740.00119 PW/7–346
Draft of Letter From President Truman to the Secretary of War (Patterson)38
My Dear Mr. Secretary: There are enclosed copies of Ambassador Pauley’s letter to me of June 22 and my reply of July 16 on the subject of Korea.
It is my understanding that at present your Department and other Departments of this Government are developing a program for Korea designed to implement the policies outlined in my reply to Ambassador Pauley.
This is to assure you of my particular interest in the problems confronting this Government in Korea. I am convinced that we may be required to stay in Korea a considerable length of time in order to fulfill our pledge to aid in the establishment of a free and independent government.
Adequate funds and experienced personnel are, of course, a prerequisite to the completion of our undertaking in Korea. I trust that your Department will take the necessary steps to make these essentials available. As this program calls for action beyond the “disease and unrest” formula generally applied in occupied areas, I recognize the [Page 722] fact that a request for additional funds may be involved. Should this be the case, the War Department can count upon my support.
I am sending a copy of this letter, together with copies of the enclosures, to the Secretary of the Navy with a request that he assist you where possible in the accomplishment of this program. The Secretary of State has received copies of the correspondence with Ambassador Pauley, and I have been assured of his Department’s interest in cooperating with the War and Navy Departments on this matter.
Sincerely yours,
- A shorter draft was prepared to be sent to the Secretary of the Navy (Forrestal). Both draft letters were submitted by the Acting Secretary of State with his memorandum of August 1 to President Truman (not printed) for his use in informing Messrs. Patterson and Forrestal of the Pauley correspondence.↩