COMMUNIST REPLY

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26493, 7 August 1951, Page 7

COMMUNIST REPLY

Broadcast From Peking

TOKYO, August 5. The Peking radio early to-day broadcast the official Communist acceptance of General Ridgway’s terms for renewing the suspended Korean armistice talks, which the General broke off, because armed Communist troops were in the Kaesong area. The message, addressed to General Ridgway, explained the violation of Kaesong’s neutrality and promised that it would not recur.

The text of the message given by Peking said: "We accept your proposal of yesterday, and desire that you instruct your delegation to proceed to the conference site. A small incident like this should not Impede the reconvening of the armistice talks.’’ The Communist message repeated the substance of the earlier Communist broadcast saying that the troops encountered by Vice-Admiral Joy in Kaesong were guard units passtag from one post to another. The message ended: “We hope that on receipt of this reply you will immediately order your delegation to come to Kaesong and resume the meetPeking radio said that General Kim 11 Sung, the North Korean Prime Minister, and General Peng teh Huai, the Chinese Army commander in Korea, had accepted General Ridgway’s demands..

“There Bv Mistake” The Peking radio said late last night that the appearance of Communist troops in Kaesong, which led General Ridgway to suspend the armistice talks, was accidental and would not happen again. The broadcast said that the troops seen in Kaesong by the United Nations representatives at the cease-fire talks were there by mistake. The troops were guard units passing from one post to a meeting to discuss details of guarding the truce conference area.

“Never Happen Again’' The radio said that the Communist commander had issued an order that armed soldiers should not pass along the road in Kaesong from now on, and he guaranteed that the incident would never happen again. The Communist commander issued the order yesterday after the United Nations delegation had asked for an explanation about the troops. It was then agreed that another meeting should take place to-day, but suddenly the United Nations sent a message that its delegation would not be going to Kaesong, said the Peking radio. The United Press correspondent quotes official quarters in Washington as saying that General Ridgway suspended the peace talks because of his conviction that a firm Allied stand held the best hope of achieving a cease-fire. When armed Chinese troops appmired In the Kaesong truce area, General Ridgwav angrilv informed Washington of the new development and urged prompt, strong action, saying “The onlv thing these people understand is strength.” ' The general was said to have added that such action should be taken, even at the risk of a permanent break in the armistice talks. The Defence Department, with State Department backing. immediately authorised General Ridgway to suspend the talks.