Agree to the Proposed Policy on the Exchange of Prisoners of War [I]

(March 22, 1953)

Comrade Enlai:

Both telegrams of March 20 and March 21 have been received. We agree to the proposed policy. This is in fact one of the three plans we proposed to Comrade Semyonov [2] in early September last year, namely, to exchange prisoners on whom agreement has been reached on a proportional basis, while handing over prisoners on whom no agreement has been reached to a neutral country such as India for management and subsequent resolution. Later, due to the arrogant attitude adopted by the United States at Panmunjom, this plan could not be put forward. Now is an opportune time to propose this plan. However, in our statement, prisoners should be divided into those on whom agreement has been reached and those on whom agreement has not been reached, rather than being referred to as those willing to return home and those unwilling to return home, so as to avoid conflict with our consistent opposition to the so-called principle of "voluntary repatriation." The specific steps will be handled at your discretion upon your return.

Mao Zedong
March 22, 1953

[I] This is a telegram from Mao Zedong to Zhou Enlai, who was then visiting the Soviet Union.
[2] Semyonov, referring to Stalin.