The Enemy Unconditionally Rejects Exchanging POWs for Civilian Detainees
(Jan. 5, 1952, Cho-sun Daily, 1st page)


On January 3, the Communist side’s armistice representatives unconditionally rejected the UN military headquarters’ 6-article proposal regarding exchanging POWs and civilians.

At a three-hour-and-40-minute subcommittee meeting, the Communist side said that compared to their own proposal to do a complete exchange of everyone held on both sides, the UN side’s proposal was one-sided and single-handed. Head of negotiating for the UN side, Admiral R. E. Libby, denounced the Communist side’s unconditional rejection, saying that the Communist side either misunderstands their proposal or is wrongfully construing it in order to intentionally block its provisions.

Both subcommittees resumed meeting at 11 a.m. on the 4th. Admiral Libby told the Communist side that the first article of the UN side’s proposal that calls for exchanging POWs and citizens on a one-for-one basis merely calls for setting the exchange rate - it is not a proposal for exchanging everyone.

According to the UN side, until one side’s POWs are all returned they would be exchanged for civilians and after that would follow the principle of a complete exchange of everyone held on both sides.