Editorial Note
On July 1, 1952, the Senior United Nations Command Delegate, General Harrison, noted during a session at Panmunjom that both sides had agreed, with the exception of a few minor administrative details, to 62 of 63 paragraphs of the draft armistice agreement. The sole remaining disagreement concerned paragraph 51, the POW question. Harrison urged the other side to accept the paragraph as written, which he believed was in full accord with the Geneva Convention and which he maintained provided a reasonable basis for settlement. The Communist Delegation apparently interpreted this statement as a prelude to concessions by the United Nations Command. On July 2, it asked for a recess to study Harrison’s statement and then, on July 3, requested that the meetings go into executive session. The substantive record of these meetings for July 1 to 3 can be found in FE files, lot 55 D 128, telegrams C 51133 and C 51282, both Clark to JCS, July 1 and 3, 1952, respectively. The report of the Communist request for a recess is located in Matthews files, lot 53 D 413, telegram C 51166, CINCUNC to JCS, July 2, 1952. See also Vatcher, Panmunjom, pages 160–161 and Hermes, Truce Tent and Fighting Front, pages 272–273.