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

secret
priority

Tokyo, April 18, 1953—11:41 a.m.

C 61971. Ref: JCS 86804 DTG 130530Z, Nov 1951.¹

1. Pursuant to instructions contained in ref, main delegations on 27 Nov 1951 ratified UN agreement which specified that both sides acptd the principle that the actual line of contact between both sides would become the mil demarcation line, and established an agreed line of mil demarcation. The agreement further provd that, if the mil armistice agreement was not signed by 27 Dec 1951, sub-delegations of both sides would revise, immediately prior to the signing of the mil armistice agreement, this agreed upon mil demarcation line and the demilitarized zone in accordance with the changes which have occurred in the actual line of contact between both sides. The revised mil demarcation line would thus coincide exactly with the line of contact between both sides immediately prior to the signing of the mil armistice agreement, and would constitute the mil demarcation line for the duration of the mil armistice.

2. The present actual line of contact, in 12 places, is 1 to 2 and ½ kilometers south of the line agreed upon on 27 Nov 1951. In only one instance does the actual line of contact extend 1 kilometer north of the agreed line. I intend to suggest to the Communists that in order to save time in concluding an armistice, the presently agreed upon line of mil demarcation and demilitarized zone be aprvd by both sides without renegotiation. However, in view of the UNC commitment outlined in para 1 above, I am in no psn to insist upon Communist acceptance of the original line. Considering the fact that Chou En-lai made specific ref in his proposal to the agreement between both sides that the actual line of contact would be made the mil demarcation line, I believe that the Communists will demand a readjustment of the mil demarcation line in accordance with the terms of the agreement. If such occurs, I intend to agree and make the nec readjustments on as favorable a basis to the UNC possible without undue delay. Your comments are rqstd.²

1. For the text of this telegram, see Foreign Relations, 1951, vol. vii, Part 1, p. 1126.
2. See telegram JCS 937205 to Clark, dated Apr. 22, p. 923.