Lot 55D128: Black Book, Tab 55: Telegram
The Commander in Chief, Far East (Ridgway) to the Advance Headquarters, United Nations Command, Korea
emergency
CX–59097. 1. Re JCS 89173,1 repeated to you this morning, following are my amplifying instructions referred to therein.
2. Ref JCS paras 2a and c, I have nothing to add.
3. Reference JCS para 2b, prior to your desiring to announce final position therein described, give me sufficient time to refer matter to Wash for decision.
4. Ref JCS para 2d, guidance therein will be combined with guidance contained in paras 2 and 3 of JCS 89119 of 9 [8] Dec 51.2 Accordingly, your instructions with respect to this point are as follows:
- a.
- The Military Armistice Commission itself must be composed of belligerents designated on an equal basis by opposing commanders.
- b.
- As a final position you should agree to neutral observer teams composed of personnel of nations whose armed forces are not participating in Korean war and which nations are mutually agreed to by both sides.
- c.
- As a part of your final position you should insist that the observer teams shall be responsible to, report to, and be subject to the [Page 1299] direction and supervision of the Military Armistice Commission and to no other body.
- d.
- Further, with respect to both the Military Armistice Commission and its subordinate observer teams you will insist that the terms of the agreement shall include safe-guards against the inaction and resulting frustration of the commission and its subordinate observer teams by the exercise of a veto.
5. Tactics to be used in complying with foregoing are at your discretion.
6. Suggest you continue to apply strongest possible pressure to secure agreement to initiate discussion of agenda item 4.3
7. Acknowledge receipt.