320/1–1154: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in India1
niact
805. 1. Press reports Madame Pandit has communicated with UN SYG asking him poll UN members reconvening UNGA early in February and indicating desire for responses by January 22. USUN expects receive official communication from Hammarskjold tonight or tomorrow.
2. We are puzzled and somewhat suspicious as to significance of January 22 date for receipt of responses. There is no precedent for setting date for receipt of responses. It would seem related to date for release of POWs, and it may be that Indians, on releasing POWs to two sides, will request latter not to dispose of them until GA has ruled on whether or not terms of armistice agreement have been complied with. Alternatively, though we consider this highly unlikely, Indians might decide retain custody of prisoners pending a GA finding. Either hypothesis involves serious difficulties which we believe we must do utmost avoid.
3. Therefore we will delay our reply to request for resumed GA until we can clarify intentions GOI on disposal POW problem and we shall seek have our friends do same. We do not feel it unreasonable for us to ask for such clarification before make a decision as to desirability resuming GA at a particular time and in particular circumstances. We believe Indians and others will appreciate justice our position on this point.
4. Bearing foregoing in mind approach Indians urgently at high level and ask them what is significance of January 22 date. Explain we cannot reach conclusions re desirability GA session February 9 unless we are aware of basis on which GA will be called upon to consider POW question. For this we must have clear understanding of procedure Indians intend follow regarding POWs when time arrives for their release on January 23. Assuming Indians mean to release POWs or at least to return them to the two commands, we hope Indians make early public statement to that effect, possibly in communications to the two commands.
5. You will appreciate desirability expediting earliest GOI response to foregoing queries.
6. Foregoing without prejudice to our views on desirability of GA action in connection with Korean political conference. Press report this morning states Communists have sent letter to Young proposing [Page 1716] re-opening Panmunjom talks.2 We will wish examine their proposal and assess prospects for re-opening talks before we take decisions re GA role in matter.3
- This telegram was drafted by Popper and cleared with McClurkin, Drumright, and William L. S. Williams (Officer in Charge of India–Nepal–Ceylon Affairs) in draft, and Key and Murphy. It was repeated to Seoul as 584, Tokyo as 1610 with instructions to pass to CINCUNC, USUN as 316, and Munsan-ni as 190.↩
- In telegram 207 from Munsan-ni, Jan. 11, Young relayed the text of the Communist side’s note for a liaison meeting Wednesday, Jan. 13, to discuss a date for resumption of political talks. (795.00/1–1154)↩
- In telegram 210 from Munsan-ni, Jan. 12, Young reported that he had agreed to a meeting of liaison secretaries on Jan. 14. (795.00/1–1253)↩