Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE WASHINGTON DECLASSIFIED E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402 State Dept. Guidelines, March 6, 1982 June 26, 1951 By DEB NLT, Date 9-5-85 S-E C R E T SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS KOREA We have informed our Embassy in Moscow and our Mission to the UN that we believe it is desirable to limit our discussion at this stage on the Malik statement to an attempt to clarify certain points. We do not wish to embark on negotiations on cease-fire and armistice arrangements without knowing more about what the Soviets had in mind. The attitude of our representatives, therefore, is to be one of seeking answers to questions in order that the US Govern- ment might understand what Malik was saying without attempting to state the views of the US Government on such points. Embassy Moscow is to seek clarification from Vishinsky or Gromyko and US-UN discreetly from Malik by means of the following questions: 1) Does Malik's phrase "the Soviet peoples believe" entitle us to believe that this is also the view of the Soviet Government? If so, is that government prepared to support steps toward a peaceful settlement? 2) Is there significance to the phrase "a cease-fire and an armistice"? What does Malik have in mind in appearing to draw a distinction between the two? 3) Does the Soviet Government have any specific steps in mind (as to procedure)? 4) Does the Soviet Government know whether Malik's statement represents the view of Peiping? 5) Is the Soviet Government prepared to support a meeting of representatives of the field commanders to discuss arrange - ments? The British Embassy has been informed of the above steps and we have acceded to the British request that British UN delegate