Office of the Historian

795.00/7–2050: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Korea

secret
Washington, July 20, 1950—1 p. m.

26. If accurately reported, statement UP desp quoted immed preceding tel1 attributed to “US Govt official” directly contravenes directive contained Deptel 16 Jul 14. Request immed report circumstances this statement and steps taken prevent recurrence.

Acheson

  1. Telegram 25 transmitted the text of the following UP dispatch of July 19, datelined “Somewhere in Korea”:

    “A US Government official said today that when the United Nations forces push northward in Korea it would be most unrealistic from the military standpoint, if not actually impossible, to halt at the 38th Parallel.

    “He contended that from the political standpoint it would be ‘unthinkable’ for the Americans and South Koreans to stop fighting at the boundary.

    “The official, who worked and studied in Korea for years, said a return to the way things were before the war here would negate everything the Allies hoped to accomplish in fighting against the attempt to communize all Korea.

    “That would make similar clashes in the future virtually inescapable, he said.” (795.00/7–2050)

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