Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Korea, Volume XXIII, Part 2

191. Memorandum From the Director of the Office of Northeast Asian Affairs (Parsons) to the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Sebald)¹

Washington, December 18, 1956.

SUBJECT

• Introduction of [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] into Korea

During an NSC Board Assistants meeting this afternoon, the Defense representative, Colonel Sockton, stated that the President had just approved a Defense recommendation calling for the reduction of the present United States ground forces from 19 to 17 divisions, with the modernization of these 17 divisions to include [less than 1 line of source text not declassified]. The two divisions presently stationed in south Korea would come within this overall program. Mr. Nes, who attended the meeting, states that with respect to Korea this decision would result in the introduction of the Honest John, the 280 mm. gun, the Corporal and the Redstone. You may wish to mention this at the Secretary’s staff meeting.²

We have so far not been able to obtain L clearance on our letter³ from the Secretary to Secretary Wilson on Paragraph 13(d). L has no problem with the letter; it is just a matter of time, since so many people are required to clear it.

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 795.00/12–1856. Top Secret. Drafted by Nes and Parsons.
2. There is no indication in the notes taken at the Secretary’s Staff Meetings through the end of December that the matter was raised in the meetings.
3. Not found in Department of State files.