795.00/8–1053
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
[Subject:
- Secretary Dulles’trip to the Far East]
Ambassador Lodge, Mr. Robertson and I met with the President for about an hour, from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. We showed both the communiqué signed by Syngman Rhee and the Draft Security Treaty initialed by Foreign Minister Pyun and myself.
I pointed out that the Draft Security Treaty conformed in every essential respect with the Draft which had been exhibited to and discussed with the Senate leaders and that we had successfully resisted the efforts which President Rhee had made to incorporate features which might be objectionable and enlarge US responsibility.
The President said he had a little concern about the initialing of the Treaty in the absence of the Senators but as long as the Draft conformed to what they had previously seen he thought it was OK.
We went over the Joint Communiqué, explaining briefly the essential features. The President expressed particular gratification at the last paragraph whereby it was asserted on authority of President Rhee and myself that there were no secret understandings. The President suggested that this point should be emphasized to the press.
The President asked as to the attitude of General Taylor toward use of the Armed Forces for at least technical work of reconstruction. I said that this had not been specifically discussed, but that General Taylor, in his briefing, had emphasized that the Army would be engaged for several months in reconstructing defense positions to replace those which had been abandoned by the two kilometer withdrawal under the armistice agreement. The President re-emphasized his conviction that the Army could make a large contribution to “winning the peace.”
There was some discussion of the future American to head the UNC in view of General Clark’s prospective retirement. The President requested me, as promptly as possible, to ascertain through Secretary Wilson whether General Taylor felt that the UNC could operate from Korea as against Japan. The President also stated that he had told the Defense Department to clear with me the question of any successor.
I reported on the unsatisfactory condition in Japan as regards their own security efforts and their economic extravagance in terms of imports. I said that I very strongly emphasized this in the same talk with Prime Minister Yoshida when I had advised him of the prospective return of the Amami Island group.
[Page 1492]The President expressed very strongly the view that we should encourage a liberalization of trade between Japan and China in terms of non-strategic goods. He felt that trade could be a weapon on our side and that such trade was indispensable to the livelihood of Japan.
There then ensued a discussion of general character with reference to US trade policies.
The President expressed his satisfaction at the results which had been obtained.
Ambassador Lodge brought up the question of the set-up from our side of the proposed political conference and outlined his plans for holding the membership to those who had combat forces in Korea. He pointed out that this would exclude India, which has deliberately played the role of neutral, notably as chairman of the neutral commission. He pointed out that this position to exclude India would, from the standpoint of overall relations, be offset by our support of Mrs. Pandit for President of the Assembly. The President expressed his concurrence in this approach.