357.AD/7–2250: Telegram
The Commander in Chief, Far East (MacArthur) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 22—10:29 a. m.]
6310. Personal for Honorable John Foster Dulles.
“Reference your message No. 127, July 21. I understand fully the [Page 446] psychological and moral factors involved in giving the greatest possible prominence to the United Nations Korea effort. I also fully understand the value of the use of an Oriental for such purpose. I do not believe, however, that Romulo is an acceptable agent in this particular area. He is immensely unpopular among the Japanese because of the bitter and unrelenting stand he has taken with reference to their recovery in any form. They understand fully how he has opposed, in the most implacable and unrelenting way, practically every United States effort with reference to Japanese recovery or an equitable and just Japanese peace. His completely selfish and nationalistic attitude on reparations has aroused hatred and resentment on the part of all Japanese of whatever party or affiliation. In the Far Eastern Commission, his stand has been perhaps the most obstructive and destructive of any of the members except that of the Soviet. His general attitude was only recently given particular emphasis in his tart and offensive reply to Ambassador Grew’s appeal for support for the campaign to raise funds for the projected International Christian University in Japan. His presence here could not fail to arouse the greatest possible Japanese resentment, just at the moment when I am seeking the greatest possible Japanese cordiality. He is also completely unacceptable to the Koreans, as he is held responsible by them for canceling the invitation which President Quirino was understood to have given to the Korean Foreign Service at the time of the Southeast Asia meeting in Baguio some months ago.1 The mortification and humiliation felt by Koreans at this incident has left a permanent scar. A similar feeling exists towards him in Nationalist China circles where he is credited with having not only blocked the presence of the Chinese Nationalists at the Southeast Asia meeting, but also to have completely vitiated its original purpose, which was to oppose the advance of Communistic influences in Southeast Asia.
As you know, he is an old comrade of mine and I hold him personally in the greatest possible esteem, but in my opinion, a most fundamental and irreparable error would result from trying to inject him into the local situation.
Everyone here joins me in heartiest regards. MacArthur.”2
- See footnote 1 to the letter from Mr. Muccio to Mr. Rusk, May 25, p. 88.↩
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The following reply to this message was sent by the Department of State in telegram 138, July 24, 7 p. m., to Tokyo:
“Personal for General MacArthur from Dulles. Thanks for your message Number 6310, DTG221011Z. I appreciate your going to the trouble to explain so fully the complications. I had known there were irritations, but had not sensed that they were big enough to offset the advantage of bringing onto the scene the President of the Assembly who is also an Asiatic. Your message puts the matter in a new light and I fear we must regretfully forego the project, at least for the present With sincere good wishes.” (320/7–2450)
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