Telegram to Li Kenong Regarding Agreement to Ridgway’s Proposal for a Neutral Zone
(July 14, 1951)

Kenong, with copies to Kim and Peng:

(1) Ridgway’s notice uses the designation of a neutral zone as its main theme to cover up his improper action of causing a suspension of the conference over the minor issue of journalists. In order to seize the initiative, we have decided to agree to his proposal for a neutral zone and also to agree to his method of including journalists as part of his delegation’s staff, so as to remove all pretexts of the enemy side.

(2) You are requested to immediately prepare to address the following points when the enemy delegation returns to Kaesong:
(a) What is the appropriate size in kilometers for the neutral zone? To ensure the safety of the representatives of both sides, consideration should be given to the issue of evacuating local residents and whether they can be evacuated quickly (ensuring that residents are not harmed during the evacuation).
(b) After our armed forces withdraw, should order be maintained by unarmed personnel?
(c) The issue of establishing a joint liaison office of both sides at Panmunjom.

(3) The reply to Ridgway has been rewritten and will be sent in a separate telegram. Beijing plans to broadcast it at 8 p.m. today.

Mao Zedong
7 a.m., July 14
Published based on the manuscript.

Notes
〔1〕 Ridgway, then Commander-in-Chief of the “United Nations Command,” succeeded MacArthur in directing the war of aggression in Korea.
〔2〕 Li Kenong, then 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 the draft reply to Ridgway sent by Li Kenong at 9:30 p.m. on July 13, intended to be issued in the names of Kim Il Sung, Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army, and Peng Dehuai, Commander of the Chinese People’s Volunteers.