Comrade Filippov [2]:

The enemy commander Ridgway [3] has today issued a notice proposing that representatives of the belligerent parties hold a meeting on an armistice aboard a Danish ship in Wonsan Harbor. He also stated that appropriate guarantees must be provided before an armistice can be implemented. Regarding this matter, there are several points for your consideration and reply, and please directly notify Comrade Kim Il Sung [4]:

(1) Comrade Kim Il Sung should probably issue a reply to Ridgway’s notice on July 2 or July 3. In this notice, he should state: agreement to hold a meeting for armistice negotiations between representatives of both sides, and propose the time, location, and number of representatives for the talks.

(2) As for the negotiation venue, Ridgway has proposed Wonsan Harbor. It should be noted that this harbor is a fortified seaport of North Korea, and the enemy forces are conspiring to land there. It would seem inadvisable to agree to hold the meeting in this harbor. Could it be proposed that Kaesong on the 38th Parallel be the meeting venue?

(3) In order to allow our representatives sufficient time to prepare for the content of the talks, it would seem advisable to propose July 15 as the date for the meeting.

(4) Given the urgency of time and the importance of the meeting, I suggest that you communicate directly with Comrade Kim Il Sung, closely guide this meeting, and at the same time inform us of your opinions.

Mao Zedong
June 30, 1951, 14:00 hours

--- Notes

[1] This is a telegram from Mao Zedong to Stalin.
[2] Filippov, i.e., Stalin.
[3] Ridgway, then Commander-in-Chief of the "United Nations Command" and Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Far East Command.
[4] Kim Il Sung, then Premier of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.