795.00/5–2553: Telegram
The Ambassador in Korea (Briggs) to the Department of State
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252255Z. (Army message) Repeated information Pusan, CINCUNC exclusive for General Clark from Ambassador Briggs.
Following President Rhee’s dinner last night (at which no business discussed) acting Prime Minister Pyun returned to house with me and for half-hour recapitulated Korean objections to UN armistice proposals. He described them as “new Asiatic Munich, except that Korea is not Czechoslovakia” and declared Korea will never accept them.
Provisions to which Rhee and Pyun take greatest exception are those having to do with Korean anti-Communist prisoners, including initial 60-day period while custodial commission is being organized, followed by 90 days of access by “Communist persuaders”, followed by 30 days in custody of political conference, followed by indeterminate period in hands UNGA. Pyun declared this prospect when prisoners informed thereof would be so discouraging to them as to constitute powerful incentive for “large numbers loyal Koreans” to switch in order avoid more than half year additional imprisonment during at least three months of which they would be exposed to professional Communist intimidators and brain washers. He termed “proposal so bad it is really disguised forced repatriation”. Pyun also resentful over what he described as “another fait accompli”; he in effect accused American Government of deliberately delaying informing President Rhee of latest proposals “until almost exact moment they were being made in Panmunjom”.
Korea, concluded Pyun, is now like man faced with choice of two deaths. One is slow death of strangulation and starvation based on new armistice proposal and interminable political conference which will leave Korea “just like Austria” and the other, he said, may be of our own choosing, but quicker and more honorable.
It is evident from foregoing together with session with President Rhee yesterday morning that no US proposals of nature set forth in Deptel 7231 could possibly have prospered in conjunction with new armistice proposals. In fact, Rhee was so upset by latter that it may be doubted whether he took in full scope of related suggestions. In this [Page 1103] connection Pyun again asked last evening for written statement summarizing US position.
Granted that Pyun’s exposition of Korean point of view was purposely set forth in extreme terms, it is, nevertheless, my impression from that conversation as well as discussion with President Rhee yesterday morning that:
- 1.
- Korea between now and June 1 may publicly denounce US/UN armistice proposals, declaring ROK will not be bound by them, and may offer alternate solution based on simultaneous withdrawal Chinese Communists and UN forces “leaving Koreans to settle Korean problems”.
- 2.
- With reference North Korean POWs, I believe there is real danger of Rhee’s taking some unilateral action with reference non-repatriate prisoners. During last night’s conversation, Pyun came close to hinting some such action under consideration.