740.00119 Control (Korea)/4–1449: Telegram
The Special Representative in Korea (Muccio) to the Secretary of State
389. From AmRep Seoul to Secretary State, repeated CINCFE. President Rhee has not yet decided to issue statement referred to in mytel 374, April 11 [12]. He may not have mustered sufficient courage. From long discussion late yesterday, however, I gathered that he is tarrying, hopeful of more concrete confirmation that the US really intends to carry out assurances of military aid I have given him verbally.
He rambled on, pleading for more arms and bigger army, and then expressed hope for some kind of agreement by which the US would guarantee Korean independence and protection in case of attack. He asked me, specifically, to ascertain whether a statement might not be issued in Washington that the treaty of 18831 is still in effect, or possibly that the first article—he referred to it as the amity provision—might be reaffirmed. Please telegraph any views Department may have in this regard.
I am seeing him again this afternoon and still expect him to make a statement soon, possibly at monster anti-Communist demonstration scheduled for Saturday.2