128. Letter From the Secretary of State to the President1
Dear Mr. President: My visit to Korea was marked by placidity on the part of Syngman Rhee, and a popular welcome generally estimated to be more widely participated in with more genuine enthusiasm than any of the many which have taken place there. All the length of the six miles from the airport to the residence was lined with people, often five or six deep, waving flags and cheering. On my return to the airport this morning in a cold rain, there were still large numbers the length of the route.
I realize that these things are largely synthetic, but having been similarly received now three times, I feel that I am somewhat expert in appraisal.
Rhee showed evidence of having greatly aged. He said he did not want to talk about business because he knew that we would then quarrel and he wanted the atmosphere to be one of friendship. I tried to give him some of the impressions of my trip, but he showed little interest, and he did not follow what I was saying.
I talked briefly with the Foreign Affairs, Finance and Defense Secretaries, who presented requests for additional military and economic aid. I gave them a brief talk on the mission of local defense in relation to strategic striking power and also a picture of the multiple demands made upon us from many quarters and the need for maintaining the soundness of our own economy. I hope that this may help to cushion future disappointments.
On the whole relations seem calmer than they have been for the past three years. I am particularly struck with the fact that nothing was said to me about the elimination of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission although Rhee’s “deadline” for its elimination [Page 237] was March 17, the date of my arrival. I do not, however, mean by this to imply that this is a dead issue.