Evening star., 1951-11-17
u. n. Offers TO Break Deadlock
By Accepting Reds Buffer Idea
IF Truce Is Signed Within 3ODays
All Other Issues
Must Be Solved
In Same Time
BY the Associated Press

MUNSAN, Korea. Nov. IT.
The U. N. command. in a dra-
matte move to end the cease-f fire
deadlock, today offered to accept
the Communist buffer zone pro
poSalS-if an armiStice is signed
within 80 days. The Communists
indicated they might agree.
North Korean Maj. Lee Sang
Cho told United Nations negoti-
ators the U. N. plan seems in
the main to be in accordance with
our principles"
The Reds promised to study the
proposal overnight and com
ment" further when the Subcom-
mittees working on the cease
fire line issue meet again at II
am. Sunday g pm. EST Satur-
day. in Panmunjom.
Mai. Gen. Henry I. Hodes, chief
U. N. subcommittee delegate, told
the Communist negotiatorS today
that the U. N. allies will accept
the Red proposal to fix tentative
cease-f fire line along the present
battle front. But he made it clear
the line will become permanent
only if all other armistice terms
are agreed upon within 80 days
after the proposal is accepted by
the full f1ve-member armistice
delegations.
Red Acceptance Seen.
If 10 armistice is signed before
the deadline, then a new cease
fire line would have to be fixed,
Gen. Hodes- said.
I'VE don't see any reason why
the Communists wouldn't accept
the latest U. N. proposal to settle
the buffer zone ISSUE" said 1t.
Col. Howard S. Levie, official U. n
command spokesman. I'VE made
it in all sincerity and with the ex-
pectation that it wuold be ac-
cepted."
He said the immediate Com
munist reply came much faster
than we would have expected"
After Gen. Lee indicated the
Reds might agree to the U, N. pro-
posal, Gen. Hodes suggested that
staff officers of both sides meet
at 10 am. Sunday to start work
ing out the line of battle contact
which would become the tenta-
tive cease-fire line.
Gen. Lee did not respond to the
10 am. meeting suggestion but
replied: "I have received your
proposal in writing and heard
your explanation. Since we have
yet to make a full study of your
proposal I cannot answer. But
I will give you our comment on
your proposal tomorrow"
No Immediate Halt.
The United Nations plan de-
mands clear-cut assurance from
the Reds that agreement on the
tentative cease fire line would not
be an end to the shooting before
a full armistice is signed.
There is no question of a de
facto cease-fire," Col. Levie said.
1T will amount to ground. sea
and air action to the extent deter
mined by Gen. RidgWay and his
ground, sea and air commanders. !"
No one in official position at
this advance U. N. command base
would suggest that agreement on
the Allied buffer zone proposal
would mean an immediate halt in
the ground fighting.
However, there was speculation
that action would be reduced to
patrol activity while the negotia-
tors are trying to reach an agree
ment on the full armistice.
Prisoner Problem Remains.
Any one of the remaining items
on the agenda could block a final
agreement.
Still to be settled are such
thorny problems as the exchange
of war prisoners, arrangements to
assure that the armistice is not
violated and recommendations to
the respective governments.
The Reds are expected to balk
at international inspection behind
their lines. And as a result of
this weeks charges that the Com
munists have massacred thou
sands of United Nations war pris-
oners, arrangements for the ex-
change of prisoners probably will
be difficult to work out. Among
the recommendations to be drafted
is one covering the withdrawal of
all troops from Korea, another