Lot 55D128: Black Book, Tab 130: Telegram
The Commander in Chief, United Nations Command (Ridgway) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff
C–59943. HNC–618.
“Further to HNC 616.1 Reconvened 1500. Lee opened, asking for a response to his side’s proposals to release all POW after armistice signed or an explanation of the disappearance of 44,000 POWs. UNC replied as follows: Current list includes 132,474 broken down by nationality as follows: NK 95,531, Chinese 20,700, ROK 16,243. The last named were domiciled on 25 June 1950 south of 38 parallel. [Page 1422] They were for the most part apprehended by UNC forces under suspicious or hostile circumstances. Some were guerrillas, some fighting with NK army; some were taken into custody as a security measure, others through the confusion of war. Last spring UNC held much larger group of these nationals of the ROK. Screening was initiated to separate those who had voluntarily identified themselves with the enemy from those who were innocent of connection therewith or who had been impressed. In cases where these persons were found to be improperly detained as POW they were reclassified and dropped from POW lists. A report was forwarded to Geneva. The classification of some 37,000 has been corrected. 16,000 remain who while technically POWs are qualified to retain their status as citizens of the ROK. They are entitled upon release to repatriations within ROK. The UNC has no intention of delivering them to the other side. The only POWs subject to discussion under agenda item 4 are those who are bona fide residents of NK or China prior to 25 June 1950. Lee attempted to refute this statement largely on the grounds that it was not a question of where these persons lived but of what side they were fighting for. He came back to the release all prisoners now theme. UNC started exploration of Communist principle of all-for-all exchange asking Lee to justify his proposal that UNC exchange during the armistice 120,000 men in good condition for 11,000 in unknown condition, thus negotiating the enemy an advantage of 12 divisions. Reference was made to double military advantage obtained by reducing Communists POW list by impressment of former ROK soldiers into NK Army. Lee evaded the question of justifying the all-for-all exchange and repeated former arguments. Col Tsai took up the refrain and made a long statement criticizing UNC’s evading discussion of principle and disappearance of 44,259 POWs including 34,786 of the NK Regular Army. To say that South Koreans were conscripted is to lie. There are large numbers of South Koreans in KPA to fight for a just cause. It is not a question of their origin. These reasons are unacceptable.
UNC replied if it is a lie that South Koreans were impressed it is a lie which they told the UNC upon their return. As to correction of classifications, it is a fait accompli. It was reported to Geneva. If the Communists are not satisfied with that the UNC invites them to send representatives to the Pusan area where they will be afforded an opportunity to interview all these people. If any of them wish to go to NK UNC will so permit them at the proper time. Recessed 1730 to resume 1100 tomorrow.
Comment: UNC by implications today revealed its first position. This will be confirmed tomorrow through further exploration of all-for-all [Page 1423] principle in light of no military advantage. Intend proceed thereafter in accordance our HNC 611,2 initially pressing for return of impressed ROK soldiers. Sgd Joy”.