Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Ambassador of Mexico Rafael de la Colina, Rafael Nieto, Thomas C. Mann, and John M. Allison

0701 SEGURITY INFORMATION DEPARTMENT OF STATE 986 Memorandum of Conversation 261 DATE: Sept. 2, 1952 SUBJECT: Exchange of Prisoners Problem in Kores PARTICIPANTS: Dean Acheson - Secretary of State Senor Don Rafael de la Colina - Ambassador of Mexico Senor Don Rafael Nieto - Minister Counselor of Embassy of Mexico Thomas 0. Mann - Deputy Assistant Secretary (ARA) John M. Allison - Assistent Secretary (FE) COPIES TO: S s/s G S/P UNA ARA FE u. s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 16-61120-1 The Mexican Ambassador called at his request to leave with the Secretary a copy of a communication delivered todey to the Secretary General of the United Nations by the permanent Mexican Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Luis Padilla Nervo. The note in substance suggests that each member of the United Nations that sig- nifies its approval of this plan would pledge itself to receive in its territory thone prisoners of war whe did not desire to be returned to their former countries. While the proposal is not entirely clear, apparently the prisoners of var held by either party who are willing to be exchanged would be exchanged without delay under this plan and the remaining prisoners would then go as political refugees to the various United Nations members vho accept the plan. Ambassador de la Colinn stated that he assumed that the Secretary General of the United Nations would transit this suggestion officially to the United States Government as agent of the Unified Command. He vent on to Bay that after there had been an opportunity to study the proposal and if the Unified Command believed it had merit there would obviously be the necessity of working out the details and perhaps modifying it in some form or another. However, the Mexican Government bolieved it important that the general proposition be put forvard for consideration. The DECLASSIFIED E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or (E) Dept. of State letter, 10-26-24 SECURITY IMFORMATION By NLT: He NARS Dailt-29-76