FE files, lot 55 D 128
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Allison)
Subject:
- Exchange of Prisoners Problem in Korea
Participants:
- Dean Acheson—Secretary of State
- Senor Don Rafael de la Colina—Ambassador of Mexico
- Senor Don Rafael Nieto—Minister Counselor of Embassy of Mexico
- Thomas C. Mann—Deputy Assistant Secretary (ARA)
- John M. Allison—Assistant Secretary (FE)
The Mexican Ambassador called at his request to leave with the Secretary a copy of a communication delivered today to the Secretary General of the United Nations by the permanent Mexican Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Luis Padilla Nervo. The note1 in substance suggests that each member of the United Nations that signifies its approval of this plan would pledge itself to receive in its territory those prisoners of war who did not desire to be returned to their former countries. While the proposal is not entirely clear, apparently the prisoners of war held by either party who are willing to be exchanged would be exchanged without delay under this plan and the remaining prisoners would then go as political refugees to the various United Nations members who accept the plan.
Ambassador de la Colina stated that he assumed that the Secretary General of the United Nations would transmit this suggestion officially to the United States Government as agent of the Unified Command. He went on to say that after there had been an opportunity to study the proposal and if the Unified Command believed it had merit there would obviously be the necessity of working out the details and perhaps modifying it in some form or another. However, the Mexican Government believed it important that the general proposition be put forward for consideration.
The Secretary asked whether or not there would be any time limit on the stay of the prisoners of war in the various countries and whether they would be at some time forced to return to any particular place. Ambassador de la Colina said it was his understanding that there would be no forcible ejection of prisoners nor would they be forcibly required to return to any particular country. The Secretary also pointed out that Nationalist China was a member of the United Nations and that it might offer to take all the Chinese prisoners, in which case there would undoubtedly be certain difficulties. Ambassador de la Colina again emphasized [Page 477] that this proposal was in general terms only and that obviously it would need refining before it was put into operation.
The Secretary thanked the Ambassador for making a copy of the proposal available and said it would receive earnest consideration by the Department.