--- Notes



Telegram to Li Kenong [1] Regarding the Revision and Broadcast of the Reply to Ridgway [1] (July 14, 1951)  Kenong, with copy to Kim and Peng [3]:

(1) Your telegram of 3:10 p.m. on July 14 [4] has been received.
We approve your revised text (from thirteen characters to one hundred seventy), but beneath the thirteen characters you should still add the following sentence: “In order to eliminate misunderstandings and disputes over certain minor issues and ensure the smooth progress of the peace negotiations,” followed by “We agree with your proposal to⋯ ⋯ .”

(2) The broadcast will still take place in Beijing at 8:00 p.m.; please be sure to tune in.

(3) Kindly instruct Pyongyang to broadcast the revised text accordingly as well.

Mao Zedong, 6:00 p.m. on July 14. Printed from the manuscript.

Notes  [1] Ridgway was then the Commander-in-Chief of the “United Nations Command,” succeeding MacArthur in commanding the war against Korea.

[2] Li Kenong was at that time Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Central People’s Government.

[3] Kim refers to Kim Il-sung, Premier of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Peng refers to Peng Dehuai, Commander and Political Commissar of the Chinese People’s Volunteers.

[4] Refers to Li Kenong’s telegram dated July 14, 1951, at 3:10 p.m., addressed to Mao Zedong, Kim Il-sung, and Peng Dehuai.
The telegram stated: After careful study of Ridgway’s communication, we have noted a difference in size and meaning between the neutral zone and the conference site area.
With regard to the neutral zone, he calls for both sides to cease hostilities; whereas in the conference site area, all armed personnel are to be excluded.
Rather than amending his proposal, it would be more advantageous for us to accept it outright.
Therefore, we suggest making the following changes to the reply, from thirteen characters to one hundred seventy: “⋯ ⋯ We agree with your suggestion to designate the Kaesong area as a neutral zone during the course of the talks, with both sides halting all hostile activities and completely removing armed personnel from the conference site area and from the routes leading to it used by our respective delegations.
As for the size of this conference site area and other specific related matters, we propose⋯ ⋯ ” We shall await your instructions before forwarding our reply to Ridgway.