740.00119 Control (Korea)/5–749: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Korea
us urgent
328. (Fol msg prepared prior receipt urtel 515 May 9. Pls seek further interview with Rhee and tell him your Govt has instructed you expressly make known to him its deep concern this matter, pursuing subj along lines indicated.)
Pls seek immediate interview Pres Rhee and inform him this Govt greatly disturbed by press release and accompanying statement transmitted urtel 506 May 7. Tell him this apparent attempt force hand US Govt through resort public press is regarded not only as grave breach ordinary diplomatic courtesy but also as sharply inconsistent with spirit mutual friendliness and good faith upon which relations our two Govts based. Especially objectionable is inference that Commie menace with which south Korea now faced is direct if not intentional consequence US occupation policy. Make it clear to Rhee this unfortunate utterance can only redound to disadvantage ROK and may well have serious adverse consequences in terms pending requests econ and mil aid for Korea.
In latter connection you may wish take advantage this interview to emphasize to Rhee that in view magnitude current worldwide demands upon US for mil assistance he wld be deluding himself to think we can meet more than small proportion his total requests for such aid, and that ill-considered statements such as that referred to above and continued unrealistic and unreasonable demands for assistance will tend weaken rather than strengthen his claim to consideration.
For your own info questions mil assistance and troop withdrawal discussed in detail in tel to fol shortly.1
- See telegram 330, May 9, to Seoul, infra.↩