Lot 55D128: Black Book, Tab 128: Telegram
The Commander in Chief, United Nations Command (Ridgway) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff
C–59940. For info. CINCUNC Adv HNC 616.
“Report of meeting of sub-delegation on item 4 this date. Convened 1100. UNC opened requesting information as to when it might expect Communist reply to UNC letter on discrepancies in POW data. Lee [Page 1419] replied that paragraphs 1 and 2 were under study and that a reply would be given following study. Paragraph 3, he said, was untenable; one cannot ask from the other side a figure based upon the numbers missing in action. Lee criticized POW data provided by UNC on grounds that it was in English and that it omitted rank, serial numbers and organizations. He stated that whereas the figures from Geneva up to June 1951 amounted to 150,476 pers, the list provided by UNC was short by 44,259 names of which 34,786 are from the regular army. He requested a satisfactory explanation. In closing he said that now that the data was exchanged there would be no pretext not to discuss the principal ques, the release of all POWs as soon as the armistice is signed.
“UNC introduced a concrete proposal for release and exchange immediately of all seriously sick or wounded POW under articles 109 and 110 of Geneva Convention. UNC followed this with a statement referring to Gen Ridgways letter to Kim and Peng on the ICRC1 and explaining why these visits were considered an essential part of the process of release and exchange of POWs. Lee said he would take UNC proposal on exchange now of sick and wounded under study and that his commanders were considering Gen Ridgway’s letter. He reiterated the faults of the UNC POW data, particularly the missing third of the Geneva total. He then insisted that UNC had no further excuse for not discussing the central problem, the release of all POWs.
“UNC replied that it would seek clarification of the Communist proposal dur afternoon session. Recessed 1320 to reconvene at 1500. Sgd Joy.”