795.00/8–1550
Memorandum by Mr. George H. Butler of the Policy Planning Staff to the Director of the Office of Northeast Asian Affairs (Allison)
The papers on Korea now are so numerous that it is difficult to fit all of the pieces together. According to the July 17 memorandum from the Executive Secretary, NSC: “The President requested the NSC to prepare for his consideration a report on the subject, covering the policy which should be pursued by the United States after the North Korean forces have been driven back to the 38th parallel.”
Papers now in draft form, none of which has been agreed to or approved, include:
- 1.
- NSC 73/1 (now being considered by the senior staff of NSC);
- 2.
- NSC 76 and 76/1 (being considered by the NSC consultants and staff);
- 3.
- A paper agreed to in the State Department and circulated by NSC under date of July 27 for NSC staff consideration only;
- 4.
- A Defense draft paper dated August 7 and circulated for NSC consideration only; and
- 5.
- The draft paper attached to your memorandum of August 14, 1950.1
The following comment on this paper is made in an effort to relate it to other papers on this subject and to keep duplication and possible contradiction to a minimum.
The Problem
To determine what policies the United States should pursue in order to contribute to the restoration of international peace and security in the Korean area once the aggression has been brought to an end, either by the defeat of the Korean communists or as the result of an early voluntary withdrawal of the aggressor forces to territory north of the 38th parallel.
[Page 583]Analysis
(This paragraph would be inserted as the first paragraph of the Analysis.) Aspects of the Korean problem relating to the present U.N. enforcement action and other military operations are dealt with in NSC 73/1, NSC 76 and NSC 76/1, NSC staff draft (State Department) of July 27, and NSC staff draft (Defense Department) of August 7. This paper therefore deals primarily with the phase of the problem following the termination of the aggression.
Paragraph 6. The following sentence might be added to this paragraph: “However, a Kremlin-dominated Korean peninsula would be a threat to U.S. security interests in Japan.”
Paragraph 9. The following sentence might be added to this paragraph: “Neither has the United States taken the decision to include the use of military force among the means by which it would seek to bring about the establishment of a unified and independent Korea.”
Paragraph 16. The final sentence might be revised as follows: “The aggression in South Korea, if defeated in pursuance of the Security Council resolutions, may result in the opposite effect—the failure to complete the cordon.”
Paragraph 20. The first sentence might read as follows: “The above reasons, in addition to the strategic importance of Korea to the U.S.S.R., make it even more probable that the U.S.S.R. will not be willing to see a settlement resulting in a Korean government which it cannot control.”
Paragraph 21. The first sentence might read: “The United States has pledged its support of a unified and independent Korea.”
Paragraph 24a. This paragraph might read: “The independence and unification of Korea conform with Korean aspirations, United States objectives, and the expressed objectives of the United Nations.”
Paragraph 24d. This paragraph might read as follows: “Although the United States national interests are involved in the Korean situation, the problem of Korea is primarily a U.N. problem and its final solution must be one which is consistent with the principles of the U.N. Charter.”
Paragraph 24e. The last sentence might read as follows: “Since Korea is an Asiatic state, it is appropriate that the Asiatic members of the United Nations should play a prominent role in the assistance that the United Nations can give, and that their views regarding a solution of the problem should be given sympathetic consideration.”
Paragraph 24g. It is suggested that this paragraph be eliminated, since it refers to military operations which are dealt with in other papers.
Paragraph 25a. Insert the words “and independent” after the word “unified” in the second line.
[Page 584]Paragraph 25b. This paragraph might read as follows: “The fact that the military strength of the United States now is inadequate to assure the attainment of the objectives fixed by our national interests.”
Paragraph 26. This paragraph might read as follows: “In consonance with the above principles and having in mind the above limiting factors, the United States should take the following steps once the aggression has been brought to an end:”
Paragraph 26a. This paragraph could be eliminated since it deals with military phases covered in other papers.
Paragraph 26b. Might read: “Take action through diplomatic channels to assure the greatest possible support for the attainment of United Nations and United States objectives regarding Korea.”
Paragraph 26c. This paragraph might read: “At a time when the United Nations forces in Korea are achieving substantial victories over the Korean communists forces, or when any proposals may be made for the withdrawal from the Republic of Korea of the Korean communists forces, announcement should be made in the U.N. of the determination of the United States to seek a solution of the Korean problem within the general framework of previous U.N. resolutions and in a manner consistent with the U.N. Charter.”
Paragraph 26d. “When such an announcement is made, the United States should recommend, or urge others to recommend, the creation of an appropriate U.N. body which would study and make recommendations to the General Assembly on the future of Korea in accordance with the principles enumerated above. It might be desirable to support the Representative of India as Chairman of such a body.”
Paragraph 26e. This paragraph might start as follows: “At the time of the announcement, recommended to the U.N. that, after the unification of the country in accordance with recommendations of the above-named U.N. body, …”
Paragraph 26f. This paragraph might read as follows: “In its announcement to the United Nations, the United States should express its view that for as long as the 38th parallel divides Korea, or until a stable, unified, and independent Korea is established, a U.N. military force should be retained in Korea to prevent renewed aggression or internal strife during the natural period of adjustment, and that such force should include substantial contingents from Asiatic countries. The United States would make it clear that its forces would be available to participate in enforcing a U.N. guarantee against unprovoked aggression; but would recommend that its contingents in the U.N. force referred to should be stationed south of the 38th parallel.”
Paragraph 26h. “Should the U.N. Commission on Korea make recommendations along the lines set forth in USUN telegram 266 of August 11, the United States should strongly support the general [Page 585] character of those recommendations, reserving the right to suggest such changes in detail as may appear desirable.”
Paragraph 26i. This might read: “Press forward urgently with measures to build up the military, political and economic strength of the United States and other non-communist nations.”
Paragraph 27. This paragraph might be deleted since it deals with military phases covered in other papers.