Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Korea, Volume XV, Part 1

Matthews files, lot 53 D 413: Telegram

The Commander in Chief, United Nations Command (Clark) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff

top secret
operational immediate

Tokyo, April 7, 1953—9:20 p.m.

CX 61799. Refs: A. Z 36197 (HNU 4–2).¹ B. Z 36199 (HNU 4–3).²C. CX 61782.³ D. CX 61781.⁴ E. JCS 935344 (NOTAL).⁵ F. C 61723 (NOTAL).⁶G. Z 36190 (HNU 4–1).⁷

1. Liaison group repts that Communists gave every indication today that they are ready to proceed with the repatriation of sick and wounded as soon as they complete their staff work. UNC proposals of 7 Apr will be followed up on 8 Apr in order to press for an early discussion of administrative details.

2. The minor change in phraseology employed in the second para of part 2 of ref A does not conform with the text forwarded in para 2b of ref C, but is in accordance with the last sentence of para 5 of ref D. This change was authorized by telecon.

3. I note that constant reiteration of the phrase “sick and injured POWs”, which appears many times in the Communist statement reptd in part 5 of ref A. This may be an indication that the Communists do not intend to repatriate any civil internees at this time.

4. My comments on the Communist statement in para 5 of ref A fol:

a. First para—apparently in consonance with the UNC proposed course of action.

b. Second para—no significance, merely a negative statement regarding the application of the third para of Article 109, which the UNC has already stated affirmatively.

c. Third para—no objection foreseen.

d. Fourth para—indicates the Communist intention to rqst the UNC to make arrangements for the accommodation in a neutral country of those POWs who will not be directly repatriated. This may constitute the first clue to Communist thinking on the ques set forth in para 6 b of ref E and should be considered in conjunction with my comment made in part 1, para b of ref F. I believe that this Communist statement clearly requires immediate consideration of US governmental action in an endeavor to make preliminary arrangements for the accommodation in neutral countries of POWs in UNC custody who will not be directly repatriated.⁸

5. With regard to the Communist statement set forth in part 3 of ref B, the proposed agreement to which the Communists refer is the same one which was mentioned in ref G. An exact copy of the proposed agreement dlvrd to the Communists on 6 Apr will be forwarded to you by dispatch earliest. I foresee no particular difficulty arising from anything contained in the Communist statement contained in ref B, and anticipate little progress until such time as the Communists are prepared to dlvr their totals of sick and wounded, by nationality, to be repatriated, which they estimate will be completed in 1 or 2 days.

1. Not printed, but see footnote 3, supra.
2. Ibid.
3. In this telegram, dated Apr. 6, 1953, Clark transmitted to the JCS a text of the instructions he was sending CINCUNC Adv concerning the statement to be made at the first Senior Liaison Group meeting. (Matthews files, lot 53 D 413)
4. Dated Apr. 6, p. 879.
5. Dated Mar. 31, p. 829.
6. Dated Apr. 3, p. 857.
7. Not printed, but see footnote 2 p. 877.
8. According to a memorandum for record by the Chief of Staff, U.S. Army, Apr. 8, Collins called the attention of Matthews and Nash to this paragraph and Clark’s need for a U.S. Government position on the Communist proposal. Collins recommended, and Matthews and Nash approved, the establishment of an interdepartmental committee to follow up on telegrams received from CINCUNC. Appointed to the committee were U. Alexis Johnson, Department of State; Charles A. Sullivan, Office of the Secretary of Defense; and Lt. Col. John E. Dwan, USA, for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (JCS records, CCS 383.21 Korea) 3–19–45))