Office of the Historian

795B.11/6–1854

The Secretary of State to the President of the Republic of Korea (Rhee)1

confidential
Washington, June 18, 1954.

My Dear President Rhee: I understand that our Delegations have withdrawn from the Geneva Conference on the ground that it has been demonstrated to be fruitless as regards the attainment of a unified, free and independent Korea.

I recall that our joint statement of August 7 [8], 1953,2 made when I had the pleasure of being with you in Seoul, provided that in the above contingency we would consult further.

I should be happy to have an exchange of views with your Government as to where and how such consultations should take place. If it meets your pleasure, I shall be glad to take up with President Eisenhower the question of extending an official invitation to you to come to Washington for the purpose.

With very kind wishes,

Sincerely yours,

John Foster Dulles
  1. This message, drafted by Dulles, was transmitted in telegram 1026 to Seoul, June 18. 1954, which was repeated to Tokyo as 2813 with instructions to pass it to CINCUNC.↩
  2. For text, see Department of State Bulletin, Aug. 17, 1953, pp. 203–204.↩