Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, Korea and China, Volume VII, Part 1

Lot 55D128: Black Book, Tab 50: Telegram

The Senior United Nations Command Delegate in Korea (Joy) to the Commander in Chief, United Nations Command (Ridgway)

secret   priority

Korea, 9 December 1951—6:47 p. m.

HNC–530. Reur C–58985.¹

1. The United Nations Command sub-delegation has daily asked the Communist sub-delegation for an answer to the United Nations Command proposal of 4 December for sub-delegation meetings on item 4. Answers have been evasive or inconclusive.

2. During today’s morning session, the United Nations Command sub-delegation asked the Communists if they had an answer; they replied that they did not, that their senior delegate had the proposal under consideration. Again this afternoon, on being asked if they had received an answer, the Communists repeated that their senior delegate had the matter under consideration. During the noon recess, General Turner² told the press that the Communists in spite of repeated inquiries from the United Nations Command sub-delegation had furnished no informative reply to our item 4 proposal and that it appeared they may be holding this matter as a threat or club over our heads.

3. As a further follow-up, I intend to have our sub-delegation deliver at the meeting tomorrow the following statement, a copy of which will be released simultaneously to the press: “At the plenary session held on 4 December 1951 the United Nations Command Delegation proposed that a separate sub-delegation be designated to discuss item 4. At that time it was pointed out that there was no relationship between items 3 and 4, that as a practical matter there was nothing to prevent their simultaneous discussion in separate sub-delegations, and that the order of items on the agenda could be preserved by referring the recommendations of the item 3 sub-delegation to the plenary session for ratification before referring to it those of the item 4 sub-delegation. You stated that you would answer the United Nations Command proposal ‘in due time.’ At the meetings of the item 3 sub-delegations which are now taking place, the United Nations Command sub-delegation has, each day, inquired concerning your decision on the UNC proposal on item 4. No indication of your acceptance of our proposal has been received, although 7 days have now elapsed since our proposal was made.

“This proposal was made by the UNC delegation for the sole purpose of expediting the negotiations and of speeding final agreement on an armistice. By holding meetings of a sub-delegation on item 4 concurrently with those which are now being held on item 3, many time-consuming details can be settled simultaneously on both agenda items. If you are in fact interested in an early armistice and in the humanitarian features of the consequent early settlement of prisoner of war matters, we can see no justification for any further delay in your acceptance of our proposal for concurrent discussions of items 3 and 4 on the sub-delegation level.

“The UNC sub-delegation to discuss item 4 of the agenda is prepared to meet with your sub-delegation at 1300 hours tomorrow, 11 December. Our liaison officer will be at Pan Mun Jom at 1030 hours tomorrow to receive your answer.”

1. The text of this message, dated December 9, from General Ridgway to Admiral Joy read as follows:

   “Suggest your full consideration of increased efforts to force Communists to initiation of concurrent discussions of details pertaining to agenda item number 4 and likewise to further exploitation of this issue public opinion wise.” (Black Book, Tab 48)

2. Maj. Gen. Howard McM. Turner was a member of the United Nations Command Delegation at Panmunjom.