Lot 55D128: Black Book, Tab 15: Telegram
The Commander in Chief, Far East (Ridgway) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff
CX–68595. In response to radio-telephone request from Colonel Chang, Senior Communist Liaison Officer, Colonel Murray, United Nations Command Liaison Officer met Chang at outpost line vicinity of Pan Mun Jom at 1015K hours this date. Chang handed Murray the following message in English and Korean. The Korean copy was signed. The English copy was unsigned. However, interpreters here state that both versions are substantially the same in word and tone: “To Vice Admiral C. Turner Joy, Senior Delegate of the Delegation of United Nations Forces:
“At 1500 hours, August 7, a supply truck of our delegation, with white cloth over its hood and carrying a white flag in conformity with agreement, encountered 2 airplanes of your side 6 kilometers north of Sibyonri, while on its way from Kaesong to Pyongyang. These airplanes of your side circled for a long time above the truck of our delegation and machine-gunned the truck twice consecutively, destroying its engine and incapacitating the truck. We have full proof to substantiate the above fact.
“In the preparatory meeting of the Liaison Officers of both sides on July 8, it was clearly and definitely agreed that airplanes of your side should not attack trucks of our delegation carrying white flags. On July 21, our Liaison Officer called the attention of your side to the fact that 4 supply trucks of our delegation carrying white flags had been attacked by airplanes of your side at Hwangju and Sariwon. Your side assured again at that time that henceforth trucks of our delegation with white flags and white cloth over their hoods would not be attacked.
“The above-mentioned fact is obviously a clear violation of the agreement between both sides. It is worthwhile to point out that this is a further violation of the agreement, which followed closely the shooting at Pan Mun Jom neutral zone by your armed personnel. I hereby lodge a grave protest on this matter with you and hope that you will guarantee against recurrence of any such violation of the agreement. (Signed) General Nam Il, Senior Delegate, the Delegation of the Korean Peoples Army and the Chinese Peoples Volunteers.”
I have authorized Admiral Joy to make the following reply:
“I have received your letter complaining of an air attack made on one of your vehicles at Sibyon-Ni, approx 25 miles northeast of Kaesong. Your complaint is completely without validity. On 8 July your Senior Liaison Officer, Colonel Chang, was told verbally by the Senior United Nations Command Liaison Officer, Colonel Kinney, that vehicles serving your delegation at Kaesong would be exempt from attack [Page 796] if prior notification of their route and time of travel were provided the Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Command, and if such vehicles were plainly marked with white. In addition Colonel Kinney, Senior United Nations Command Liaison Officer, furnished Colonel Chang, Senior Communist Liaison Officer, the foregoing in writing. I [quote] from the information sheet for the Communist Liaison Officer, given to Colonel Chang by Colonel Kinney on 8 July:
‘A Communist convoy marked with white crosses will not be attacked by United Nations Forces in transit to and from Kaesong at such time and over such route as is communicated to Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Command’.
“As a result, you did furnish Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Command, notification of the time and route of transit of your convoy proceeding to Kaesong on 9 July, thus indicating your understanding of the requirement for notification. In addition, on 21 July, Colonel Kinney again informed Colonel Chang that notification of the time and route of travel of your vehicles between Pyongyang and Kaesong was a necessary pre-requisite to exemption from attack. Again Col Chang indicated his understanding of this requirement by complaining that it was difficult to communicate such notification in each instance. Colonel Kinney then informed Colonel Chang for the third time that without such notification, exemption from attack could not be guaranteed. You are of course, aware that communication between your station at Kaesong and the United Nations Command Delegation south of the Imjin is maintained constantly.
“I note that the location of the attacks you allege is considerably east of the main road between Pyongyang and Kaesong. This fact raises the question in my mind whether your forces are abusing the use of white markings for purposes other than serving your delegation.
“As to the report made by Colonel Chang to Colonel Kinney on 8 August of an incident alleged to have occurred at Pan Mun Jom on 7 Aug, I note that you delayed more than 24 hours in transmitting this report. This thereby precluded a timely investigation. However, the matter is now being given such consideration as it deserves.”