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

Lot 55D128: Black Book, Tab 75: Telegram

The Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Commander in Chief, Far East (Ridgway)

secret
operational immediate

Washington, 12 December 1951—6:29 p. m.

JCS–89474. From JCS.¹

1. Reur CX 59155.² Concur in your view that public info media should be mobilized to apply pressure on Communist leaders to receive ICRC Reptvs. Steps are being taken here to make max use of appropriate media.

2. Reur CX 59176.³ We concur in your insistence on provision by Communists of lists of prisoners and their locations prior to any substantive agreement on item 4. It is suggested that you instruct our delegation to make an early announcement to the effect that while we are willing to proceed with discussion of item 4, we will not enter into any substantive agreement on that item until provided with a list of prisoners and their location. We intend to adhere to this position under any circumstances. This position should not, however, be presented in form of an ultimatum which would imply a breakoff of negotiations by US if not immediately accepted by Communists.

1. Approved by the Secretaries of State and Defense and by President Truman. (JCS Files)
2. See footnote 2, p. 1306.
3. Dated December 12, p. 1311.