Office of the Historian

Lot 55D128: Black Book, Tab 74: Telegram

The Commander in Chief, Far East (Ridgway) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff

secret   priority
Tokyo, 12 December 1951—10:33 p. m.

C–59222. CINCUNC Adv HNC 550.

“Further to HNC 548.1 Sub-Committee reconvened 1500.

“1. Using forceful language UNC continued to press for exchange now of data on POWs and for Communist acceptance of ICRC visitation of POW camps. Communists evaded answering question on visitation and continued to make exchange of POW data contingent upon [Page 1326] UNC acceptance of principle under which all POW would be released by both sides following signing of armistice. UNC several times stated that acceptance of visits and exchange of information must precede any discussion of such matters as basis of exchange. The crux of the day’s proceedings came near the end of the session when the Communists using a prepared statement submitted a formal proposal. The proposal follows:

  • “(1) To decide upon the principle that both sides shall release all the prisoners of war now in custody of each side.
  • “(2) To agree that both sides shall release in groups and complete the repatriation of all the prisoners of war in their custody within the shortest period possible after the signing of the armistice agreement, and to decide upon the principle that those prisoners of war who are seriously wounded or sick shall have the priority of being released and repatriated in the first group.
  • “(3) To recommend that Pan Mun Jom, Kaesong, will be the place for the handing over and receiving of prisoners of war by both sides.
  • “(4) To recommend that both sides will designate an equal number of members to form a Prisoner-of-War Repatriation Committee under the armistice commission to be responsible for dealing with matters related to the handing over and receiving of prisoners of war in accordance with the above stated agreement.
  • “(5) Once the above items are mutually agreed and decided upon, the lists of names of all prisoners of war held presently by each side respectively will be exchanged.

“2. Comment: Program for tomorrow is to avoid discussions of Communist proposal as inappropriate at the present stage of the discussion and continue to press strongly and emphatically for visitation and exchange of data as preliminary steps which must precede any discussion of such matters as are contained in Communist proposal. Signed Joy”.

  1. Supra.↩