Telegram from John Muccio to Secretary of State Dean Acheson

INCOMING TELEGRAM Department of State RE TELEGRAPH BRANCH 14 SECRET A Control: 2360 FE Rec'd: November 6, 1951 Pusan 5:15 a.m. SS TO: Secretary of State G EUR NO: 410, November 6, 6 p.m. UNA P PRIORITY. OLI CIA ARMY CINCFE FOR RIDGWAY BY OTHER MEANS. AIR NAVY Ref CINCFE CX-56598 sent Dept Army rptd info American Embassy Pusan. DCR In light UNC proposal agree demarcation line on basis line of contact and probability ROK seize opportunity criticize arrangement excluding Kaesong ROK territory, I called on President Rhee November 5. I told him General Ridgway wanted me inform him difficulties involved, present phase negotiations. I recalled success General Ridgway has had holding out against withdrawal to 38th parallel on grounds demarcation line must be militarily defensible; pointed out Commies have now come far to meet us and appear ready agree on demarcation line if based on line of contact; UN has so far insisted major adjustments such line also required, but difficult adhere this position in face previous insistance on deciding issue on purely military grounds. World opinion could not (rpt not) be expected support continuing deadlock on this issue and fact was no proposal made more sense from mil point of view than line of contact. Rhee appeared somewhat resigned to situation; he did not make scene but remarked that Kaesong of course meant great deal to Korean people and it wld be difficult having Commies south 38th parallel. He also repeated it was stupid believe Commies wld honor any settlement. Rhee's relatively mild reaction does not necessarily mean he will not (rpt not) be difficult. I anticipate agitated re- actions several quarters, with Rhee figuring in background. At an instance, Natl Assembly yesterday passed. unanimous resolution addressed to ROK Govt. General's Ridgway, Van Fleet to effect "Korean people do not want to give up Yompaek and Ongjin areas" and recommending they be "excluded from neutral zone (sic). Among points which ROK likely raise in future if line contact becomes armistice line is fact Ongjin and other ROK areas in west will be handed over to North Korean administrration whereas EPRODUCTION OF THIS ESSAGE IS PROMIBITED