Office of the Historian

125. Telegram From the Embassy in Switzerland to the Department of State1

Bern, March 10, 1956—1 p.m.

972. In compliance with Deptel 1564, March 8,2 Zehnder given complete statement of points A through E in paragraph 1 Deptel 1541, March 6. Emphasis placed on need to know within next few days that Swiss (and Swedish) action would result in removal of all teams to Demilitarized Zone.

Zehnder in reply made two principal points:

(1)
Swiss not prepared to say in advance of receipt of Communist reply that Swiss and Swedish action would result in withdrawal all teams to Demilitarized Zone.
(2)
Telegram had already been received from Swiss Legation Peking reporting that request for reply to Swiss aide-mémoire of February 7 made and Chinese had indicated reply could be expected within matter of days. Zehnder promised to let me know as soon as he had anything further.

Zehnder stated if Swedish and Swiss proposal accepted by Communists, no problem. If Communist answer negative, might be accompanied by compromise counter proposal. Swiss had given no indication whatever they would be disposed to accept compromise. If Communists offered to withdraw teams “provisionally” to Demilitarized [Page 232] Zone with inspections to be carried out by agreement of both sides Swiss might consider such compromise as it would in fact achieve withdrawal of teams to Demilitarized Zone. There would never be agreement of both sides to an inspection, therefore teams would remain in Demilitarized Zone. By “provisional” withdrawal of teams, principle of existence of teams would be preserved and terms of Armistice maintained.

Swiss understand fully and sympathize difficulties of our situation and need to meet March 17 deadline. Zehnder stated to date Swiss had avoided setting fixed date for reply but if nothing forthcoming would consider requesting answer by given date.

In view worldwide advantage to US of having Swiss and Swedes achieve withdrawal of teams to Demilitarized Zone, I again urge maximum cooperation to that end.

Willis
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 795.00/3–1056. Secret; Priority. Also sent to Seoul and Tokyo and repeated to Stockholm.↩
  2. See footnote 4, Document 123.↩