Memorandum to President Harry S. Truman

SECRET SECURITY INSORMATION February 8, 1952 MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT It now appears likely that the prisoners of war issue will shortly become the sole remaining fundamental issue in the Korean armistice negotiations. This is a question of the utmost gravity. The decision involves basic principles underlying our entire action in Korea, the fate of some 3,000 Americans and 8,000 other United Nations and Republic of Korea men held as prisoners by the Communists, and the question of whether the hostilities in Korea can be terminated or are continued indefinitely with unpredictable consequences. Any agreement in the Korean armistice which would FRUMAN require United States troops to use force to turn over to the Communists prisoners who believe they would face death if SERVICE essius returned, would be repugnant to our most fundamental moral and humanitarian principles on the importance of the individual, and would seriously jeopardize the psychological warfare position of the United States in its opposition to Communist tyranny. However, the Communists may not accept an armistice requiring their agreement to the principle of no forcible repatriation, and the maintenance of this principle will inevitably present risks to prisoners held by the Communists and to the achievement of an armistice. Also, while domestic and international public opinion can be expected strongly to support DECLASSIFIED E. o. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and S(D) or (F) TOP SECRE SECUDITY INFORMATION Dept. of State letter, 11-8-27 PROJECT NLT17-37 By NLT- yes NARS Date 1-18-78