Lot 55D128: Black Book, Tab 80: Telegram
The Senior United Nations Command Delegate in Korea (Joy) to the Commander in Chief, United Nations Command (Ridgway)
HNC 11–45. Following is text of press release being distributed to the press about 1230I this date.
Release.
“Following is the text of today’s new UNC 7 principle proposal for resolving the existing differences on item nbr 3 of the Military Armistice Conference agenda.
“1. All armed forces, ground, sea, and air, under control of either side, shall cease all hostilities within 24 hours after the effective date of the Armistice.
“2. All armed forces under the control of either side shall be withdrawn from demilitarized zone within 72 hours after the effective date of the armistice. Except for such armed force of a police nature as may be specifically and mutually agreed to by both sides, no armed forces of either side shall thereafter enter the demilitarized zone, nor shall the armed forces of either side commit any act of armed force against the demilitarized zone.
“3. Within five days after the effective date of the armistice, each side shall withdraw the armed forces under its control, ground, sea, [Page 1310] and air, from the territory and territorial waters of the other side, including islands within the territorial waters of the other side. If the armed forces are not withdrawn within the stated time limit (unless there is some valid and mutually agreed reason for delaying the withdrawal) the other side shall have the right to take all necessary action against such armed personnel for the maintenance of security and order.
“4. a. Each side shall designate an equal number of members to form a military armistice commission which shall be responsible for supervising the execution of and adherence to the whole armistice agreement. The Military Armistice Commission shall be provided with and assisted by, observer teams which shall be responsible to, shall report to, and shall be subject to the direction and supervision of the Military Armistice Commission only. The observer teams shall be composed of personnel of nations whose armed forces are not participating in the Korean War, such nations to be mutually agreed to by both sides.
“b. Observation outside the demilitarized zone will be performed only by neutral observer teams. Observation within the demilitarized zone may be performed by neutral teams, by joint team selected by the Military Armistice Commission or by the Armistice Commission itself.
“c. Neutral observer teams shall be located at such land, sea, and air ports of entry and communication centers as are mutually agreed to by both sides. These observer teams shall be permitted freedom of movement over principal lines of communication throughout all of Korea and each side shall afford these teams full assistance in the execution of the duties assigned them by the Armistice Commission. In addition, such periodic aerial reconnaissance and observation and photographic flights as are mutually agreed to by both sides will be performed by neutral teams.
“5. Neither side shall increase the level of military units, military personnel, war equipment, or war material existing in Korea at the time the armistice becomes effective. The rehabilitation, expansion, and improvement of existing airfields and aviation facilities, construction of new airfields and new aviation facilities shall not be permitted.
“6. Each side shall administer in accordance with the terms of the armistice agreement that portion of the demilitarized zone lying on its side of the military demarcation line.
“7. The armistice shall not become effective until the Military Armistice Commission and its observer teams have been organized, are staffed, and are ready to begin the exercise of their assigned functions.”
Release ends.