Telegram from Kim Il Sung and Peng Dehuai to Ridgway〔1〕, in principle agreeing to designate the Kaesong area as a temporary neutral zone〔2〕 (July 14, 1951) (Pyongyang, Xinhua, July 14): Our correspondent at the Korean Front Headquarters reports: Yesterday, the U.S. delegation again cited the failure of journalists to obtain our consent as a pretext for not attending the Kaesong talks, resulting in another day of suspension.  In the afternoon of yesterday, we received a communication from Ridgway raising the new issue of establishing a neutral zone. Generals Kim Il Sung and Peng Dehuai replied to it today.  In order to clear up misunderstandings and disputes over minor technicalities and ensure the smooth progress of the peace negotiations, we have, in principle, agreed to designate the Kaesong area as a temporary neutral zone for the duration of the conference. Specific details concerning this matter are to be settled by the two delegations. At the same time, we have also granted the U.S. side certain facilities regarding the journalists’ issue. Thus, all recent pretexts advanced by the U.S. side have been removed, making it possible for the Kaesong talks to resume.  The following is the notification sent by Generals Kim and Peng to Ridgway:

General Ridgway: Your letter dated July 13 has been received.  In order to dispel certain misunderstandings and controversies over minor points and thereby facilitate the smooth conduct of the peace negotiations, we agree with your proposal to establish the Kaesong area as a neutral zone during the period of the conference. Within this zone, both sides shall cease all hostile activities and completely exclude armed personnel from the conference venue and from the routes leading to it used by our respective delegations. As for the size of this neutral zone and other related specific questions, we suggest that they be left for the two delegations to resolve at an upcoming meeting.  With regard to the journalists’ issue—the cause of the present adjournment—it is entirely unrelated to the question of establishing a neutral zone. This latter matter was raised only once by your liaison officer on July 8; since then, your delegation has not brought it up again. However, the role of the liaison officer is limited to discussing technical details and does not include authority to deliberate on issues of such fundamental nature as the creation of a neutral zone. The journalists’ problem that has led to this suspension is a minor one and hardly warrants either a further adjournment or the breakdown of the entire conference. Your delegation had previously raised this issue at the talks, but our delegation maintained at the time that, with no substantive results yet achieved and even the agenda still unadopted, it would be inappropriate for journalists from various countries to come to Kaesong. Consequently, no agreement was reached on this point. We adhere to the principle that all matters must be resolved by mutual consent before implementation; we consider this principle fair and indisputable. Since no agreement has been reached on the journalists’ question, it should not be unilaterally imposed by your side. To prevent this trivial matter from causing a prolonged suspension or outright collapse of the conference, we now concur with your suggestion to treat the twenty U.S. journalist representatives as part of your delegation’s staff. We have instructed our own delegation to likewise extend every possible convenience to you on this matter.

(Signed)  Kim Il Sung, Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army  Peng Dehuai, Commander of the Chinese People’s Volunteers  July 14, 1951

Printed from Mao Zedong’s manuscript.  Published in the People’s Daily on July 15, 1951.

Notes  [1] Ridgway was at the time the commander-in-chief of the “United Nations Command,” succeeding MacArthur in commanding the war against Korea.  [2] This telegram was drafted by Mao Zedong for Xinhua News Agency.