Office of the Historian

Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation, lot 64 D 199

United States Summary Minutes of the Second Meeting of United States Republic of Korea Talks, July 28, 1954, 10 a.m.1

secret
Washington, August 2, 1954.

Participants

  • United States
  • The Secretary of State
  • Ambassador Briggs
  • Mr. Drumright
  • Mr. Young
  • Mr. McClurkin
  • The Secretary of Defense
  • Admiral Radford
  • General Hall
  • Vice Admiral Davis
  • General Rogers
  • Mr. Sullivan
  • Mr. Stassen
  • Mr. Wood
  • Republic of Korea
  • President Rhee
  • Ambassador Yang
  • Ambassador Limb
  • Admiral Sohn Won-il
  • Paek Tu-chin
  • Dr. Choe Sun-chu
  • General Chong Il-kwon
  • General Kim Chong-yol
  • General Choe Tok-shin

1. Report of Military Subcommittee

Secretary Dulles asked Secretary Wilson for a report of the previous day’s meeting of the Military Subcommittee.

[Page 1848]

Secretary Wilson replied that the Subcommittee had discussed the program for the next year and in some areas, two years. The following items were discussed in the Subcommittee:

(a)
A stepped-up training program doubling the present rate to a figure of 20,000 a month. This rate is greater than the rate of young men becoming available and can be kept up for only about two years when it will have to drop to 10,000 a month.
(b)
Building up reserve units.
(c)
A personnel ceiling of 655,000 for the ground forces and about 715,000 for all arms of the ROK forces.
(d)
Making sure the men in the army are well trained and well fed. The United States recognizes some additional assistance in that area may be necessary. We also noted the importance of stopping the inflation in Korea.
(e)
A small arms and ammunition plant. The United States agreed to study this question further.
(f)
An increase in vessels for the ROK navy.
(g)
Modernization of the air force and the training of pilots and technicians for that force.

President Rhee gave general endorsement to what the Secretary of Defense had said. The specific details would depend upon the recommendation of the United States and ROK military advisers. A program to develop the ROK defense forces will be to the advantage of both the Koreans and the United States. As Secretary Wilson suggested, further economic assistance will be necessary to help Korea bear the financial burden of these forces.

2. Area North of the 38th Parallel

President Rhee and Admiral Sohn commented on the desirability of turning over to the ROK the territory between the 38th parallel and the military demarcation line in order that farming in that area can be expanded and mines can be reopened.

Mr. Drumright said that the United States is prepared to turn administrative control of this area over to the ROK. We have consulted with UNCURK.

Secretary Dulles said that he believes the UN Command as a practical matter has the authority to go ahead and take the action, and the United States Government will therefore authorize CINCUNC to effect the turnover.

  1. These summary minutes were drafted by McClurkin who indicated that they were approved by Dulles. The meeting took place at the Department of State.↩