242. Telegram 790 to Geneva1
790. For Johnson.
New York’s 4, paragraph 5. Following is text of statement which has been cleared with Defense regarding unaccounted for American military personnel.
“On July 16, 1952, the Foreign Minister of the PRC notified the Swiss Government that the Government of the PRC had decided to recognize the Geneva Conventions of 1949 on Treatment of Prisoners of War.
“On July 27, 1953, the responsible leaders of the communist forces in Korea signed the Armistice Agreement which resulted in the cessation of hostilities in Korea and provided clear agreement on the handling of prisoners of war, including the specific requirement of each side to furnish a full and complete accounting on all [Typeset Page 318] prisoners of war and deceased combatants of which either side had any knowledge.
“The terms of the Geneva Convention on Prisoners of War and the solemn obligations accruing to the communist forces in Korea under the Armistice Agreement have, in part, been ignored and violated by those forces and by your government during the intervening period.
“September 27, 1955, was the second anniversary of the final date established by the Armistice Agreement for the delivery and accounting of all personnel captured as a result of the Korean War. The UN Command in [Facsimile Page 2] accordance with the provisions of the Armistice Agreement and the provisions of the Geneva Conventions on prisoners of war has rendered a full accounting of all prisoners of war and deceased combatants of which it has knowledge. Your Government, however, has continued to hold personnel who were so captured.
“I hand you herewith a list of 450 names comprised exclusively of persons who have spoken over the communist radio, have been referred to in communist broadcasting, have been actually listed by the communist side as being captives, have written letters from communist prison camps, have been seen in communist prisons, or have been seen in communist territory, either in China or in North Korea.
“I therefore reiterate the previous demands made upon your government to render an accounting forthwith of American military personnel on this list and of any others known to you.”
New York note that any changes which Secretary and Phleger may wish to make should be wired Niact direct Johnson.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.93/9–2755. Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Repeated Niact to USUN as telegram Tedul 5. Drafted by Godel (Defense) and Osborn; cleared by Godel in draft, McConaughy, and Sebald.↩