Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Far East and Australasia, Volume VII, Part 2

501.BB Korea/6–349: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Korea ¹

confidential

Washington, June 3, 1949—7 p. m.

416. ReDeptel 410 June 2 rpting USUN’s 666 June 1 to Dept. Fol substantive text aide-mémoire handed Korean Amb during conversation in Dept June 2:

“Support accorded ROK by US through UN and by other means is well known.

“Recently it has come to our attention that Dr. Chough is alleged to have made certain statements relating to strength of security forces of ROK and mil equipment in hands of these forces which are of some concern. These are to effect that armed forces of ROK number 38,000 and that Republic is not armed, having no munitions. It is understanding of Dept that security forces of ROK exceed 126,000 and, as may be seen by attached list of transferred mil stocks,² these forces have been equipped with mil supplies from US sources. Furthermore, it is understood these supplies being augmented by current transfers mil equipment to Korean security forces.

“If Dr. Chough’s alleged statements are found to be accurately reported, they wld appear to be in contravention of facts and best interests of ROK as well derogatory of the support thus far extended by the US.”

It forcefully pointed out to Amb during conversation that remarks attributed Chough, as well as recent statements in similar vein by ROK officials Seoul, have effect of minimizing extent and importance US aid to Korea and of calling into question good faith and efficacy US support, thereby undermining one of principal sources of strength of ROK. It emphasized that such statements bound to cause Korean people lose confidence in their own Govt as well as in US (at this point Chang’s attention called press reports Natl Assembly demand for resignation Cabinet)³ and thereby to deprive ROK of its strongest shield against Communism. In this connection it suggested to Amb that reported fears and uncertainties of Korean people may well be due in large part to loss of confidence inspired by ROK itself through ill-advised public utterances and that for ROK to persist in such course wld be for it to court disaster. It pointed out that no amt mil aid could save ROK if Korean people not determined resist Communism and confident their ability to do so.

In reply specific questions Amb informed plans for troop withdrawal now firm and not subject change and that active consideration being given early issuance public statement underlining US support ROK.

Webb

1. Repeated as telegram 303 to the U.S. representative at the U.N. in New York.
2. Not printed.
3. See the New York Times, June 3, 1949. The National Assembly, by a vote of 82–61, had passed a resolution on June 2 calling for the resignation of the Rhee Cabinet following disclosure of charges of corruption and malfeasance against high Government officials including Cabinet ministers. The issues involved were domestic in nature and did not relate to the foreign policy of the South Korean Government.