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DECLASSIFIED FROM: CINCUNC TOKYO JAPAN SGD CLARK Authority NLT- 77-75 TO: DEPTAR WASH DC FOR JCS By HC / DB NLT Date MAY 30 1978 INFO: CINCUNC (ADV) KOREA, CGARMYEIGHT (ADV) KOREA, USAMBASSADOR PUSAN KOREA NR: CX 69687 JUN 52 Re CX 64029 / 1. Since General Ridgway notified you in para 3 of referenced message of his decision to hold all civilian internees until the plan for their release could be included in the overall plan for the release of all internees, both military and civilian, there have been several developments which indicate that those CIs who have been screened and have indicated they do not wish to return to Communists control, should be released from UNC custody as soon as appropriate arrangements are made with ROK. 2. In arriving at the above decision, I have carefully examined all aspects of this problem and have discussed it personally with Van Fleet and Harrison, both of whom recommend release. The primary deterrent to releasing the CIs to date has been the adverse effect upon the armistice negotiations and a pos- sible retaliation against UN POWs. However, this deterrent is not considered valid at this time. Harrison submitted to me his analysis of the question, pertinent parts of which are quoted below: "The civilian internees are not POWs in fact, having been reclassified as civilians and SO reported to the ICRC. They therefore are, or should be, outside of the POW issue. In item 4 staff discussions the Communists tacitly accepted this view when the proposed POW exchange based on 18 December lists. The release of the civilian internees I consider a matter of justice consistent with our position on the entire POW issue. If we do not release them it can be inferred that our proclaimed final stand is not actually final and that we are so afraid of not achieving an armistice that we are prepared to sacrifice our widely publicized humanitarian principles in the interests of expediency. Release of the civilian internees would tend to prove that our stand is final and that we do not fear the consequences of the act. DA IN 146933 (5 Jun 52) - 1048 -

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    "ocrText": "DECLASSIFIED\nFROM: CINCUNC TOKYO JAPAN SGD CLARK\nAuthority\nNLT- 77-75\nTO:\nDEPTAR WASH DC FOR JCS\nBy HC / DB NLT\nDate\nMAY 30 1978\nINFO: CINCUNC (ADV) KOREA, CGARMYEIGHT (ADV) KOREA,\nUSAMBASSADOR PUSAN KOREA\nNR:\nCX 69687\nJUN 52\nRe CX 64029\n/\n1. Since General Ridgway notified you in para 3 of\nreferenced message of his decision to hold all civilian internees\nuntil the plan for their release could be included in the overall\nplan for the release of all internees, both military and civilian,\nthere have been several developments which indicate that those\nCIs who have been screened and have indicated they do not wish to\nreturn to Communists control, should be released from UNC custody\nas soon as appropriate arrangements are made with ROK.\n2. In arriving at the above decision, I have carefully\nexamined all aspects of this problem and have discussed it\npersonally with Van Fleet and Harrison, both of whom recommend\nrelease. The primary deterrent to releasing the CIs to date has\nbeen the adverse effect upon the armistice negotiations and a pos-\nsible retaliation against UN POWs. However, this deterrent is not\nconsidered valid at this time. Harrison submitted to me his\nanalysis of the question, pertinent parts of which are quoted below:\n\"The civilian internees are not POWs in fact, having been\nreclassified as civilians and SO reported to the ICRC. They\ntherefore are, or should be, outside of the POW issue. In item 4\nstaff discussions the Communists tacitly accepted this view when\nthe proposed POW exchange based on 18 December lists. The release\nof the civilian internees I consider a matter of justice consistent\nwith our position on the entire POW issue. If we do not release\nthem it can be inferred that our proclaimed final stand is not\nactually final and that we are so afraid of not achieving an\narmistice that we are prepared to sacrifice our widely publicized\nhumanitarian principles in the interests of expediency. Release\nof the civilian internees would tend to prove that our stand is\nfinal and that we do not fear the consequences of the act.\nDA IN 146933\n(5 Jun 52)\n- 1048 -"
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