Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

NIT (Maval Aide) 367 OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE DECLASSIFIED WASHINGTON E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402 State Dept. DEB Guidelines, NLT, Date March 7-29-85 6, 1982 June 23, 1952 By TOP SECRET SECURITY INF FORMATION SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS KOREAN Department officials have discussed with representatives TRUCE of the British Embassy the recent conversation between TALKS the Indian Ambassador to Peiping and Chou En-Lai, Chinese Communist Foreign Minister, in which the latter reportedly indicated that the Communists would be willing to consider two alternatives proposals for a solution of the issue of prisoners of war in Korea. We told the British that the second alternative (under which the UN Command would accept in principle that all prisoners, on conclusion of an armistice, could return to their homes, and those who elected other - wise could be brought to Panmunjom and interviewed there by a committee from neutral states with the Chinese and North Koreans abiding by the results of these interviews) had interesting possibilities and if the Communists de- sire an armistice this might be a reasonable basis for achieving it and still saving their face. Apparently there is nothing in writing from the Com- munists and the proposal represents the Indian Ambassador*s recollection and report which are not always reliable; nevertheless we believe the matter should be followed up "cautiously but promptly". The US and UK representa- tives agreed that the Indians might approach the Chinese Communists stat- ing that the UK, with US concurrence, considered this proposal to be in- - teresting and to contain possibilities for progress and ask what channel or machinery would, in Chou En-Laits view, be appropriate for such clarifica- - tion and elaboration as is required. The British representatives are pass. - ing a tentative proposed text of such a message to the British Foreign Office for further action at New Delhi. SOVIET NOTE We have sent to our High Commissioner in Germany the text of a tripartite reply to the latest Soviet note on Ger - many with bracketed portions showing disagreements between the US on one side and the French and British on the other. The British have proposed that this text, including the bracketed portions, be shown to German Chancellor Adenauer in order that the three Foreign Ministers may have the benefit of his views on the alternatives before they discuss the draft reply on June 27. The Department has agreed that this would be advisable and has authorized our High Commissioner to join his colleagues in showing the draft to Adenauer when they receive appropriate instructions. We TOP SECRET SECURITY INF ORMATION