88. Memorandum of a Conversation Between the Minister of the Korean Embassy (Han) and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Sebald), Department of State, Washington, September 26, 19551
SUBJECT
- U.S.–ROK Relations
Mr. Sebald asked Minister Han to come in on such short notice because he felt the question which he wished to discuss was so important that the quicker he could see Minister Han the better. Korea, he said, had no better friends than Mr. Robertson, himself, and their associates, who were continually striving to do everything they could to help Korea overcome the enormous problems which it faced. Thus, he was speaking with the greatest of sincerity and from the heart.
Mr. Sebald wanted to tell Minister Han of our genuine concern about the anti-American atmosphere being created in Korea. We seemed unable to do anything right as far as the ROK were concerned and we were criticized on every hand. This criticism which has appeared in the ROK press seems officially inspired and designed for purposes which we are unable to understand. Perhaps some of the President’s advisors thought this was the way to get results. The things which have been said, however, are extremely distasteful to us and we feel that this constant criticism of the U.S. is poisoning our relations and certainly is counterproductive. We have been accused of being soft toward Communism, and yet we came to Korea’s aid at considerable loss of American lives to save Korea from Communism. We have been charged with intent to wreck the Korean economy and yet we are expending hundreds of millions of dollars to aid the economy.
While not intending to go into detail on these matters, Mr. Sebald wanted the Minister to understand that he was speaking frankly and out of genuine concern for Korea when he said that the poisoning of American-Korean relations was self-defeating. When Minister Han pressed for details, Mr. Sebald said that the Office of Northeast Asian Affairs would be glad to present them to Minister Han later on this week. He did wish, however, to give Minister Han one example of the dangers in the situation. Recently, he had occasion to see a letter received in the Department from Dr. Milton Eisenhower.2 Dr. Eisenhower had stated that reports reflecting American-Korean [Page 164] relations had shown such animus against the U.S. he wondered if it would not be better if he resigned from the American-Korean Foundation, as he was doubtful he could be of any further service. Mr. Sebald recommended that he not resign from the American-Korean Foundation but that he remain in his present position in the hope that we could persuade our Korean friends of the great mistake in their public attitude toward the U.S.
Minister Han was genuinely moved by Mr. Sebald’s reference to Dr. Eisenhower’s letter and expressed hope that Dr. Eisenhower would not resign from the American-Korean Foundation. He argued, however, that there was no anti-Americanism being created in Korea, that President Rhee was firmly pro-American, and that any statements which might have been made merely expressed legitimate differences of opinion. The only recent problems which Mr. Sebald might have reference to, he thought, were those associated with the demonstrations against the NNSC and the current dispute over taxation of American businessmen.3 On the first count, he argued that the feelings of the people were so strong about the NNSC that the demonstrations could not be helped. As far as the tax dispute was concerned, there were, he thought, legitimate differences in view. Minister Han said he talked with ICA people a few weeks ago and they expressed great satisfaction with the improved atmosphere in Korea following the economic negotiations in Washington.
Mr. Sebald again stated he did not wish to discuss details and that he was describing an atmosphere—a trend—which gave us deep concern. He asked that the Minister reflect on the matter and hoped he would faithfully report to his Government the concern of Mr. Robertson, himself, and their staff. He expressed the hope that there would be some reversal in this trend.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.95B/9–2655. Confidential. Drafted by Jones on September 27.↩
- Not found in Department of State files.↩
- Extensive documentation on the dispute over the application by the Republic of Korea of a retroactive business tax to American businessmen in Korea is in Department of State, Central File 895B.11.↩