396.1–GE/4–754: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Korea
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796. For President Rhee from Dulles.
“My dear President Rhee: As the date for the Geneva Conference approaches, I still await word as to whether or not your Government accepts our invitation to attend. Since the location, composition and subject matter of the Conference are as we had agreed between us, and since it is our continuing purpose if you attend to look upon your Government as our principal associate, I naturally hope that you will be represented. I quite recognize the unlikelihood of a result which would satisfy our two Governments. On the other hand, it would I think be a great mistake if your Government, by its absence, gave the impression that you were responsible for the failure to bring about peacefully the unification of Korea and its freedom from foreign forces as is the purpose of the Conference.
Since the situation with reference to Communist China is becoming more tense, and since I am trying to organize a strong anti-Communist front in relation to Indochina, I believe you would find it to your advantage to be at Geneva. I believe that your Government’s voice there would contribute to preventing the Chinese Communists from gaining any political advantage and would help us in our efforts to expose Communist China as the danger that we believe it is. I had hoped that we could be united in this political effort as we were united when our forces came to Korea. Our unity will not, however, achieve maximum effectiveness unless our representatives can talk together in advance and do some planning.
It is now over six weeks since you received our invitation and I [Page 78] believe that we are at least entitled to the courtesy of a reply so that we will know how to make our plans.
With warm regards to you and Madame Rhee.
Sincerely yours,
Signed John Foster Dulles.”
Inform Department when delivered.