Synopsis H, Korea - The Armistice Negotiations, July 1951-October 1952

Rosenaus Simmary For D Return to DA amp C KOREA - Synopsis H: The Armistice Negotiations, (Page 1) July 1951 - October 1952 [ Rather than engage in a week-to-week or even month-to-month account of the armistice negotiations, the following document would seem to provide an appropriate review of these events. This is the major portion of UN Document A/2228, i.e., a special report of the Unified Command submitted to the UN on October 18, 1952. For a summary of these same events by DGA see Department of State Bulletin, Volume 27, pp. 679-92, 744-51.] S. a SERVICET RECORDS AND A. Background The UN Command entered into the armistice negotiations hopeful of quickly concluding an agreement which would stop the fighting. I he UN Command was determined, however, that the armistice agreement must assure the achievement of the basic pur- poses of the UN military action in Korea--to repel the aggression against the Republic of Korea and restore peace and security in the area. From the basic purpose of the UN action in Korea flowed the principal UN requirements for an armistice agreement: 1. a line of demarcation consistent with the UN objective of repelling aggression, based upon military realities, and affording defensible positions for the opposing forces; 2. other provisions offering maximum reasonable assurance against a renewal of the aggression; 3. appropriate arrangements for an exchange of prisoners of war; 4. avoidance of political issues as not properly related to armistice negotiations. The UN Command negotiators have steadfastly refused to compromise the basic requirements within this framework, and the UN Command has at the same time maintained the broadest flexibility in seeking agreement. B. Negotiations on the Agenda and Conference Site The initial meetings between the UN and Communist armistice negotiators con- sidered the preparation of an agenda. The UN Command, while originally proposing a relatively detailed agenda, was primarily concerned with assuring that the agenda adopted should not prejudice subsequent negotiation on the substance of the agenda items. Differences arose over two items in the draft agenda proposed by the Com- munists. The UN Command negotiators opposed a communist proposal to obtain agreement on agenda language recognizing the 38th Parallel as the line of demarcation for the cease-fire on the grounds that the agenda language proposed prejudged the substantive question. A separate agenda item on the withdrawal of foreign troops from Korea was rejected as beyond the scope of the military talks. However, the UN Command agreed to inclusion on the agenda of an item providing that problems not strictly military in character would be considered for inclusion in recommendations to the Governments concerned. The agenda as agreed upon on July 26, 1951 was as follows: 1. Adoption of agenda. 2. Fixing a military demarcation line between both sides so as to establish a demilitarized zone as a basic condition for cessation of hostilities in Korea. 3. Concrete arrangements for the realization of a cease-fire and an armistice in Korea, including the composition, authority and functions of a super- vising proprisation.