Office of the Historian

Lot 55D128: Black Book, Tab 59: Telegram

The Commander in Chief, Far East (Ridgway) to the Advance Headquarters, United Nations Command, Korea

secret
operational immediate
Tokyo, 11 December 1951—10:15 p. m.

CX–59154. Re your HNC 541.1 Believe our interests will be best served by initial insistence on obtaining information concerning our POW’s.

Communists will find it exceedingly difficult to resist insistent pressure, couched in direct forceful language demanding immediate agreement to allow ICRC Representatives access to all their POW camps. Failure to do so, on whatever pretext offered, can only be interpreted throughout world as further conclusive proof of complete Communist callousness to individual human rights, and as positive proof, by their own direct admission, of deliberate refusal to honor their often repeated public announcements that they were abiding by the principles of the Geneva Conventions.

We should insist that they agree forthwith to receive ICRC Representatives and conduct them to their POW detention camps, as we have done, and as the world knows we have done. We should state [Page 1306] these Representatives are present in Korea and ready to do their part at anytime. If they do not at once agree, I favor your excoriating them as lacking in every concept of honor of which those who through all ages have called themselves soldiers, are proud.

I would tell them this in the most blistering language we can command, in every session at every opportunity. They may yield. The lives, at least the health, of our men are at stake. I would force them to consent or publicly refuse.

We should refuse discussion of the issue they have raised between an exchange of all for all versus one for one or any other arrangement. Discussions of details of manner of exchange can follow immediately after Communists consent to our simple humane request.

Suggest you consult ICRC Representatives.

This message will be brought to the personal attention of Admiral Joy regardless of the hour of its receipt.2

  1. Infra. Telegram CX–59154 was sent following receipt in Tokyo of telegram HNC–541 but prior to the transmission of HNC–541 to Washington.↩

  2. The following message was sent by General Ridgway to the Joint Chiefs of Staff in telegram CX–59155, December 11, from Tokyo:

    “1. If you concur with my views as stated in my CX 59154 to CINCUNC Adv of which you are info addressee, suggest you consider mobilizing immediately every available public information medium to bring increased pressure on Communist leaders. United Nations General Assembly now in session would seem to offer particularly good opportunity.” (Black Book, Tab 60)

    ↩