Evening star., 1952-01-27
Signing Partial
TruceAccord
Is Proposed
Action Comes After
Communists Agree
On Speeding Sessions
BY the Associated Press

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lcepted an Allied plan for speed
ling the armistice talks. The Allies
Then proposed a dramatic meet
ling between Gen. Matthew B.
IRidgway and the Red high COM
lmand to sign a partial truce pact.
The Communists delayed giving
IAN answer to the surprising pro-
ipoSal for a face-to-face meeting
Iof the top commanders of the
Ibelligerents.
But after weeks of deadlock
and pickering, the wheels of the
negotiation machinery began to
grind again.
Under the Allied plan, a sub
committee on the stalled issue of
truce supervision went into recess,
and Communist and United Ma
|tions command staff officers took
over the job.
The Allies handed the Commu-
Inists an 18-page draft agree
Iment" which covered all matters
governing an armistice except the
stalled prisoner-of-war exchange
issue and the question of making
recommendations to the govern
ments of the belligerents.
Reds to Study Further.
The Communists tentatively
agreed to use the draft as the
basis for the staff officers ses-
sions, but said it would be neces-
sary to make a further study
before giving a final answer.
The draft agreement provided
for a signing of the armistice at
Panmunjom by Gen. Ridgway.
Teh-huai, commander of Chi
supreme United Nations COM
mander, and North Korean Pre-
mier Kim II Sung and Gen. Heng
Teh-Huai. commander of Chi
nese Communist forces in Korea
The text left a space for the
date OF the signing but listed
the month as February, .952."I
An Allied spokesman said, how /
ever. that the date was Just
thrown in and had no special
significance.
The plan the Communists ac-
cepted was one of three proposed
by the Allies Friday. Under it
the unSolved issue Of a ban on
Red building of airfields in North
Korea would be shelved temporary.
Formula Used Earlier.
Both sides agreed that the sub
committee itself will resume dis
cussions of the airfield issues after
staff officers have settled all other
minor points still not agreed to
by the United Nations and Com
muniSt delegates.
The formula advanced by the
Allies is much the same as the
one which ended the deadlock
over where to draw a cease-fire
line in Korea. Staff officers were
handed the latter question in Mo-
vember and agreed on line
roughly following the battlefront.
The Reds had insisted on draw
ing it at the 38th parallel.
The staff officers met for only
II minutes today for what they
called an organizational session.
The Panmunjom dispatch said
they would begin serious work to-
morrow. when they are scheduled
to meet at II am.
The Communists yesterday had
avoided an answer to the Allied
proposal.
Snapped Up by Reds.
Maj. Gen. HSieh Fang, the Com
munist subcommittee head,
snapped UP the proposal when
discussions were resumed today.
In an adjoining tent, negotiatorsl
who held stormy session on
prisoner exchange yesterday met
for only five minutes today before
|adjourning for the day. It was the
shortest Of AZ meetings to date.
Both sides maintained their
firm stands.
Rear Admiral R. E. Libby said
the u. N. command would con-
tinue to insist on voluntary re-
patriation.
The Red delegate, North Ko-
rean Mai. Gen. Lee Sang Cho,
said the Red insistence on the
return of all prisoners was an
''unShaken principle. y
Staff officers chosen to repre-
sent the U. N. command on the
truce supervision debate were Air
Force Col. Don o. Darrow of Ia
coma. Wash. senior member; Air
Force Col. Andrew j. Kinney of
Atlanta. Ca; Army 1t. Col. How
lard S. Levie of New York City,
and Navy Comdr. George G. Ball
Iof Virginia Beach. Va.
Communist staff officers will bel
headed by North Korean Col.
Chang Chu1A San.
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