Telegram to Li Kenong on Agreeing to the Method of Countering the Enemy’s Stalling in Negotiations
(28 December 1951)

Comrade Li Kenong, and for the information of Kim and Peng:

Your telegram of 01:00, 28 December,[1] and the two sub-delegation briefs 121 and their attachments, have all been read. Agree with the points raised in your telegram. Furthermore, do not be afraid of stalling; be prepared for a further relatively long period of stalling before the problems can be resolved. As long as we are not afraid of stalling and are not impatient, the enemy will be unable to bring their schemes to bear.

Mao Zedong
03:30, 28 December

[1] Refers to the telegram sent by Li Kenong at 01:00 on 28 December 1951 to Mao Zedong, Kim Il Sung, and Peng Dehuai regarding the situation of the sub-delegation negotiations on the third agenda item (the issue of airfield construction) and the fourth agenda item (the issue of the exchange of prisoners of war). The telegram stated, “Our plan: (1) Regarding the third sub-delegation, if the other side continues to employ a policy of stalling and fundamentally discusses no issues, we will likewise not be impatient. If they propose an adjournment, we will immediately agree to an adjournment, showing that we are not afraid of stalling. (2) Regarding the fourth sub-delegation, continue to counterpose the issue of 44,000 prisoners of war against the other side’s so-called issue of over 50,000 prisoners of war. Regarding the reply on the whereabouts of foreign prisoners of war provided by the other side in their first submission and second supplementary submission, we feel there is also no need to rush to deliver it to them.”

[2] Refers to the briefs on the sub-delegation meetings for the third agenda item and the fourth agenda item sent by Li Kenong on 27 December 1951. At that time, discussions on the third agenda item of the Korean Armistice negotiations had already lasted 30 days, and discussions on the fourth agenda item had also been ongoing for over half a month. Due to the stalling policy adopted by the US side, no agreement had been reached.