Memorandum of Telephone Conversations with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Senator Tom Connally, Senator Alexander Wiley, and Congressman Charles Eaton

84, . AND 169 CONFIDENTIAL June 29, July 2, 1951 MEMORANDUM OF TELEPHONE CONVERSATION Participants: Senator Tom Connally Mr. Acheson The Secretary telephoned Senator Connally about 5:15 on Friday afternoon to tell him that, while the report which had appeared in the morning papers that General Ridgway was planning to broadcast a proposal for a truce was incorrect, it was now a fact that General Ridgway had been instructed to make such a proposal and that the instruction had been received in Tokyo. The Secretary said that this broadcast which General Ridgway will make would not be an offer of the terms of the armistice. What General Ridgway would say was that he understood that the Communists would like to talk about an armistice and cease-fire and if that is true we are willing to meet and discuss the terms. The Secretary said he did not know who the opposing commander was-wwether a Chinaman or a North Korean. Senator Connally asked if we were making progress and said he thought we ought to examine carefully the proposal which had come from Malik and not turn it down cold. The Secretary said that we were inclined to believe that the Russians want to stop fighting but we are not sure whether that is true for the Chinese. He thought that this proposal of General Ridgway would clear this situation up; if it developed that there was a difference between the Russians and the Chinese that, in itself, is a gain. The Secretary said he would keep Senator Connally advised of all developments. DECLASSIFIED E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and S(D) or (E Dept. of State letter, 5-12-76 CONFIDENTIAL HC BARS Dasto 6.25.76 S:L, BEvans:mlm