795.00/3–1451
Memorandum by the Planning Adviser, Bureau of Far Eastern Affairs (Emmerson), to the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Rusk)
Subject: Statement on Korea by the President or Secretary.
Out of two days of attempting to defend our Far Eastern policy before a variety of groups in Providence, Rhode Island, I have gained a strong impression that the frustration with regard to the Far East [Page 229] is more intense now than ever. This feeling is by no means restricted to people who have been in opposition to the State Department or its Far Eastern policies. Those who approved our resistance in Korea now find the present situation completely confusing and baffling. Even when the idea of obtaining the most favorable conditions for a peaceful settlement is presented they still appear to feel that we are remiss in not taking some decisive action which would end the slaughter in Korea.
The term “Operation Killer” has had a most unfortunate effect. This slogan has stuck in the public mind as representing the objectives, nature, and meaning of the whole action in Korea. I fear that to many people Korea now means only killing, a process of killing Americans, Chinese and Koreans.
In a discussion at the “Providence Journal” which is probably one of the best newspapers on the east coast and which has supported the Department, the editor-in-chief asked bluntly: “Why hasn’t the President or the Secretary made a statement on how we end the war in Korea? Why haven’t the Chinese been appealed to?”
It seems to me that the time is now opportune for a brief statement by the President or the Secretary, preferably by radio, repeating once again the basic reasons for the action in Korea and expressing clearly and forcefully our desire to achieve a peaceful settlement. The statement should be directed primarily to the American people but should also be designed for the Chinese. It should point out that the enormous losses which the Chinese leaders are forcing the people to suffer are deeply deplored by us and that there is an opportunity for a peaceful and honorable settlement of a war which is bringing nothing but disaster to the Chinese and is preventing them from the useful and constructive tasks in which they should be engaged.
Following and enforcing General Ridgway’s statement,1 such a pronouncement by the President or Secretary would do a great deal to dispel the misgivings and profound uneasiness which I believe are rather general in the American public. At the same time it could serve a psychological warfare purpose with regard to the Chinese and would again demonstrate to our UN allies that we earnestly desire and energetically seek a peaceful settlement.
- Reference is to statement made by General Ridgway on March 12 to news correspondents to the effect that it would be a tremendous victory if the war ended with the U.N. side in control up to the 38th parallel, having thus shown its ability to defeat the Chinese Communist effort to drive the U.N. forces into the sea. (See Hearings, p. 454)↩