truman’s statement, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Harry S. Truman, 1951, page 637.
The mistaken press reports were based on an instruction from General Van Fleet to the Eighth Army, following agreement on the demarcation line on November 27, calling for reduced operations on the front in order to prevent unnecessary casualties and demonstrate willingness to reach agreement on a cease-fire with the enemy. The Eighth Army, however, was to prepare for offensive action if negotiations proved unduly prolonged. For details, see Hermes, Truce Tent and Fighting Front, pages 177–178.