The Korean War: The Untold Truth

Chapter 124 The Last Peace (4)
Now, the task of persuading Syngman Rhee to keep pace with the UN Army fell on Robertson's shoulders.Robertson sat hour after hour, day after day, listening to the aging president pour out his seemingly innumerable grievances with America.For the first few days, the American didn't want to answer.He later told another diplomat: “I just stuck there and let Syngman talk his fill.”

Robertson's friendly persuasion
Even as Robertson flew across the Pacific, the Communists launched an offensive that exposed the inability of the Republic of Korea to continue the war on its own without the support of the United States.The attack, the largest since the spring of 1951, was aimed directly at the South Korean forces in the middle of the Eighth Army's front: three Chinese armies, totaling nearly 8 men, against five South Korean divisions of about 3 men.According to Eighth Army intelligence sources, the purpose of this move appeared to be to level the salient on the front line and give the Communists a stronger position after the armistice.General Mark Clark's reasoning was quite different: "There is no doubt in my mind that one of the main reasons for this Communist offensive - if there was more than one - was the intention to bruise the Koreans and make them and The whole world knows that the so-called 'Northward Advance' is easier said than done."

This offensive succeeded in pushing the targeted South Korean forces back several thousand yards.Here, the offensive was halted under devastating UN artillery fire.In June 1953, UN artillery fired more than 6 million rounds on the Chinese, a million more than in the highest month of the war.But fierce fighting will continue in the first few days of July.The willingness of the Chinese to accept heavy casualties has undoubtedly shaken Rhee's resolve to continue the war alone.Robertson wanted to find out from Rhee's spouting complaints where the United States could make concessions and make the truce more palatable.

一个不利条件是，李承晚似乎很难决定他究竟想要得到什么。他们于6月27日第一次交谈时，李承晚提出了四条要求：（1）留下的反共朝鲜战俘应迁移至非军事区，并转交给中立国委员会；（2）为政治会议规定90天的时间限制；（3）美国给大韩民国以经济援助并帮助它建立起20个师的军队；（4）美国应“保证”一项共同防务条约。

None of these four items is a big problem for Americans.President Eisenhower promised in a private telegram to Syngman Rhee on June 6 that North Korean prisoners of war who did not wish to be repatriated would be transferred to the demilitarized zone "if this is logistically feasible"; the United States could not unilaterally Set a time limit for the political meeting, but if nothing happens within 27 days, the US will "consider" withdrawing; the US will give Rhee the economic and military aid requested; and finally, the US will be willing to negotiate a A mutual defense treaty, but it cannot be "guaranteed" because it requires the assent of the US Senate.

Syngman Rhee's reaction to Eisenhower's telegram was friendly. "Okay," he said, smiling at Robertson, "the President has met all my requests." Robertson and Clark rewrote Eisenhower's call into a memo, which he handed to Syngman Rhee after this meeting.

That evening, Robertson and Clark returned to Rhee's mansion for dinner, expecting Rhee's formal endorsement of an agreement he seemed to have accepted a few hours earlier.To their dismay, Syngman Rhee gave them a new and unsatisfactory list. 20 divisions are not enough for the South Korean army, he wants to have an army comparable to "the immediate neighbor" (he obviously means North Korea, but he didn't say it directly); if the political meeting cannot be unified within 90 days If the United States succeeds in the Korean issue, the United States should resume military operations together with South Korea; the South Koreans will stay under the command of the United Nations only if they aim to "solve the war with victory".

After this dinner (predictably, the Americans had little appetite), Clark and Robertson reported in a disheartened telegram to Washington that Syngman Rhee was clearly trying to delay the negotiations.It had been 20 days since the delegations of the Communist Party and the United Nations had agreed on an armistice, during which time the United Nations had suffered about 17 combat casualties, of which 000 were killed—all because of Rhee Cheng It was caused by the late refusal to compromise.Now they want to resume negotiations with the Communist Party on the few remaining details, regardless of what Syngman Rhee thinks.Officials in Washington agreed.

At the same time, Robertson resumed his consoling conversation with Syngman Rhee.The more he listened, the more alert he became.Unlike Clark, Robertson didn't think Syngman Rhee was trying to intimidate. "I don't think it is wise to threaten to withdraw unless we really intend to do so." He telegraphed on July 7, saying: "Sungman Rhee is an irrational, illogical fanatic , he's going to call us to a showdown." Neither Clark nor Robertson thinks that any eminent South Korean general will risk "beheading" against Syngman Rhee unless they get a stronger U.S. Guarantee of support.

Now Syngman Rhee started to focus on the details and make a fuss.He flatly denied that he had ever planned to break away from the UN forces (an outright lie) and all he claimed was South Korea's right to defend its interests as a sovereign nation.He insisted that Chinese and North Korean prisoners of war unwilling to be repatriated should be transferred to the demilitarized zone to avoid "Indian troops setting foot on Korean soil".He is now also vague about what he wants the US to do if the political conference fails within 90 days, though he is no longer calling for a return to war.

