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

795.00/6–2854: Telegram

The Ambassador in Korea (Briggs) to the Department of State

top secret

Seoul, June 28, 1954—midnight.

1398. Repeated information Tokyo 831, Taipei 117, Saigon 45. Tokyo pass CINCUNC.

Announcement last December of withdrawal US Forces¹ was not well received by President Rhee because he regarded it as unrelated to broad pattern of US-ROK relations and US–Asian policy, and being imperfectly understood it increased Rhee’s apprehension over abandonment. If new redeployment plan is discussed well in advance and explained in terms of our broader objective there is some hope we can obtain Rhee’s understanding and cooperation whereas announcement of plan without proper preparation could be misinterpreted as sign of US weakness and evidence lack of intention support ROK in future.

Later this week I hope to discuss matter with Generals Hull and Taylor. Pending that conversation my interim view is that it is essential consider redeployment in context entire US-ROK relationship. In particular decision should be related to whatever conclusion we reach regarding size ROK Forces (Embtels 1358 and 1383²).

Briggs

1. Reference was to the statement of Dec. 26; see footnote 1 p. 1679.
2. Dated June 18 and June 23, pp. 1808 and 1813, respectively.