Ciphered Telegram No. 160002 from Beijing, Mao Zedong to Cde. Filippov [Stalin]

SECOND MAIN DIRECTORATE OF THE GENERAL STAFF OF THE SOVIET ARMY

CIPHERED TELEGRAM Nº 16002

Copies:

Nº 1to Cde. Stalin

Nº 2 to Cde. Stalin

Nº 3 to Cde. Molotov

Nº 4 to Cde. Malenkov

Nº 5 to Cde. Beria

from [BEIJING] received at 1750 31 January 1952

Copy Nº 2

[Stamp: SUBJECT TO RETURN to the IV Unit OS VKP(b) CC 63/373shs 31 January 1952]

Series G

T

to Cde. FILIPPOV [Stalin]

I am sending you for [your] information the text of an agreement reached about two orders of business.

"Point two of the agenda: 'The establishment of a military demarcation line between the two sides in order to establish a demilitarized zone as the main condition for a cessation of hostilities in Korea' (agreed on 23 November 1951).

1. The principle has been adopted that the actual line of contact between the sides will become (by what is described in point two or three of this agreement, depending on how circumstances require it) the military demarcation line and at a time indicated which will be indicated in the signed armistice agreement; the armed forces of both sides will withdraw two kilometers from this line in order to establish a demilitarized zone during the armistice period.

2. The subcommittee of representatives of both sides should determine the current line of contact as a military demarcation line and the midline of the demilitarized zone in accordance with the above principle. No corrections should be made to this military demarcation line and the demilitarized zone regardless of any changes in the actual line

of contact on condition that the military armistice agreement is signed within 30 days after the plenary meeting of the delegations approve this agreement and the exact location of the military demarcation line and demilitarized zone mentioned above.

3. In view of the fact that hostilities will continue until an armistice agreement is signed, in the event that the military armistice agreement is not signed within 30 days after plenary meeting of the delegations approves this agreement and the exact location of the military demarcation line and demilitarized zone as mentioned in point 2 of this agreement, before the signing of a military armistice the subcommittee of representatives of both sides should immediately make corrections in this military demarcation line and demilitarized zone in accordance with the actual line of contact so that the corrected military demarcation line between the two sides which exists at that moment will become the military demarcation line during the military armistice['].

Point 3 of the agenda: 'Working out practical measures to implement a ceasefire and an armistice in Korea, including the composition, authority, and functions of the staff to observe the implementation of the ceasefire and armistice conditions' (agreed to 12-29 October 1951).

1. All armed forces under the control of each side, including regular and irregular units and also the armed personnel of ground, naval, and air forces, should cease all hostilities within 24 hours after the signing of the armistice agreement.

2. All armed forces under the control of each side should be withdrawn from the demilitarized zone within 72 hours after the armistice agreement is signed and goes into effect.

No armed forces of either side, with the exception of those armed forces of a police nature regarding which both sides will come to a special agreement between themselves, should enter the demilitarized zone from this time; no armed forces of either side should commit any acts of armed violence toward the demilitarized zone.

Each side should conduct administrative affairs in that part of the demilitarized zone which is on its side of the demarcation line in accordance with the conditions of the armistice agreement.

3. All the armed forces - land, naval, and air - under the control of each side should be withdrawn from rear and coastal islands and the waters of the other side within five days after the armistice agreement is signed and goes into effect. (There will be a special agreement about islands previously under the control of the other side and all other islands).

If these armed forces are not withdrawn within the time indicated and there is no mutually agreed and valid reason for the delay of their withdrawal, the other side shall have the right to take any action against armed personnel which it deems necessary for the maintenance of security and order.

4. In order to ensure the stability of the military armistice in order to facilitate the attainment of a peaceful settlement through the holding by both sides of a political conference by higher level representatives, both sides are obligated not to deliver to Korea any military personnel, combat aircraft, armored vehicles, tanks, weapons, or ammunition after the armistice agreement is signed and goes into effect.

Any rotation of military personnel on a mutually agreed scale should be reported to the military ceasefire commission in order that upon authorization the neutral nations supervisory body can perform its mission to conduct on-site supervision and inspection of the rotation at mutually agreed points of debarkation in the rear.

5. Both sides should appoint an equal number of members for the creation of a military armistice commission which will bear responsibility for observing the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and the settlement of any violations of the ceasefire agreement through negotiations. As stipulated in the agreement, the functions of supervision and inspection should be carried out in accordance with the two provisions below:

a) the military armistice commission, which will operate through joint teams sent directly by it, should bear responsibility in the demilitarized zone itself;

b) outside the demilitarized zone upon authorization a supervisory body consisting of representative of neutral countries should bear responsibility where violations of the armistice agreement occur at mutually agreed points of debarkation in the rear and on the spot.

Direct inspection should be done by a supervisory body consisting of representative of neutral countries every time both sides or one of the sides of the military armistice commission addresses a request to it to investigate a violation of the armistice agreement.

6. Both sides agree to address a request to neutral nations who are not participating in the Korean war and which might be acceptable to both sides to send an equal number of representatives to create a supervisory body with their agreement. This supervisory body authorized by the military armistice commission should bear responsibility for performing the functions of supervision and inspection as stipulated in point 4 and in paragraph "b" of point 5; every time both sides or one of the sides of the military armistice commission requests such an investigation the supervisory body consisting of representatives of neutral nations should immediately send inspection teams to mutually agreed debarkation points in the rear or at locations outside the demilitarized zone where the violation of the armistice agreement occurs, should perform the functions of supervision and inspection as stipulated in the armistice agreement, and report the results of such supervision and inspection to the military armistice commission.

Both sides should give inspection teams consisting of representatives of neutral nations everything necessary to perform the above functions on the main lines of communications, regarding which agreement will be reached by both sides.'"

MAO ZEDONG

Nº 325

31 January

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Deciphered by Prokop'yev 1835 31 January

Printed by Kornyushina1940 31 January Nº 491

Six copies printed. Copy Nº 6 filed

Verified: Section Chief

Lt. Col. [signature] (Gerasimov)