396.1 GE/5–1254

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Adviser to the United States Delegation ( Young )

confidential

Participants:

  • Dr. Pyun, ROK Delegation
  • Ambassador Yang, ROK Delegation
  • Ambassador Limb, ROK Delegation
  • Mr. Hong, ROK Delegation
  • Mr. Walter S. Robertson, US Delegation
  • Mr. Kenneth T. Young, Jr., US Delegation

After congratulating Dr. Pyun for his speech in the Plenary, May 11, Mr. Robertson said he wished to inform the ROK Delegation that it would be advisable to hold a meeting of the 16 on Thursday morning. Among other reasons, Mr. Eden had to return to London over the weekend and hoped there could be such a meeting before his departure.

Dr. Pyun indicated no objection and asked whether we intended to table our draft proposal with the 16. Mr. Robertson replied that we would not, since the United States and the Republic of Korea are not in agreement.

Mr. Robertson pointed out that Dr. Pyun should be prepared for questions from other delegations as to whether the ROK is ready with a counter proposal. Mr. Robertson suggested that Dr. Pyun make the following two general points, in view of the lack as yet of USROK agreement on Plan B:

(1)
Eeiterate, from his speech of May 11, that the issue is whether the north Koreans will agree to free and fair elections under supervision of the United Nations.
(2)
Take the position that, until the Communists concede on the fundamental issue, our side should not make concessions on a detailed proposal which would be based upon UN supervision.

Mr. Robertson assured Dr. Pyun that the United States Delegation would take this same position in the meeting of the 16. The ROK Delegates expressed particular satisfaction and complete agreement with this approach. They said they would meet with certain other delegates today to develop the above position.

During the course of the discussion, Dr. Pyun proposed to make to the 16 tomorrow the six-point proposal which he had intended to present to the plenary on May 3 but had deleted at our urgent suggestion. He also said he might mention President Rhee’s willingness to [Page 257] hold a plebiscite in the south to determine whether the people would agree to nation-wide elections in the south as well as the north. Mr. Robertson strongly urged Dr. Pyun not to mention either idea because it would create great confusion and underscore the lack of agreement among the 16. Moreover, it would be completely impractical for the Conference to wait indefinitely for a plebiscite to decide whether there should be elections. Ambassadors Yang and Limb concurred. Dr. Pyun agreed not to mention these matters in view of his complete endorsement of the above approach.

Ambassador Yang informed Mr. Young privately after the meeting that the ROK Delegation had received a telegram from President Rhee insisting on complete withdrawal of all Chinese forces and, in effect, not accepting Plan B. Because of this message and continued lack of US-ROK agreement on a proposal, Ambassador Yang said the ROK Delegation would adhere to the general approach outlined above as the only possible tactic under present circumstances.

  1. The memorandum was drafted by Young on May 14.