695A.0024/1–1953

The Secretary of Defense (Lovett) to the Secretary of State

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Dear Mr. Secretary: There is attached a memorandum dated 9 January 1953 from the Joint Chiefs of Staff relative to the trial of Communist prisoners of war in Korea who are charged with having committed post-capture offenses.

The Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Command, has recommended that he be given authority to try prisoners of war who have committed offenses while in the custody of the United Nations Command in Korea. It is CINCUNC’s view that he must have such authority to enable him to maintain necessary discipline and control of prisoners of war in Korea, and in order to deal more effectively with incidents of violence in the prisoner of war camps.

In their memorandum the Joint Chiefs of Staff point out that the present situation with respect to prisoners of war in Korea necessitates a complete review of the problem in its broadest aspects. With the continuing stalemate in Korea and the probability that the prisoners being held by the United Nations Command might remain in custody for an indefinite period, a U.S. Government position on the handling of the prisoner of war problem should be determined. I agree with the views [Page 725] of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in this matter and recommend that a committee, consisting of representatives of the Departments of State and Defense, be established to develop a U.S. Government position covering the prisoner of war problem. If you concur in the establishment of such a committee, Mr. Frank C. Nash, Assistant to the Secretary for International Security Affairs, will represent the Department of Defense on the committee.

Sincerely yours,

Robert A. Lovett

[Attachment]

Memorandum by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Secretary of Defense (Lovett)

top secret

Subject:

  • Trial of Prisoners of War for Post-Capture Offenses
1.
The Commander in Chief, United Nations Command (CINCUNC), has urgently recommended that early favorable consideration be given to his request for authority to establish a United Nations Military Commission for the purpose of trying prisoners of war charged with having committed post-capture offenses (see Appendices “A” and “B”).1 This recommendation is a reiteration of earlier requests for this authority (see Appendices “C” and “D”).2 At the time of these earlier requests, it was not considered propitious to initiate such trials. Accordingly, the authority requested by CINCUNC was withheld.
2.
It now appears that the measures taken to regain control following the Koje-Do incident of last May are proving inadequate on a long-term basis. As you know, there continue to be numerous incidents of violence in the camps. A major incident such as that which occurred on Pongam-Do on 14 December 1952 only serves to emphasize the magnitude of the problem confronting the United Nations Command. Under such conditions it is important that CINCUNC be granted such authority as will enable him to maintain the necessary discipline and control of the prisoners. CINCUNC’s request for authority to establish a United Nations Military Commission is one additional measure that might be undertaken.
3.
Although the Joint Chiefs of Staff do not wish to prejudice favorable consideration of CINCUNC’s request, they are of the opinion that the present situation dictates a complete review of the prisoner of war [Page 726] problem in its broadest aspects. Armistice negotiations have been at a standstill since 8 October 1952, with no indications that the Communists will agree to the United Nations Command position on prisoner exchange. Therefore it appears probable that thousands of Communist prisoners of war will remain in United Nations custody for an indefinite period. Also it appears certain that the Communists will continue their efforts to exploit to their advantage the present situation with respect to prisoners of war. Under such circumstances the mere initiation of trials of prisoners may not be sufficient as a long-term means of handling the prisoner of war problem.
4.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff consider that the specific question of prisoner of war trials as well as the broader question of reviewing the entire prisoner of war problem involve legal and political implications beyond their purview. They believe that these are questions of sufficient importance to United States policy to warrant earliest study at the highest levels of government. Accordingly, the Joint Chiefs of Staff recommend that the President be asked to appoint a high-level committee composed of representatives of the Departments of State and Defense, and such other agencies as may be appropriate, to study this problem in its broadest aspects and to make appropriate recommendations thereon to the President through the National Security Council.
For the Joint Chiefs of Staff:
Hoyt S. Vandenberg
Chief of Staff, United States Air Force
  1. Appendix “A”, telegram C 59981, Clark to Collins, Dec. 11, 1952, is not printed. For Appendix “B”, telegram CX 60821, Clark to JCS, Jan. 5, 1953, see p. 722.
  2. Appendix “C”, telegram CX 52443, Clark to Pace, July 24, 1952, and Appendix “D”, telegram CX 53852, Clark to the Department of the Army, Aug. 18, 1952 are not printed; Appendices A–D were found attached to the source text.