795.00/8–351: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Korea
priority
101. Unless you perceive overwhelming objection thereto, the Pres requests that you deliver fol letter to Pres Rhee:
“August 3, 1951
“My dear Mr. Pres:
I have recd your letter of July 28, 1951, re the present discussions concerning an armistice in Korea. I appreciate the frank expression of your views and desire to reply to you in that same spirit of mutual confidence that has thus far happily characterized the relations between our two countries.
It is in that spirit that I must also express to you my great concern over reports that I have recd to the effect that your Govt was giving consideration to withdrawing the Republic of Korea Army officer participating in the armistice discussions and has supported public demonstrations opposed to the discussions.
It might be well to review with you some facts in the present situation.
It is only by the collective action of the free world operating within the framework of the UN fighting side by side with your own forces that your gallant country has been saved from extinction by the treacherous Commie attack. The US has made a major contribution to this collective action in support of the great principle of collective security.
[Page 775]After more than one year of hostilities and thousands of casualties the United Nations forces, together with those of your country, have succeeded in repelling the Communist attack and have therefore achieved the basic purposes of the United Nations military action in Korea.
The peaceful character of our aims obliges us to attempt, as we are doing, to determine whether the aggressor is willing now to stop the fighting on conditions that would assure against renewal of the attack upon the Republic of Korea. As has been repeatedly pointed out, the present discussions are entirely military in character and the United Nations Command has not considered and will not consider or discuss any political or territorial questions in connection therewith.
General Ridgway is seeking to achieve an armistice on lines approximating the present battle front and only when such an armistice is agreed to is it contemplated that there will be any polit discussions. This course of action is consistent with my understanding of the suggestion contained in your letter, namely ‘That the contending armies remain just as they are, without agreeing to a dividing line, and that meanwhile the polit discussions shall begin.’
I can fully understand your concern over the division of Korea. As you know, since 1943 it has been the consistent policy of the US to seek a united, independent and democratic Korea. The US sponsored the adoption of the same policy by the UN in 1947 and I can categorically assure you that it is the intent of the US Govt to continue vigorously to support that policy. We shall continue to seek the achievement of this aspiration of the Korean people. However, the UN has never accepted the obligation to achieve that objective by force of arms which wld be contrary to the very purpose of the UN Charter. Such action might well plunge the world into a gen conflict which wld be a particular disaster for Korea.
Up to the present time, the United Nations action in Korea has been marked by an unparalleled unity of purpose among all of the countries participating, including your own. Now that representatives of the United Nations Command are engaged in these discussions the same unity must prevail if success is to be achieved. We can be sure that the enemy will exploit to his maximum advantage any indications of disunity or divided purpose that may appear with the result that the grievous sacrifices made by both of our countries may well have been made in vain.
I am sure that you must realize that there could only be the most serious consequences if the people of this country and the governments [Page 776] and peoples of other countries whose forces are fighting in Korea to defend the principles of collective security are given any valid basis for the belief that action by your Government is endangering the success of the common effort. In order to avoid this possibility it is of the utmost importance that your Government take no unilateral action which would jeopardize the armistice discussions.
To this end I would like to have your assurance that your Government will continue to preserve our unity of purpose in Korea and demonstrate its cooperation with the Unified Command by making it clear to your military representative that he should continue his participation in the Kaesong armistice negotiations and by refraining from acts which might otherwise jeopardize a successful conclusion to all our efforts.
The end which the Republic of Korea and the United Nations equally seek for Korea is a united, peaceful, prosperous future worthy of its gallant people, their sacrifices, and their great exertions. With unity and with confidence we must persevere to the achievement of our common purpose.
Very sincerely yours,
(Signed:) Harry S. Truman”
Signed original being transmitted air pouch.1
Repeat to: SCAP, Tokyo, priority 176 for USPolAd info: 00A.
- Ambassador Muccio reported to the Department in his telegram 125, August 6, that the text of the letter had been given to President Rhee at 5 p. m. on that day (795.00/8–651).↩