795.00/6–2951
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Director of the Office of Northeast Asian Affairs (Johnson)
Subject: Korean Armistice (Meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 3:15 P. M., June 29)
| Participants: | General Collins | Mr. Rusk |
| Admiral McCormick | Mr. Johnson | |
| General White | ||
| Vice Admiral Davis |
[Note: Following the morning meeting1 a draft of instructions2 to General Ridgway was prepared by Mr. Rusk, Vice Admiral Davis and Mr. Johnson.]3
This draft was considered and discussed in detail at the afternoon meeting. There was general agreement and approval of the principles of the draft, and the discussion was largely confined to technical details.
Near the close of the meeting (and following the departure of Mr. Rusk), Major General White stated that he “had been instructed” to state that the Air Force had grave doubts with regard to the policy that was being followed concerning an armistice and questioned whether it was to our advantage. General Collins replied that the decision with respect to policy had been made at the meeting the preceding day with the concurrence of all of the Chiefs and it was now far too late to reopen the question. At the request of General White, the meeting awaited the arrival of General Twining, who stated his serious concern over entering into an armistice without adequate guarantees as to what the other side would do. Upon General Collins’ pointing out that no consideration had or was being given to an armistice until the other side had agreed to acceptable armistice terms which would include provision for adequate observation of North Korea, General Twining entered no further objection.
[Note: The draft approved at this meeting was discussed with the President4 by Secretary Acheson, Mr. Rusk, General Marshall and General Bradley at a meeting aboard the Williamsburg the evening of June 29, at which an instruction to General Ridgway was approved and transmitted the same evening.]5