Lot 55D128: Black Book, Tab 10: Telegram
The Commander in Chief, Far East ( Ridgway ) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff
C–58579. For info CINCUNC Adv HNC 509. Further to HNC 508. (C 58558).1
“1. Saying that the views of both sides had been fully exchanged during the last 7 days, Nam Il submitted two new principles to add to his original five principle proposal. These were: (6) in order to ensure the stability of the military armistice so as to facilitate the holding by both sides of a political conference of a higher level, both sides shall undertake not to introduce into Korea any military forces, weapons and ammunition under any pretext. (7) In order to supervise the strict implementation of the stipulation of Para 6, both sides agree to invite representatives of nations neutral in the Korean war to form a supervisory organ to be responsible for conducting necessary inspection, beyond the demilitarized zone, of such ports of entry in the rear as mutually agreed upon by both sides, and to report to the Joint Armistice Commission the result of inspection.
“2. Nam Il continued in the following vein: After 6 days debate no lengthy explanation of these principles is necessary, but the 7 principle proposal is an integral whole, its various paras being interrelated and inseparable. The new proposal incorporates the reasonable portions of the UNC proposal. It is proposed that the plenary session accept the 7 principle proposal as an overall agreement for the third item of the agenda.
“3. Nam Il then presented the 7 principle proposal in writing. The wording of the fifth principle varied from the original version as previously reported. It now read: (5) Both sides shall designate an equal number of members to form an Armistice Commission to be jointly responsible for the concrete arrangement and the supervision of the implementation of the whole armistice agreement, except for the scope of supervision specified in Paragraph 6 of this proposal.
“4. UNC delegation requested a 30 minute recess. On its return it stated that it had made a preliminary examination of the new proposal and desired to ask some questions to clarify its understanding of the proposal. A long list of questions was presented. The following are examples: Does Item 6 permit unlimited reconstruction and rehabilitation of airfields? Does the term weapons include aircraft? Does Item 6 prevent replenishment of ammo used in training? Does Item 6 prevent rotation and replenishment of forces? Under principle [Page 1230] 7 what nations do you have in mind? Is it your intention that both sides invite the same neutral nations or different neutral nations to inspect our respective sides? Could you provide a list of the nations whose representatives would be acceptable to you? Does principle 7 exclude observation of facilities other than ports of entry? Is the inspection proposed in 7 limited to the specific items listed in 6. Is aerial observation and photographic reconnaissance included in necessary inspection beyond the demilitarized zone?
“5. Nam Il having indicated that the preparation of answers to these questions would take some time, the UNC made a statement as follows: As the UNC understands the position of the other side it proposes a compromise between positions held by the two sides. Due to the formal and relatively inflexible nature of the plenary sessions they are not the best medium for negotiatory processes of this nature. The UNC therefore, suggests reference of the question of acceptable principles to a subdelegation for resolution. The differences over agenda item 2 were resolved in this manner.
“6. Nam Il’s first response was that the problem could be turned over to a subcommittee only after agreement in principle to the seven principles he had proposed. He revised this to say that he would give an answer after considering it and proposed a recess until 1100 tomorrow. Adjourned 1616.
“7. Delegations meet 4 Dec at 1100. Sgd Joy.”
- Supra.↩