795.00/7–2751: Telegram
The Ambassador in Korea (Muccio) to the Secretary of State
niact
85. Early this morning I recd message from Admiral Joy and Gen Ridgway that Korean delegate Gen Paik was refusing to attend today’s conference in view of instructions he had recd not to take part in discussions on line of demarcation and that he felt it better not to appear at conference than to have to get up and walk out.
Gen Coulter and I spent some two hours with President and PriMin. President insisted he had not instructed Paik to walk out, that Paik had sent word to him he could not be loyal to the Korean govt’s five [Page 739] point policy nor to people of Korea if he took part in any discussion of line of demarcation which inevitably wld be permanent division of Korea.
It evident Rhee had never expected an agreement even on agenda and therefore made pretense of going along with talks. He still does not like idea. He roamed all over the universe during the talks and played well-worn “gramophone record” of all his mistrusts and misgivings. He asked for assurances from Gen Ridgway that polit discussions later wld not consider any line demarcation. I pointed out that this was polit matter and Gen Ridgway’s instructions were to confine himself to mil matters bearing directly on armistice. I pointed out that Gen Ridgway on two occasions had very clearly stated his position directly to the President and the second time in the presence of Mil Defense and Korean delegate to conference and that if the President wld like any further clarification I was confident Gen Ridgway wld be ready to come for further talks with him. With a view to dissuading Rhee, I mentioned he send a message to my govt, direct to Pres Truman, further detailing his concerns. He said he wanted to.
At the end, Pres Rhee agreed to send word to Gen Paik to continue attending conferences “for the time being” and that he wld prepare message for Pres Truman for me to forward.
Whole incident is further indication Pres Rhee on blindly emotional grounds is attempting sabotage armistice. He is completely unpredictable and if one method fails accomplish his purpose he can be expected try another if he can get away with it.
This also sent info to Ridgway to pass Joy.