740.00119 Control (Korea) /9–2148: Telegram
The Special Representative in Korea (Muccio) to the Secretary of State
priority
68. Zpol 11091. Re mytel 17, September 2, transmitting text of letter from Rhee to President,1 I have today sent Rhee following letter of acknowledgment:
“American mission in Korea Seoul, September 21, 1948; Excellency: By direction of the President of the United States, I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter addressed to him on September 1, 1948. In that letter you expressed the hope that the aid and assistance given to Korea by the American people during the past three years would be continued, in order that the Government of the Republic of Korea could carry on the previously inaugurated program of economic rehabilitation and security.
I am glad to inform you that the Government of the United States has given favorable consideration to the continuance of United States [Page 1309] aid and assistance to Korea. As you know, the United States Army is for the time being continuing its previously inaugurated program. However, the President has directed that the administration of aid and assistance to Korea be transferred in the near future to the Economic Cooperation Administration headed by Mr. Paul George Hoffman.
Meantime, in response to your proposal that representatives of our two governments meet for the purpose of reaching an agreement which will set forth in detail the terms under which aid to Korea will be extended, and will be in consonance with the principles under which foreign aid is extended by the United States, I am pleased to inform you that the Government of the United States is now prepared to enter into negotiations with a view to the conclusion of such an agreement.
For the purpose of reaching an early and mutually satisfactory agreement, I have designated Major General C. G. Helmick, US[A], and Mr. Owen T. Jones to consult with your representatives. In this connection, I shall be grateful if you will designate your representatives in order that consultations may be initiated at an early date.
(Signed) John J. Muccio, Special Representative, [to] His Excellency Doctor Syngman Rhee, President of the Republic of Korea.[”]2
- See footnote 1, p. 1289.↩
- Telegram 77, September 24, from Seoul, reported President Rhee’s reply of September 23 in which he named his representatives in the proposed negotiations (895.50 Recovery/9–2448). Telegram 101, October 6, from Seoul, reported the joint U.S.-Korean press release of October 5 on initiation of the negotiations (740.00119 Control (Korea)/10–648). For statement on the negotiations, see Department of State Bulletin, December 19, 1948, p. 778. For text of agreement between the U.S.A. and Korea respecting economic cooperation under Public Law 793, 80th Congress, signed at Seoul, December 10 (in force December 14), see 62 Stat. (Pt. 3) 3780.↩