Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Korea, Volume XV, Part 2

695A.0024/10–753: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in India¹

secret

Washington, October 7, 1953—7:17 p.m.

384. Indian Ambassador this afternoon left with Robertson Aide-Mémoire² expressing grave concern at recent developments in Korea affecting discharge of GOI responsibilities under armistice agreement. Summary follows.

In regard to “threats which have been held out on behalf of the South Korean Government” GOI would be glad have an assurance “that adequate steps are being taken by UNC to prevent infiltration and to give full protection to the camps and to the Commission’s headquarters, so as to enable NNRC to discharge its responsibility”.

GOI urges US Government use its influence with Government South Korea to insure that its threats and other anti-Indian activities taking place in South Korea are “discontinued immediately”.

Aide-mémoire also apparently seeks to justify NNRC message to prisoners and NNRC rules governing explanations.³

Robertson informed Ambassador of deep regret US Government over developments and of strong representations already made to ROK even prior to request in Aide-Mémoire. Also expressed appreciation for Indian willingness undertake and continue these responsibilities, and reasonableness in requesting assurances of protection which UNC had already given India prior to its assumption its duties. Repeated US objections to letter and rules.

Dulles

1. This telegram, drafted and cleared by Young, was repeated to Seoul as telegram 227 and Tokyo as telegram 835.
2. A text of this aide-mémoire was attached to a memorandum of conversation by Robertson, Oct. 7, 1953, not printed, reporting on his conversation with Mehta occasioned by the delivery of the aide-mémoire. (695A.0024/10–753)
3. It was Robertson’s contention, in his discussion with Mehta, that the letter which the Commission prepared for the nonrepatriate prisoners and the rules promulgated by the Commission for explanations were slanted in favor of encouraging prisoners to return to Communist control; memorandum of conversation by Robertson, Oct. 7, 1953, not printed. (695A.0024/10–753)