This collection contains documents related to the problem of what to do about prisoners of war from North Korea and South Korea who did not want to be repatriated. Supporting materials include photographs and oral histories.
The Korean War: The Prisoner of War Issue and the Search for Peace
Documents
1950
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Telegram from Secretary of State Dean Acheson to the United States Delegation to the United Nations, December 15, 1950 (NAID: 301669249)
Part of:
- Collection: Korean War Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 599760)
- Series: Department of State Files, 1947 - 1952 (NAID: 599763)
- File Unit: Topical Files: 31. Negotiations for an armistice, December, 1950 - June, 1951 [1 of 3: December, 1950] (NAID: 1702399)
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Memorandum, Substance of Statements Made at Wake Island Conference on 15 October 1950, Compiled by General of the Army Omar Bradley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, From Notes Kept by the Conferees from Washington, October 1950 (NAID: 229037072)
Part of:
- Collection: President's Secretary's Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1960 (NAID: 1205)
- Series: Korean War Files, 1946 - 1953 (NAID: 602194)
- File Unit: Wake Island: Conference - Statements, October 15, 1950 (NAID: 976128)
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Memorandum to President Harry S. Truman, World Reaction to the Wake Island Meeting, October 17, 1950 (NAID: 229037061)
Part of:
- Collection: President's Secretary's Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1960 (NAID: 1205)
- Series: Korean War Files, 1946 - 1953 (NAID: 602194)
- File Unit: Wake Island: General (NAID: 976127)
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Report, Background of Possible Items for Discussion on Wake Island, October 1950 (NAID: 229036172)
Part of:
- Collection: President's Secretary's Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1960 (NAID: 1205)
- Series: Korean War Files, 1946 - 1953 (NAID: 602194)
- File Unit: Wake Island: Talks (NAID: 976129)
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Memorandum, "Substance of Statements Made at Wake Island Conference", October 15, 1950 (NAID: 183392571)
Part of:
- Collection: Dean Acheson Papers, 1928 - 1972 (NAID: 591248)
- Series: Secretary of State Files, 1945 - 1972 (NAID: 201181)
- File Unit: Memoranda of Conversations File, 1949-1953: October, 1950 (NAID: 1721922)
1951
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Letter from Secretary of State Dean Acheson to Clarence E. Moullette, February 23, 1951 (NAID: 307013820)
Part of:
- Collection: John B. Moullette Papers, 1944 - 2022 (NAID: 603770)
- Series: Correspondence Files, 1951 - 1969 (NAID: 201302)
- File Unit: Correspondence-Dean Acheson to Clarence E. Moullette, February 23, 1951 [includes John B. Moullette's January 16, 1951 letter to his father with Clarence Moullette's cover letter to Dean Acheson] (NAID: 2839637)
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Letter from Clarence E. Moullette to Secretary of State Dean Acheson, January 19, 1951 (NAID: 307013817)
Part of:
- Collection: John B. Moullette Papers, 1944 - 2022 (NAID: 603770)
- Series: Correspondence Files, 1951 - 1969 (NAID: 201302)
- File Unit: Correspondence-Dean Acheson to Clarence E. Moullette, February 23, 1951 [includes John B. Moullette's January 16, 1951 letter to his father with Clarence Moullette's cover letter to Dean Acheson] (NAID: 2839637)
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Letter from John B. Moullette to Clarence Moullette, January 16, 1951 (NAID: 307013809)
Part of:
- Collection: John B. Moullette Papers, 1944 - 2022 (NAID: 603770)
- Series: Correspondence Files, 1951 - 1969 (NAID: 201302)
- File Unit: Correspondence-Dean Acheson to Clarence E. Moullette, February 23, 1951 [includes John B. Moullette's January 16, 1951 letter to his father with Clarence Moullette's cover letter to Dean Acheson] (NAID: 2839637)
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Letter from James T. Quirk to Elizabeth Quirk with Attachment, May 30, 1951 (NAID: 307013805)
Part of:
- Collection: James T. Quirk Papers, 1936 - 1976 (NAID: 603733)
- Series: Subject Files, 1936 - 1976 (NAID: 201347)
- File Unit: Korean War, 1951, 1976 [1 of 2, primarily letters to Mrs. Elizabeth Quirk] (NAID: 2839633)
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Department of State Memorandum of Conversation with John D. Hickerson and Others, June 28, 1951 (NAID: 301669270)
Part of:
- Collection: Korean War Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 599760)
- Series: Department of State Files, 1947 - 1952 (NAID: 599763)
- File Unit: Topical Files: 31. Negotiations for an armistice, December, 1950 - June, 1951 [3 of 3: April - June, 1951] (NAID: 1702401)
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Senate Resolution Number 140, in the Senate of the United States, May 17, 1951 (NAID: 301669265)
Part of:
- Collection: Korean War Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 599760)
