795.00/4–1854: Telegram
The Ambassador in Korea (Briggs) to the Department of State
niact
1023. Repeated information Tokyo 614. Tokyo for CINCUNC. Re Embtels 1021 and 1022.1 Text follows ROK Government statement re [Page 114] Geneva conference participation, for release 9 a.m., Korean time Monday morning April 19. Foreign Minister Pyun asks Department please pass Ambassador Yang.
Begin text.
“This Government finally has decided to accept the invitation of United States to attend Geneva conference. Some may wish to know why we have delayed acceptance so long. Our reasons are these: (1) We have been highly dubious about achieving any results at Geneva conference; (2) we have been apprehensive lest conference provide Communists with still more time to make preparations for war; and (3) there is risk that conference will be made known all over world as great success, thus making our situation infinitely more difficult of solution.
“While we were waiting during last several weeks, we made every effort obtain definite and positive assurances from United States. We are happy to say that assurances received now are very clear and encouraging, and that they will enable us to go to Geneva with confidence and considerable hope.
“Decision to attend has been made, however, because of desire to show our spirit of cooperation with our great friend and ally, United States. We hope sincerely that should the conference fail, America will have come to realize—finally and conclusively—that further negotiation with Communists would be both futile and perilous.
“For Korea, this conference must represent final time-consuming attempt to attain unification by peaceful means. We obviously cannot continue to sit idly by while Communists exterminate or exile our people of North and make Red Chinese province out of half our country. We hope, therefore, that if and when Geneva conference has failed, United States and our other friends in free world will join with us in employing other means to drive the enemy from our land.
“We shall do our level best to cooperate with United States in seeking peaceful unification. But it is only fair to declare that we can accept no compromise. It must be unification under full democratic auspices, and it must include complete withdrawal from our soil of all Chinese Communist forces.
“The Republic of Korea will be present at Geneva as wholly sovereign nation, and as such it must reserve, at all times, right and duty of following and protecting its own interests. We trust that United States and other countries on our side will do no less, and that Communists thereby will be prevented from making gains and from dividing us among ourselves.
[Page 115]“If reasonable period of time has passed without conference results, we know United States will consult with us, as it has promised to do, on abandonment of discussion as way to peace with Communism and Communists. Once our friends have come to realize great improbability of expecting negotiated settlement, there may be hope for achievement of peace in Korea and elsewhere in world.
“It is in this spirit, and in expression of our friendship for United States, that we shall attend Geneva conference.”
[End text.]
Foregoing will be issued in name of President Rhee.
- Telegram 1022, Apr. 18, supra; telegram 1021 not printed, but see footnote 1, supra.↩