396.1 GE/5–1054: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the United States Delegation 1
priority
Tosec 124. With reference Secretary’s telegram re Korea this date to Under Secretary2 suggest your consideration following modifications Plan B:
- Section I. Eliminate phrase “and withdrawal of all north Korean forces from Korea”.
- Section IV. Eliminate.
- Section VIIB. Eliminate.
- Section VIII. Following word “provisions” add phrase “and for withdrawal and disposition of non-Korean and Korean military forces”.
Believe this might be more acceptable Rhee since it will put basic issue of free elections up to Communists thus gaining propaganda objectives without incurring risks Rhee fears. In doubtful event Communists accept principle free elections troop issue of course would then be dealt with in drafting agreement this subject.
Possible but less desirable alternative would be new paragraph under II indicating appropriate arrangement for withdrawal and disposition non-Korean and Korean military forces would have to be made subsequent reaching agreement general plan in order ensure elections genuinely free and without coercion.
Defense clearance being sought.3
- Repeated for information to Seoul as telegram 909 and to Tokyo as telegram 2485 with instructions to pass it to CINCUNC.↩
- Supra .↩
- Telegram Tosec 141, May 12, to Geneva, also sent to Seoul as telegram 917, stated that the JCS indicated no objection from the military viewpoint to the proposed modification of Plan B with regard to troop withdrawal (795.00/5–1254).↩