795.00/3–1952
Memorandum for the Record, by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Johnson)
Subject:
- Korean Armistice Negotiations
Immediately upon the receipt, March 17, of General Ridgway’s C 654301 and CX 65424,2 Colonel Matthews and Mr. Johnson conferred and thoroughly discussed both messages. Both recognized the obvious dangers inherent in the proposal set forth in CX 65424, and that the approach in C 65430 seemed to be sharply at variance with that of HNC 1033.3 There was general agreement on the broad lines of a reply to both messages.
The two messages were discussed at length with the Secretary by Mr. Matthews, Mr. Bohlen, Mr. Ferguson, Mr. Allison, Mr. Phillips, and Mr. Johnson on the afternoon of March 18 and again by the same persons except Mr. Allison on the morning of March 19.
The morning of March 19 a meeting was held with the JCS4 at which General Bolte, General Vandenberg and Admiral Fechteler were present for the JCS, and Mr. Matthews, Mr. Bohlen, Mr. Ferguson, Mr. Phillips, and Mr. Johnson for State. A draft reply prepared by the Army, with some textual changes proposed by State, was thoroughly discussed and a final text agreed to by all present.5 During the course of the discussion General Vandenberg asked Mr. Matthews whether he could confirm General Vandenberg’s understanding that, at the meeting with the President on February 27 concerning the final US Government position on POWs, the President expressed the desire to re-examine the question prior to implementation of any plan for screening and segregation of POWs.6 Admiral Fechteler somewhat more doubtfully and tentatively indicated that it was also his impression that this was the President’s desire. Mr. Matthews, with confirmation by Mr. Johnson, indicated that this was not his understanding, it being clear at the meeting with the President that General Ridgway had asked for a final position on the POW question and that the decision was then being made by the President and confirmed by him through the approval of a telegram which was subsequently transmitted to General Ridgway the same day. However, Mr. Matthews stated that this should not preclude re-examination of the question by the President if such course appeared desirable.