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

795B.00/12–2854

Memorandum by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Secretary of Defense (Wilson)¹

top secret

Washington, December 7, 1954.

Subject:

• Changes to Operation Plan which Implements NSC 170/1.²

1. In a letter to the Joint Chiefs of Staff dated 14 October 1954 the Commander in Chief, Far East Command, (CINCFE) stated that he was forwarding revised plans in support of NSC 170/1 (U.S. Objectives and Courses of Action in Korea). These plans have been concurred in by Ambassador Briggs and Admiral Overesch and cover the period during and after the redeployment of United Nations Command (UNC) forces. CINCFE states that they will remain workable so long as two or more U.S. divisions remain in Korea, and that they emphasize the security and non-involvement features of the NSC 170/1 mission instead of emphasizing measures intending to block possible Republic of Korea (ROK) action. CINCFE further states in effect that as the size of U.S. forces decreases in Korea our chances are proportionately reduced for retaining loyal and enthusiastic support of the ROK military forces in any undertaking involving resort to martial law to enable new South Korean leadership to assume power in the event that President Rhee initiates or is about to initiate unilateral action.

2. CINCFE recommends that in order to provide realistic guidance to the residual forces in Korea that subparagraph d, Annex A to NSC 170/1 concerning the UNC establishment of new leadership by resort to UNC military force be revised as follows:

“To develop the basis for select and encourage covertly the development of new South Korean leadership prepared to cooperate in maintaining the armistice, and if Rhee initiates or is about to initiate unilateral action, to enable assist such new leadership to assume power by UNC resort to martial law if necessary. means not involving overt U.S. participation until and unless U.S. overt support is necessary and promises to be decisive in firmly establishing such new leadership.”

3. The Joint Chiefs of Staff concur in the foregoing and recommend that subparagraph d, Annex A to NSC 170/1 be modified accordingly.

For the Joint Chiefs of Staff:

Arthur Radford

Chairman
Joint Chiefs of Staff

1. This memorandum, which received the concurrence of the Department of Defense, was sent by Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs H. Struve Hensel to Dulles on Dec. 28 with a request for Department of State concurrence or comment in order that it might be brought to the attention of the National Security Council. Because of the sensitivity of the subject, the normal method of transmitting suggested changes to NSC policy documents was not being utilized. Hensel suggested that this paper be handled strictly on a need-to-know basis and noted that a copy had been furnished to the CIA.
2. Dated Nov. 20, 1953, p. 1620.