Lot 55D128: Black Book, Tab 135: Telegram
The Commander in Chief, Far East (Ridgway) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff
priority
C–59944. For info, CINCUNC Adv msg HNC 611.
“Listed below are positions which might be taken during negotiations on agenda item 4. Sub-delegation is prepared to adopt slight variations should circumstances require. Except for the initial position they are not necessarily listed in the order to be followed during discussion.
“In fact, it is the intention of the delegation to avoid introducing any of these positions as formal proposals. We hope to accomplish this by developing the successive positions through discussion, using our initial bargaining position and the Communist ‘all for all exchange’ as the extreme poles.
“Position one (initial bargaining position)—one for one exchange of prisoners of war until Communist held prisoners of war are all returned. UNC retains remaining Communist POWs, leaving their disposition to later political settlement. A recommendation in this matter could be included in agenda item 5.
“Position two—same as position one except former ROKA impressed soldiers restored to POW status by Communist and exchanged for UNC held POWs on one for one basis.
“Position three (optimum)—same as position two except United Nations and ROK civilians added by Communist and exchanged for United Nations Command held POW on one for one basis.
“Position four—same as position three except that upon completion of the exchange of civilians we return to Communist all their POWs who elect to be repatriated. Election to be supervised by a neutral body. (As in position one, POWs remaining who do not desire repatriation will be subject to later political settlement. A recommendation to this effect could be included in item 5 of agenda.)
“Position five—all United Nations Command held POWs for all Communist held POWs, ROKA personnel, and civilians. This requires JCS approval since it involves forced repatriation.
“Position six—one for one exchange of POW until Communist held [Page 1424] POWs are all returned. Then repatriation of all UNC held POWs desiring such repatriation, with remaining POWs being released and given asylum. This requires JCS approval since no civilians included.
“Position seven—all for all exchange of United Nations Command held POWs for Communist held POWs. This requires JCS approval. Signed Joy.”