795B.5/7–2450: Circular telegram
The Secretary of State to All Missions
Ltr dated Jul 24 from Sec to Sec Def Johnson summarizing policy lie UN aid for Korea is quoted below for ur use and guidance in discussions this matter with Reps Govt to which you are accredited. If Sec Def reply modifies this policy you will be promptly informed.1
“I am outlining in this ltr the gen policies under which it is intended, that the Dept of State and its Reps abroad shld conduct conversations with other Govts on the subj of contributions by members of the UN to the UN effort in Korea. I wld appreciate confirmation from you that this is in accordance with our several conversations on the gen subject in the light of the expressed wishes of the Pres. There is no doubt in my mind that the gen attitude described below has the support of Congressional leaders.
“The US Govt is anxious to encourage the maximum direct participation by all members of the UN in support of the UN effort in Korea. All offers of direct assistance, mil or non-mil in form, shld be [Page 458] welcomed. Obviously mil assistance, and in particular the offer of ground forces is most important.
“All offers shld be made to the UN which will immed communicate them to the US Govt for consideration by the Unified Command. When Reps of other Govts discuss directly with US Reps intended or possible contributions, they shld be encouraged and thanked but reminded that the formal offer shld be communicated to the UN.
“Once an offer has been made to the UN and communicated to the Dept of State by the US Mission to the UN, arrangements will be made by the Dept for Reps in Wash of the offering Govt to discuss the specific details and eventual integration of the offer into the UN effort in Korea with appropriate Reps of the Office of the Sec of Def.
“As a practical matter, the JCS and the Unified Command will have to determine what particular mil units, or other types of assistance offered by other UN members, can in fact be integrated into the mil effort in Korea. It is the intention of the US Govt to accept all offers notwithstanding the fact that thorough examination in bilateral discussions between reps of the Dept of Def and Reps of the offering Govt may ultimately reveal that it will be impossible, as a practical matter, to use what is offered. In such cases, a modification of the actual offer into usable form may result or agreement may be reached that, while the offer stands as accepted, it may never be called forward unless circumstances change.
“In order not to mislead other UN members, the US Govt does not intend, through either mil or dipl channels, unilaterally to urge individual UN members to offer mil units except in cases on which the US Govt is agreed that for mil or other controlling reasons it is intended to employ such units in the combat area. In cases where such agreement is reached we will of course make every effort to secure commitments to provide mil forces.
“Since I am anxious promptly to confirm instrs in the above sense to our missions abroad, I wld appreciate it if you wld let me know as soon as may be convenient if you are in agreement with the views which I have expressed above.”
You will be promptly informed if country to which you accredited is one which US Govt desires directly to ask for ground forces and of any action taken this regard here.