Office of the Historian

740.00119 Control (Korea)/5–649: Telegram

The Ambassador in Korea (Muccio) to the Secretary of State

secret
priority
Seoul, May 6, 1949.

498. Monday May 2 accompanied by General Roberts and Drumright had conferences with President Rhee, Prime Minister and Minister [Page 1009] of Defense when letter mytel 470, May 2 presented.1 General Roberts explained plans for augmenting KMAG and for arsenal and arms for Korean Army. Long involved discussion then ensued in which Rhee pleaded for US guarantees of defense and independence (see despatches 244 and 245, May 4).2

I have not been able to pursue seeking Rhee concurrence in early withdrawal date and matter becoming more complex daily in view following:

First, I am still awaiting directions regarding Coast Guard and Air support which would greatly help in bringing Rhee around. I consider items for Coast Guard requested mytel 447, April 26 of prime importance. I have repeatedly pointed this up since my first telegram 69 of January 27. My conviction that Coast Guard must be strengthened does not stem therefore from recent developments in China.

Secondly, local press unquestionably inspired by governmental circles has given prominence to up play-back of Rhee’s interview requesting “a mutual defense agreement”. The Ryun Hab Shinmun, considered close to presidential family, on May 4 even went so far as to state that “according to a certain source…3 defense agreement will now progress very rapidly and signing expected in Washington middle of this month”.

Finally, worst blow to obtaining early concurrence was outbreak of border incidents commencing in Kaesong May 34 and the defection yesterday in Chongchun sector considerable number of South Korean troops across the 38th parallel. Exact developments latter area not yet ascertainable and fighting still in progress. Please see army reports for details of incidents and of defection.5 This flare-up will undoubtedly undermine confidence and lead to further clamor for more help.

I cannot overemphasize need early determination regarding Coast Guard and Air support requested in mytel 461, April 29 and 483, May 3. With this support I still feel that I may be able to sell Rhee on our target date thereby avoiding inevitable world censure should we appear to be withdrawing unilaterally.

Muccio
  1. Telegram 470 not printed; see the two memoranda of conversation by Ambassador Muccio, May 2, pp. 1000 and 1003; and for the text of the letter referred to, see telegram 299, April 28, to Seoul, p. 997.↩
  2. See footnotes 1, pp. 1000 and 1003, respectively.↩
  3. Omission indicated in the source telegram.↩
  4. For details, see Sawyer, Military Advisors in Korea, p. 73.↩
  5. In telegram 505, May 7 (not printed), Ambassador Muccio reported a press conference by President Rhee at which the latter attributed the defection to desertion by a ROK Army Major who led his battalion into a North Korean trap (895.00/5–749).↩