Editorial Note
On May 25, Harrison asked that the resumed discussions at Panmunjom go into executive session and the Communists agreed. After a preface stressing that the United Nations Command continued to adhere to the principle of no forced repatriation and summarizing the major concessions [Page 1097] the United Nations Command was about to make, Harrison made the proposal as contained in telegram C 62592, May 23, page 1090. After a recess of one and a half hours, Nam Il and his negotiating team commented on the proposal by asserting that the alternatives of release of non-repatriates after 120 days or submission of them to the United Nations, itself a belligerent in the conflict, were tantamount to handing them “to the control of your side.” Nam stated that the other provisions required further study, and the two sides agreed to meet again on June 1. A record of the discussion at these sessions can be found in telegrams C 62608, CX 62621, and CX 62622, all May 25, 1953, none printed. (Matthews files, lot 53 D 413) See also Hermes, Truce Tent and Fighting Front, pages 429–430.