795.00/7–3151: Telegram
The Ambassador in Korea (Muccio) to the Secretary of State
106. At General Ridgway’s suggestion I have verbally protested action of President Rhee and/or members his cabinet in giving direct orders to General Paik.
I explained that General Ridgway had asked me to discuss with President his great concern—which I shared fully—over confused situation arising out of orders issued direct General Paik. Rhee immediately reiterated what he had said last Friday morning that he had issued no orders General Paik.1 I continued that if he had not [Page 765] issued orders direct, Ministers Defense and Foreign Affairs, Director of OPI, Chiefs of Staff of Korean Army, Navy and Air Force had been continuously visiting and conveying msgs Gen Paik. I went on that Gen Ridgway had made special efforts keep President Rhee fully informed of his position and that he should have same frank and full understanding from Koreans; otherwise, under present conditions there was no hope.
For next 15 minutes President reviewed what happened to Korean King in 1904–1905 when US disavowed 1883 Treaty. I finally injected that I saw no parallel and that I was personally gratified to see determined stand being taken by many nations, mentioning specifically Australia, against any weakening to Communism. I stated that I assumed his Ambassador who attended the meetings in Washington reported to him on such matters and that if the spirit of collective security on which future of free world—including Korea—depended were to succeed every member of baseball team had to play together.
President Rhee reiterated that he had not ordered Gen Paik not to attend but he could not order him to agree to a division of country. He went on that to be able to go along with cease-fire proposals he wld have to be able to explain whole situation fully to state council and perhaps Korean people and he could not do this if he did not have definite assurance that subsequent political discussions wld not recognize any division of Korea. This is same basic point he made in his letter President Truman.
My impression is Rhee thoroughly enjoys situation this kind and sadistically delights in feeling he temporarily in driver’s seat and able to embarrass if not thwart UN proceedings. Hence, appeals to reason fall on deaf ears. Certainly he was far from chastened by our conversation this morning. In view this attitude and flagrant example bad faith exhibited in damaging publicity contained in Rhee-inspired UP story this morning, I suggest President Truman’s reply to Rhee’s ltr of July 28 might well be put in sterner language than otherwise contemplated. At least considerable emphasis should be placed on vital importance for free world to stand together. ROK’s dependence on collective security might again be pointed out together with fact this involves duties and responsibilities to work in harmony with free world as well as benefits. Koreans concern for their own unity is understood and remains UN objective but Koreans must not forget larger unity of free nations on which Korean survival as free nation depends and for which men of many nations dying every day.
Sent Dept priority 106, rptd info Tokyo priority 39.