- Series: Department of State Files, 1947 - 1952 (NAID: 599763)
- File Unit: Topical Files: 31. Negotiations for an armistice, December, 1950 - June, 1951 [3 of 3: April - June, 1951] (NAID: 1702401)
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Report, United Nations General Assembly, Intervention of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China in Korea, January 2, 1951 (NAID: 301669252)
Part of:
- Collection: Korean War Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 599760)
- Series: Department of State Files, 1947 - 1952 (NAID: 599763)
- File Unit: Topical Files: 31. Negotiations for an armistice, December, 1950 - June, 1951 [2 of 3: January - March, 1951] (NAID: 1702400)
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Memorandum, Far East, July 11, 1951 (NAID: 301668775)
Part of:
- Collection: George M. Elsey Papers, 1916 - 1995 (NAID: 600073)
- Series: Subject Files, 1941 - 1995 (NAID: 167966993)
- File Unit: Korea - 1951 - New Peace Proposal [1 of 2] (NAID: 169630345)
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Memorandum from Wallace Carroll to Gordon Gray, December 28, 1951 (NAID: 296760531)
Part of:
- Collection: Records of the Psychological Strategy Board (Truman Administration), 1951 - 1953 (NAID: 599266)
- Series: Administration Files from Class 300 of the Decimal Files, 1951 - 1953 (NAID: 600326)
- File Unit: 383.6 Report on Situation with Respect to Repatriation of Prisoners of War (NAID: 1089469)
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Letter from Secretary of State Dean Acheson to Secretary of Defense George Marshall with Internal Notes, August 27, 1951 (NAID: 296760526)
Part of:
- Collection: Records of the Psychological Strategy Board (Truman Administration), 1951 - 1953 (NAID: 599266)
- Series: Administration Files from Class 300 of the Decimal Files, 1951 - 1953 (NAID: 600326)
- File Unit: 383.6 Report on Situation with Respect to Repatriation of Prisoners of War (NAID: 1089469)
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Memorandum from General Omar Bradley to General Walter Bedell Smith, with Attachment, August 8, 1951 (NAID: 296760521)
Part of:
- Collection: Records of the Psychological Strategy Board (Truman Administration), 1951 - 1953 (NAID: 599266)
- Series: Administration Files from Class 300 of the Decimal Files, 1951 - 1953 (NAID: 600326)
- File Unit: 383.6 Report on Situation with Respect to Repatriation of Prisoners of War (NAID: 1089469)
1952
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United Nations Press Release, India Explains Draft Resolution on Prisoner-of-War Issue in First Committee, November 19, 1952 (NAID: 301669326)
Part of:
- Collection: Korean War Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 599760)
- Series: Department of State Files, 1947 - 1952 (NAID: 599763)
- File Unit: Topical Files: 51. Consideration of the armistice question in the UN, 1952 [2 of 2: November - December, 1952] (NAID: 1702426)
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Telegram from Acting Secretary of State David Bruce, November 17, 1952 (NAID: 301669323)
Part of:
- Collection: Korean War Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 599760)
- Series: Department of State Files, 1947 - 1952 (NAID: 599763)
- File Unit: Topical Files: 51. Consideration of the armistice question in the UN, 1952 [2 of 2: November - December, 1952] (NAID: 1702426)
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Telegram from Secretary of State Dean Acheson to the Department of State, November 17, 1952 (NAID: 301669319)
Part of:
- Collection: Korean War Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 599760)
- Series: Department of State Files, 1947 - 1952 (NAID: 599763)
- File Unit: Topical Files: 51. Consideration of the armistice question in the UN, 1952 [2 of 2: November - December, 1952] (NAID: 1702426)
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Telegram from Secretary of State Dean Acheson to the Department of State, November 15, 1952 (NAID: 301669314)
Part of:
- Collection: Korean War Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 599760)
- Series: Department of State Files, 1947 - 1952 (NAID: 599763)
- File Unit: Topical Files: 51. Consideration of the armistice question in the UN, 1952 [2 of 2: November - December, 1952] (NAID: 1702426)
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Telegram from Secretary of State Dean Acheson to the Department of State, November 1952 (NAID: 301669307)
Part of:
- Collection: Korean War Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 599760)
- Series: Department of State Files, 1947 - 1952 (NAID: 599763)
- File Unit: Topical Files: 51. Consideration of the armistice question in the UN, 1952 [2 of 2: November - December, 1952] (NAID: 1702426)
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Telegram from Secretary of State Dean Acheson to the Department of State, November 13, 1952 (NAID: 301669303)
Part of:
- Collection: Korean War Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 599760)
- Series: Department of State Files, 1947 - 1952 (NAID: 599763)
