Description:

MATTHEW B. RIDGWAY (1895 - 1994) American Army general who led airborne assaults on Sicily and commanded U.N. forces in the Korean War following the dismissal of MacArthur. Typed document (unsigned), 1p. 4to., [n.p., n.d., 1951], Ridgway's message sent as commander-in-chief of United Nations forces in Korea to North Korean premier KING IL-SUNG (1912-1994) and Chinese commander PENG DEHUAI (1898-1974) via international weather teletype circuit. The Telex message, in English, acknowledges the receipt of Kim's June 30 positive response to Ridgway's earlier request for cease-fire. It sets the date for these talks for July 10 at Kaesong, and continues, in small part: "...Since agreement on armistice terms has to precede cessation of hostilities... delay in initiating the meetings and in reaching agreement will prolong the fighting and increase the losses... If you concur... my liaison officers... the senior of whom will not be above the rank of colonel will depart Kimpo Airfield... by helicopter... on four July... on the day agreed upon for this meeting... proceeding direct to Kaesong... The convoy bearing your liaison officers to and from the meeting will be granted immunity from attack by my forces... providing you advise me of its route and schedule... and the manner by which my forces may identify it..." The page is ragged at top and bottom where ripped free from the larger teletype roll, with faint folds and a period ink inscription at top, else very good. The document is mounted to a larger display board along with a T.L.S. from Ridgway, 1p. 4to., Pittsburgh, Jan. 4, 1985, to his postmaster, suspending his mail deliveries for three days, and signed at the conclusion in blue ink. The board further bears a first-day cover honoring Ridgway, a photo showing a Korean War-era weather briefing map, and two typed labels. A fine presentation overall. While cease-fire talks did proceed as scheduled on July 10, 1951, they would drag on for nearly two years, with an armistice agreement not being signed until July 23, 1953.

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May 1, 2019 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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