Office of the Historian

58. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Korea1

Washington, June 13, 1955—6:21 p.m.

769. Sebald today told Yang US Government very concerned about riots in front Embassy Seoul.2 After recounting circumstances he said demonstrations like this always likely get out of hand and effect is damage relations between two governments. Hope ROK will take steps see such incidents not repeated. He added Ambassador had discussed riots with President Rhee who had expressed own concern.

Yang recounted numerous Japanese overtures toward north Korea and other Communist countries as reason for ROK feeling. Sebald said US just as interested as ROK in having Japan remain anti-Communist but demonstrations like this are dangerous. Yang agreed, said he sure ROK could and would prevent recurrence, promised write President Rhee.

In view Joint Weeka mention Rhee apology to Lacy3 no press statement made here after foregoing interview.

Hoover
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 795B.00/6–1355. Confidential. Drafted by McClurkin and approved by Sebald.↩
  2. Reference is to anti-Japanese demonstrations in Seoul on June 8 and 9. On June 8, a large group of Korean school children and disabled veterans belonging to the Patriotic War-Participants Brotherhood Association gathered in front of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul to demand that the United States cease support of Japan. At one point, the crowd burst through police lines toward the Embassy and had to be driven back with rifle butts. Police kept the demonstrators away from the Embassy on June 9. The Embassy reported the situation to the Department in telegram 1354, June 8. (Ibid., 795B.00/6–855) A more complete summary of Sebald’s conversation with Yang is in a memorandum of conversation by McClurkin, June 13. (Ibid., Seoul Embassy Files: Lot 59 F 180, 350.2 Demonstrations–1955)↩
  3. In Joint Weeka 23, June 11, a weekly summary of significant occurrences in Korea, the Embassy reported that President Rhee, on his own initiative, had apologized to Ambassador Lacy for the incident at the Embassy the previous day. (Ibid., Central Files, 795B.00(W)/6–1055)↩