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

Eisenhower Library, Dulles papers, Korean file, box 54

Memorandum of Telephone Conversations, Prepared in the Secretary of State’s Office¹

[Washington,] October 9, 1953—10:55 a.m.

[Subject:]

• Telephone Conversations re MIG Pilot

[Participants:]

• Secretary Wilson
• Frank Wisner

Secretary Wilson called the Secretary and said he thought we would be in trouble if we did not pay it ($100,000)[;] they are getting a statement saying he did this for ideological reasons, but we still should say that our offer is good. The Secretary mentioned that the President had become excited about this. Wilson is seeing Ridgway and Stevens about it. The Secretary reminded him that the President had hoped it would be paid in some kind of a trust so that it would not be blown on “wine, women and song”. Wilson then read from a cable he has, along the following general line “in accordance with instructions this agency is attempting to persuade him to say he defected for ideological reasons and is not interested in the $100,000. They will advise him that in lieu of it he will receive scientific education in the U.S. and have sufficient funds to insure his support. At the end of that period this would be given to him (any balance). They plan to take him to Okinawa and to visit Rhee. The press has displayed continued interest in the payment of the reward. Washington has announced publicly that it will be paid. Certain magazines have requested that he be allowed to give them his exclusive story. Once secrecy is removed it will not be practical or desirable to keep him from the press. If he is to be employed at Okinawa he will be free for the press to contact. They might point out that his mother is a poor refugee, or that he could turn the money over to charity in Korea, or to an anti-communist fund. It must be paid on a basis that can [“]stand inspection by the press”…²

The Secretary agreed that we must give him the money in some form. That was also the President’s idea—Secretary Wilson said they would make some kind of a thing that can be completely disclosed to the press.

The Secretary telephoned his brother, who was in New York, and then spoke to Frank Wisner.

He told him of his call from Charles Wilson, who said pressure to give $100,000 to MIG pilot was so great that he did not believe that they could stand up under it. The Secretary said he had told Wilson he did not regard it as a major affair but the President [did?]—they did get him to declare he did it for ideological reasons and not for the money—and would give him the money. He suggested that Wisner keep in touch with Defense because they are going to do something in the next day or two. The President had very strong views about it, and the Secretary said he was surprised that they would act without checking back with him, but that was their affair. We do not feel strongly but it would be nice to make clear that he did not come for money and it would not be desirable to give $100,000 to spend foolishly.

Wisner said they were working on a plan for his education, etc., the Secretary advised him to get busy with Defense on it.³

1. This memorandum was prepared by Dulles’ private secretary, Burnita O’Day.
2. Ellipsis in source text.
3. In telegram DA 949950, Oct. 9, 1953, the new Chief of Staff of the Army, General Ridgway, instructed the new Commander in Chief in the Far East, General Hull, to work out an arrangement for a series of payments to the pilot, some in kind as for tuition, and suggested he obtain a statement by the North Korean that his defection was voluntary and for ideological reasons unconnected with the monetary reward. (795A.00/10–953)