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

795A.00/10–953: Telegram

The Ambassador in Japan (Allison) to the Department of State

secret
eyes only

Tokyo, October 9, 1953—6 p.m.

918. Repeated information Seoul 59.

1. … has received instructions to persuade North Korean who defected with MIG publicly to refuse $100,000 on grounds acceptance this reward not consistent with his defection which was purely ideological. Some part of reward would be given him secretly, but public would be given impression pilot was being taken care of through well-paying job, paid education, etc.

2. While I would not have approved offer of reward in first instance, I feel any attempt to go back on reward at this time could only be regarded at home and abroad as welching on US commitment. Further, I do not feel pilot would be able maintain consistent story that refusal was completely voluntary in view acute press interest in this project. Any disclosures of US attempts to persuade pilot to refuse reward would look like cheeseparing, and any disclosure secret, emphasize secret, payment of part of reward would make us look ridiculous. I cannot understand what purpose would be served commensurate with risks involved.

3. I feel reward should now be paid with minimum fanfare. Canceling reward offer for duration of truce, which generally interpreted locally as resulting from presidential initiative, has helped give once again ideological tenor to US policy of encouraging defections from Communist camp rather than mercenary tenor.

4. … and FEC sending cables reflecting in general terms concurrence this recommendation.¹

Allison

1. In telegram 314 from Seoul, Oct. 10, 1953, not printed, Briggs also concurred with Allison’s recommendation. (795A.00/10–1053)