Office of the Historian

795.00/3–2151: Telegram

The United States Deputy Representative at the United Nations (Gross) to the Secretary of State

secret   priority
New York, March 21, 1951—1:24 p. m.

1309. Re Korea: In compliance with draft Deptel telephoned by Henkin this morning,1 USUN informed Colonel Limb that Dept believes proposed ROK letter to Entezam urging time limit on GOC is both inappropriate and undesirable, giving reasons set forth in second para of reftel.

Colonel Limb agreed to postpone sending letter to Entezam and to discuss both it and proposed formal request re UN bombing in Manchuria with Rusk March 21. He will this afternoon request Korean Emb to obtain appointment for him with Rusk tomorrow. He remains worried about his failure to comply promptly with Pres Rhee’s instructions.

Limb feels obliged to take some action in connection with Pres Rhee’s tel re UN bombing of Manchuria and, therefore, this afternoon will send tel to Rhee pointing out that existing SC and GA resolutions may already contain some authority for bombing Manchuria and that discussion this subject logically should first be held with SCAP.

Gross

  1. The draft telegram under reference was transmitted to New York at 2 p. m. on March 21 as telegram 800, which read as follows:

    “Dept concerned over probable effects if Limb shld act on Rhee’s instructions, urtel 1305, Mar 20. If Limb comes, Rusk will seek to persuade him that formal request to UN re bombing Manchuria wld seriously damage cause for which ROK and US both striving.

    “In Dept’s view, proposed ROK letter to Entezam urging time limit on GOC is both inappropriate and undesirable. Under Feb 1 Res, functioning of GOC does not prevent AMC from proceeding with its work and US has been urging their view in AMC. Time limit on GOC wld give impression that UN gives up policy of seeking peaceful settlement in Korea which UN and US have repeatedly expressed. Publicity and propaganda effect cld only harm UN effort and do great damage to ROK position. Also, Feb 1 Res provided that GOC shld be available to exercise good offices at any ‘suitable opportunity’, implying continuing efforts by GOC, and only GA has authority to limit or change these terms of reference. US cld not support any proposal to limit GOC and other nations wld certainly oppose it.

    “Dept believes it desirable that proposed ROK communication to Entezam shld not be made and requests you to express these views to Limb.” (795.00/3–2151)

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