895.00/5–2347
Dr. Robert T. Oliver to the Assistant Secretary of State (Hilldring)
Dear General Hilldring: The United Press carries a story that the State Department has “announced emphatically” that it has no secret agreements with anybody about Korea. The purpose of the announcement was to deny an alleged claim by Dr. Rhee that he has a “secret agreement” with the State Department for establishment of a Korean government. For your information I am enclosing a copy of a press release by Colonel B. C. Limb, which I believe is self-explanatory.83
In connection with this matter I believe that two points are of the gravest importance.
First, Dr. Rhee must, of course, be very careful not to make any statements which can be misinterpreted or lifted out of context so that they seem to mean something he does not mean. As you know, it is very difficult for any public man to protect himself against this form of misinterpretation.
Second, it appears to me equally important that great care should be exercised by officials of the United State government in commenting adversely upon alleged statements attributed to Dr. Rhee. We know that there are many who are eagerly desirous of misrepresenting him when they can. Sometimes this is because of bias, and sometimes it is simply the method of irresponsible newsmen to create a sensational story.
I believe we both know that if Dr. Rhee’s influence with the Korean people should be undermined by official declarations, or in any other way, the best interests of both the United States and Korea would suffer. Dr. Rhee is the one stabilizing and unifying figure in Korean public life whose influence is extensive enough to hold the people together. He has used his influence to hold the more ardent nationalists in check, while the United States has time to work out a Korean solution. He has prevented the re-establishment of the old Provisional Government. He has assured the Korean people that if they will only wait a little longer, this time something satisfactory will surely emerge. He has done this when by far the easiest course would be for him to join in the demand for immediate independence at all costs.
[Page 652]I can assure you most positively that Dr. Rhee has the strongest determination to cooperate wholeheartedly in every way to assure the success of the program for Korea as we understand it. He has been steadfast in his policies for half a century, and you may rest assured that he is not wavering now. Random comments by radio and news reporters should not be allowed to create a contrary impression. I am sure you agree with me in this, and I hope that further incidents will not again embarrass and complicate the situation.
Sincerely yours,
- Not printed; Ben C. Limb was chairman of the Korean Commission, a private group in Washington.↩