- File Unit: Topical Files: 51. Consideration of the armistice question in the UN, 1952 [2 of 2: November - December, 1952] (NAID: 1702426)
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Telegram from Secretary of State Dean Acheson to the Department of State, November 13, 1952 (NAID: 301669298)
Part of:
- Collection: Korean War Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 599760)
- Series: Department of State Files, 1947 - 1952 (NAID: 599763)
- File Unit: Topical Files: 51. Consideration of the armistice question in the UN, 1952 [2 of 2: November - December, 1952] (NAID: 1702426)
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Telegram from Secretary of State Dean Acheson to the Department of State, November 9, 1952 (NAID: 301669295)
Part of:
- Collection: Korean War Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 599760)
- Series: Department of State Files, 1947 - 1952 (NAID: 599763)
- File Unit: Topical Files: 51. Consideration of the armistice question in the UN, 1952 [2 of 2: November - December, 1952] (NAID: 1702426)
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Telegram from Secretary of State Dean Acheson to the Department of State, November 8, 1952 (NAID: 301669292)
Part of:
- Collection: Korean War Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 599760)
- Series: Department of State Files, 1947 - 1952 (NAID: 599763)
- File Unit: Topical Files: 51. Consideration of the armistice question in the UN, 1952 [2 of 2: November - December, 1952] (NAID: 1702426)
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Telegram from Warren Austin to Secretary of State Dean Acheson, November 6, 1952 (NAID: 301669288)
Part of:
- Collection: Korean War Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 599760)
- Series: Department of State Files, 1947 - 1952 (NAID: 599763)
- File Unit: Topical Files: 51. Consideration of the armistice question in the UN, 1952 [2 of 2: November - December, 1952] (NAID: 1702426)
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Telegram from Warren Austin to Secretary of State Dean Acheson, November 4, 1952 (NAID: 301669285)
Part of:
- Collection: Korean War Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 599760)
- Series: Department of State Files, 1947 - 1952 (NAID: 599763)
- File Unit: Topical Files: 51. Consideration of the armistice question in the UN, 1952 [2 of 2: November - December, 1952] (NAID: 1702426)
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Telegram from Chester Bowles to Secretary of State Dean Acheson, October 2, 1952 (NAID: 301669282)
Part of:
- Collection: Korean War Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 599760)
- Series: Department of State Files, 1947 - 1952 (NAID: 599763)
- File Unit: Topical Files: 51. Consideration of the armistice question in the UN, 1952 [1 of 2: May 24, 1951 - October 30, 1952] (NAID: 1702425)
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Telegram from Gross to John D. Hickerson, September 26, 1952 (NAID: 301669277)
Part of:
- Collection: Korean War Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 599760)
- Series: Department of State Files, 1947 - 1952 (NAID: 599763)
- File Unit: Topical Files: 51. Consideration of the armistice question in the UN, 1952 [1 of 2: May 24, 1951 - October 30, 1952] (NAID: 1702425)
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Department of State Intelligence Report Number 5775, Numbers of Various Categories of Prisoners and Internees Put Forward in the Cease-Fire Talks, January 30, 1952 (NAID: 301669274)
Part of:
- Collection: Korean War Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 599760)
- Series: Department of State Files, 1947 - 1952 (NAID: 599763)
- File Unit: Topical Files: 51. Consideration of the armistice question in the UN, 1952 [1 of 2: May 24, 1951 - October 30, 1952] (NAID: 1702425)
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Referral Memorandum from Matthew Connelly to Secretary of Defense Robert Lovett, with Attached Letter from Senator Francis Case to President Harry S. Truman, with Reply, October 1952 (NAID: 296761487)
Part of:
- Collection: Official Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 1202)
- Series: Official Files, 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 201124)
- File Unit: Prisoners of War (Korean Action), June 1952-1953, OF 471b (NAID: 294901279)
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Letter from James T. Mayall to President Harry S. Truman with a Reply from William D. Hassett (NAID: 296761484)
Part of:
- Collection: Official Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 1202)
- Series: Official Files, 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 201124)
- File Unit: Prisoners of War (Korean Action), June 1952-1953, OF 471b (NAID: 294901279)
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Correspondence Between President Harry S. Truman and Senator Paul Douglas, with Attached Letter, June 1952 (NAID: 296761478)
Part of:
- Collection: Official Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 1202)
- Series: Official Files, 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 201124)
