Office of the Historian

Lot 55D128: Black Book, Tab 119: Telegram

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

secret
operational immediate
Washington, 20 December 1951—5:58 p. m.

JCS–90157. From JCS.

1. We note analysis in HNC 5931 disclosing incompleteness of POW list furnished by Communists and assume this inaccuracy is being challenged. Intelligence here indicates that there have been UN and ROK POWs held in camps outside North Korea, and that there are UNC POWs alive not named in Communist list. Since the POW camps identified by Communists are only in North Korea, Communist list of POWs should be contested as incomplete and in particular failing to include UN and ROK POWs in camps outside Korea.

2. Our interpretation of data compiled up to this time which was based on info furnished entirely by you makes it appear that:

A. With respect to camps located in list provided by Communists sufficient evidence exists that:

(1) 40 percent to 50 percent of United States prisoners were sent to China and Manchuria in 1951; some other UN and ROK prisoners moved similarly in addition.

(2) Communists list only 11 out of at least 29 permanent camps in North Korea and none out of at least 18 permanent camps in China and Manchuria.

(3) UNC POWs are at least at folg locations in Korea not indicated in Communist list:

Chungganjin: (126 degrees 50 minutes–41 degrees 48 minutes) CB 2427;

Kanggye: (126 degrees 36 minutes–40 degrees 58 minutes) BA 9838;

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Sinuiju: (124 degrees 24 minutes–40 degrees 06 minutes) XE 1838.

(4) UNC prisoners of war were at least at folg locations in Manchuria and China not indicated on Communist list and at sufficiently recent dates that it is doubtful they were moved back to Korea:

Antung (M): (124 degrees 20 minutes–40 degrees 10 minutes) XE 1742;

Mukden (M): (123 degrees 30 minutes–41 degrees 45 minutes);

Peiping-Tientsin (C): (116 degrees 25 minutes–39 degrees 55 minutes).

B. With ref to completeness of list of POWs by name:

(1) Total list of names of United States POWs and ROK POWs is too small in comparison with percentage of missing-in-action of other nationalities. For instance, list contains 25 percent of United States MIA and 11.7 percent of ROK MIA as against 85 percent of British MIA, 64 percent of Turkish MIA, and 69 percent of Philippine MIA.

(2) Communist list names only 40 percent of those 110 United States prisoners reported by NK Govt to ICRC in Aug 50 to be held as prisoners.

(3) It is estimated that Communist list names only about 48 percent of United States mil personnel who are alive and in hands of Communists. This estimate is based on percentage of United States names presented on propaganda broadcasts and in published lists and photographs, which do not appear on Communist list; on letters received by next-of-kin in United States from POWs not on Communist list; and on identification, as prisoners, of United States individuals who are not on Communist list, through interrogation of both enemy POWs and recovered United States personnel.

3. It is desired that you check on intelligence available to you in order to verify statements contained in para 2 above. If your check fails to substantiate any of above statements, it is desired to resolve differences in an early teleconference.

4. It is emphasized that in attacking Communist POW data you should proceed cautiously so as to avoid creating an emotional atmosphere here or a situation from which neither side can withdraw. Furthermore, detailed data on this subj should not be released to press at this time. Also, it is essential that data used by you in disputing Communists’ contentions must be that from credible sources.

5. There is a possibility that UNC POWs in China and Manchuria may be classified as “internees” by Chinese Govt. This would be consistent with position of Chinese Govt that it is not participating in the war.

  1. The text of this message from Admiral Joy to General Ridgway, December 19, read as follows:

    “For your info analysis of POW list of UNC pers in Communist hands discloses that only 44 of the 110 names reported to Geneva in Aug and Sep 1950 are included. Preliminary analysis indicates that same proportion applies to list of UNC pers who have been identified as broadcasting on Communist radio.” (Black Book, Tab 111)

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