Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

NLT (Navil Aide) 143 OF OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE WASHINGTON DECLASOINED Dept. Guidelines, March 6, 1982 E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402 December 21, 1950 State By DED NLT, Date C-18-65 TOPSECRE I SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS UNITED NATIONS We have informed our UN delegation for use in discussions with other delegations of our current thinking on the Korean question, in which we restated our posi- tion that we cannot voluntarily permit aggression to be rewarded and that our objective in Korea has never varied from that of the UN reso- lutions. We point out that we have consistently desired and still desire the earliest possible withdrawal of UN forces from Korea; however, this must be accompanied as a minimum by a cessation of North Korean attacks across the 38th parallel and the withdrawal of Chinese Commun- ist forces. We state our earnest desire that the cease-fire group be successful in effecting a cease-fire arrangement which could lead to a generally acceptable peaceful settlement for Korea. To this end we are willing to discuss the matter in a forum or under a procedure which would include the Chinese Communists, provided the holding of such discussions does not depend upon prior commitments from either side as to the positions to be taken. We point out that if our friends in the UN and the Chinese Communists understand our basic willingness to talk and to use peaceful methods, and if the Chinese Communists are sincere in their expressed desire for a cessation of hostilities and a withdrawal of foreign forces from Korea, it may be possible to achieve a modus vivendi for a settlement of the issue. We note that we have in mind at present a cessation of hostilities in Korea with the military situation being stabilized at the 38th parallel and express our belief that an effort to achieve this situation prior to any Communist offensive across the parallel is of great importance. NETHERLANDS The Indonesian Cabinet and President had NEW GUINEA approved a compromise proposal to be presented to the Netherlands regarding a means for settling the Netherlands New Guinea issue, which provides for issuance of a joint statement by December 27 of the intention of the Netherlands to transfer sovereignty over Netherlands New Guinea to Indonesia during 1951 upon completion of successful negotiations on a seven-point program to be advanced by Indonesia. Under these proposals the current negotiations would end and new conference would TOP SECRET