- File Unit: Prisoners of War (Korean Action), June 1952-1953, OF 471b (NAID: 294901279)
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Letter from Acting Secretary of Defense William C. Foster to President Harry S. Truman, June 12, 1952 (NAID: 296761476)
Part of:
- Collection: Official Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 1202)
- Series: Official Files, 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 201124)
- File Unit: Prisoners of War (Korean Action), June 1952-1953, OF 471b (NAID: 294901279)
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Letter from Mr. and Mrs. George Ellison to President Harry S. Truman with a Reply from William D. Hassett (NAID: 296761471)
Part of:
- Collection: Official Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 1202)
- Series: Official Files, 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 201124)
- File Unit: Prisoners of War (Korean Action), June 1952-1953, OF 471b (NAID: 294901279)
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Letter from Alfred Kohlberg to President Harry S. Truman with a Referral Memorandum, April 1952 (NAID: 296761468)
Part of:
- Collection: Official Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 1202)
- Series: Official Files, 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 201124)
- File Unit: Prisoners of War (Korean Action), January-May 1952, OF 471b (NAID: 294901276)
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Letter from Judge Donald S. McKinley to President Harry S. Truman with a Reply from William D. Hassett, May 1952 (NAID: 296761465)
Part of:
- Collection: Official Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 1202)
- Series: Official Files, 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 201124)
- File Unit: Prisoners of War (Korean Action), January-May 1952, OF 471b (NAID: 294901276)
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Referral Memorandum from William D. Hassett, with a Letter from William D. Hassett to Mrs. Ray D. Stewart, March 29, 1952 (NAID: 296761462)
Part of:
- Collection: Official Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 1202)
- Series: Official Files, 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 201124)
- File Unit: Prisoners of War (Korean Action), January-May 1952, OF 471b (NAID: 294901276)
-
Referral Memorandum from William D. Hassett to Secretary of Defense Robert Lovett, January 4, 1952 (NAID: 296761460)
Part of:
- Collection: Official Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 1202)
- Series: Official Files, 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 201124)
- File Unit: Prisoners of War (Korean Action), January-May 1952, OF 471b (NAID: 294901276)
-
Memorandum from Edmond Taylor to Mallory Browne, February 19, 1952 (NAID: 296760537)
Part of:
- Collection: Records of the Psychological Strategy Board (Truman Administration), 1951 - 1953 (NAID: 599266)
- Series: Administration Files from Class 300 of the Decimal Files, 1951 - 1953 (NAID: 600326)
- File Unit: 383.6 Report on Situation with Respect to Repatriation of Prisoners of War (NAID: 1089469)
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Memorandum from Paul C. Davis for the File, January 24, 1952 (NAID: 296760534)
Part of:
- Collection: Records of the Psychological Strategy Board (Truman Administration), 1951 - 1953 (NAID: 599266)
- Series: Administration Files from Class 300 of the Decimal Files, 1951 - 1953 (NAID: 600326)
- File Unit: 383.6 Report on Situation with Respect to Repatriation of Prisoners of War (NAID: 1089469)
1953
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Letter from Merritt Metzger to Former President Harry S. Truman, July 27, 1953 (NAID: 301669341)
Part of:
- Collection: Harry S. Truman Post-Presidential Papers, 1953 - 1973 (NAID: 1204)
- Series: Name Files, 1953 - 1973 (NAID: 7787642)
- File Unit: Korea Data [2 of 2] (NAID: 17158591)
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Memorandum, "Repatriation of Korean Prisoners of War" (NAID: 236688978)
Part of:
- Collection: Harry S. Truman Post-Presidential Papers, 1953 - 1973 (NAID: 1204)
- Series: Name Files, 1953 - 1973 (NAID: 7787642)
- File Unit: Korea - Choi, Chi Whan (NAID: 17158584)
Undated
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Letter from William Banning to Harry S. Truman (NAID: 307013751)
Part of:
- Collection: Korean War Collection, 1946 - 2019 (NAID: 104214901)
- Series: Subject Files, 1957 - 2019 (NAID: 104214918)
- File Unit: Banning, William: Letter to President Truman [MHDC 767] (NAID: 203262604)
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Memorandum from Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Omar Bradley to the Secretary of Defense with Related Material (NAID: 301669237)
Part of:
- Collection: Korean War Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1953 (NAID: 599760)
- Series: Department of State Files, 1947 - 1952 (NAID: 599763)
- File Unit: Topical Files: 31. Negotiations for an armistice, December, 1950 - June, 1951 [1 of 3: December, 1950] (NAID: 1702399)