Robertson was unrelenting, and every time he got the president of South Korea to agree to a certain point, he immediately put it in writing. Dozens of telegram exchanges between Washington and the special envoy in the first few days of July indicated that Washington was almost eager for a promise from Syngman Rhee that he would accept a truce and keep South Korean troops under U.N. Down.With such a document in hand, the armistice agreement can be finalized, and then the post-war problems can be settled.Clark believes that after the war is over, Syngman Rhee will find it "extremely difficult" for him to make up his mind to resume the war alone.

On July 7, Syngman Rhee finally gave in.He told Robertson in writing that while he could not sign an armistice, "we will not obstruct it so long as the measures and actions of that agreement do not impair the existence of our nation," he would "do his best to achieve the peaceful realization of our nation by political means. wholehearted cooperation in the process of unification.  …”

Robertson is done. On July 1953, 7, the United States and South Korea jointly announced that they had reached an agreement on the Korean armistice, the disposal of prisoners of war who did not want to repatriate, and future cooperation.

In response to a question, the UNC privately informed the Communist Party that it "will not support any aggressive action by South Korean forces in violation of the armistice."Robertson's lobbying efforts and steely patience carried through to victory.The war is once again on the verge of ending.

Panmunjom last scene

Before dawn on July 7, there was heavy rain in Panmunjom, but the rain stopped at dawn. Through the thick clouds, you can occasionally see the late sunshine.The carpenters worked all night to complete the buildings used for the armistice ceremony.General Mark Clark insisted on two final details: the removal of the two Communist "doves of peace" (then used around the world as symbols of propaganda) from the gable of the tower building, and the opening of a south gate, This way UN representatives don't need to go through enemy territory to enter the building.

Nearly 10 o'clock, the guard of honor of the United Nations Army came on stage.Wearing white gloves, ribbons and steel helmets, they are composed of soldiers from all countries who participated in the war, and they stand in line on the passage leading to the entrance.Remarkably, no South Korean soldiers were present.Syngman Rhee will recognize the armistice, but he will not sign it.Across the building is a relatively dull-looking group of Communist soldiers in olive twill uniforms and espadrilles.

At 10:[-], the two parties entered the building from both sides.Keith Beach felt that "the character director could never choose a more contrasting character than these two protagonists".Lieutenant General William Harrison, head of the UN Army delegation, "may have been a Tennessee Baptist pastor," and the tall, thin Nam Il was "brightly dressed, with his high-necked blue jacket buttoned all the way to the Medals are shining."A group of United Nations soldiers walked in casually, as if they were wandering, and they slumped on their seats lazily.The Communist Party and the North Koreans "sit upright, like students at a graduation ceremony."

On a table at the top of the house, there is a small flag of the United Nations Army, and there are 9 agreements in blue envelopes.Harrison takes his seat here.Nam Il sits at another parallel table with a North Korean flag and nine agreements.They neither spoke to each other nor nodded in greeting.They picked up their pens and started signing.Not far away, there was the rumble of artillery from the United Nations Army.

At 10:12, the mission was over, and Harrison glanced at the press box and forced a small smile of satisfaction.He and Nan Ri got up and left at the same time, their eyes met briefly, but neither of them spoke.

The Korean War will continue for less than 12 hours until 10 pm local time.

Anthony Ebron, a corporal in the 1th Regiment of the 5st Marine Division, who had been hearing rumors of peace for weeks, paid little attention to reports that an armistice was imminent. "For two or three days, we've been out on raid missions, trying to take the best positions. The last few days have been brutal enough. Every time we thought the war was over, we had to go out and fight. Is the war over this day? We fired so many shells that day that the ground trembled. One of my best friends was killed by a Communist shell that day. Then, that night, the sound stopped. We knew the war was over. "

Forty minutes before the ceasefire, another group of marines near Panmunjom saw the Chinese digging a trench less than 40 yards in front of their line, and they were ordered not to shoot.The battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Hill, instructed: "Don't shoot and close." The Marines didn't fire a shot—but they used the last moments of the battle to amuse themselves by throwing stones at the Chinese.

At 10 o'clock in the evening, the sky was suddenly illuminated by colorful flares.The white clusters of stars, red flares, yellow flares and fireworks marked the end of the 37-month-long war.A bright moon was in the middle of the sky that night, and Marine Corpsman Martin Russ thought it was "hanging low in the sky, like a Chinese lantern".He climbed out of the foxhole, enjoying his first peaceful moment in North Korea.

The Marines took off their helmets and camouflage clothing.Shrill and piercing cries echoed from the hillside. "The Chinese are singing." Russ understood. "In the trenches about 100 yards below, someone began to sing "Ode to the Marine Corps" at the top of their lungs, and the rest followed suit and shouted the lyrics." Loud, tone-deaf fun.

Later some Chinese wandered up to the Marines' positions, offering candy and handkerchiefs as gifts.The marines turned their heads away. They said nothing and gave no presents.Peace is enough.

The Korean War cost the United States 142 losses—091 killed, 33 wounded, and 629 captured or missing.

(End of this chapter)