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NL, 39 INCOMING TELEGRAM Department of State RE 23-22-X TOP SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION Action FE Control: 6623 Rec'd: FROM: London November 18, 1952 Info 3:02 p.m. SS TO: Secretary of State G EUR NO: 2825, November 18, 1 p.m. UNA Following obtained in strictest confidence from FONOFF yesterday: 1. Indian Ambassador Raghavan saw Chou En-Lai twice last month on or about October 16 and 31 re Korean armistice negotiations. During interviews Chou made points about as follows: (A) CHICOMS still want armistice (B) Although CHICOMS continue to hold fast to principles of Geneva convention requiring total repatriation of POWs, no (repeat no) ob jection to "declassification" Korean POWs. (c) Principle of non-forcible repatriation included in all three United States (United Nations) alternate proposals and therefore they all unacceptable, Mechanics governing repatri- ation POWs are however subject negotiation. Time lag between any agreement in principle to repatriate and actual repatri- ation all POWs may well be considerable. 2. According Raghavan, CHICOMS taken aback United Nations "broke off" negotiations at Panmunjom and anxious they be reopened there. 3. Info contained in paragraphs 1 and 2 above give United Kingdom by GOI with stipulation from Nehru it be passed on to no (repeat no other nation. Commonwealth Relations Office has insisted that this stipulation be adhered to strictly. Therefore it essential information be closely held and source protected. 4. Informant said there was unmistakable indication public opinion in United Kingdom building up rapidly in favor compro- mise. FONOFF receiving more and more letters demanding con- clusion armistice at any cost, and asking why welfare Chinese POWs who had already switched allegiance first in favor CHICOMS and now (repeat now) resisting repatriation should be valued above welfare and repatriation British POWs. 5. Embassy comment: (A) According 146 REPRODUCTION FROM THIS TOP SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION COPY, IF CLASSIFIED, IS PROHIBITED july 00-37338-4 GRO