Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Japan; Korea, Volume XVIII

248. Telegram From the Commander in Chief, United Nations Command (Decker) to the Department of State⁰

Seoul, November 19, 1958, 6:20 p.m.

UK 978587. Joint Ambassador/CINCUNC message.

1. Reference: DEF 950561 Nov 58(Secret).¹

2. The following is the exact text as developed from reference which has been submitted to President Rhee this date, and which he has approved for signature. The Ambassador is sending a request for authority to sign this agreement through State Department channels.² It is urged that you expedite approval of this text for signature at earliest opportunity.

“PROPOSED REVISION 1958 TO APPENDIX B TO AGREED MINUTE OF 1954 AMENDED BY OSD.

“Republic of Korea force level and United States support thereof:

“1. The United States will assist in supporting the following maximum number of ROK military personnel through calendar year 1959. The types, amounts, and timing of United States assistance to be provided in support of the force levels stated in this Appendix, and any subsequent mutually agreed revisions thereto, will be determined in accordance with applicable United States legislation, policies, and procedures for programming such assistance, and subject to availability of funds.

Army	565,000
Navy	16,600
Air Force	22,400
Marine Corp	26,000
630,000

• “A. If the Korean Government desires to make minor shifts in number as between the four services after consultation with CINCUNC, the United States will agree to such adjustments as long as the maximum of 630,000 is not exceeded. It is understood that the 630,000 total included all military members of organizations approved and recognized by the United States in the active military establishment of the Republic of Korea, including all full time military personnel serving with the Ministry of National Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Reserve components, and Korean Service Corps: Korean Augmentation Troops with the United States (KATUSA) and Commonwealth contingent (KATCOM) personnel, all reservists while on active duty training (the number of personnel in this category will be computed on a man-year basis); all personnel in training camps and service schools and all other military personnel.
• “B. The Republic of Korea will agree to provide the United States armed forces with that number of suitable personnel requested by CINCUNC for the maintenance of the Korean Service Corps at a strength not to exceed 8,000. It is specifically understood that military members only of the Korean Service Corps are part of the allocated 630,000 ROK military personnel and that these military members of the Korean Service Corps will not exceed 23 in number.
• “C. The strength, organization and composition of each Republic of Korea military service and the Ministry of National Defense, including civilian personnel, shall be jointly reviewed by the Ministry of National Defense and CINCUNC, or his designated representative, and the composition of all Republic of Korea forces shall be established and maintained in accordance with service component tables of organization allowance and equipment which are acceptable to CINCUNC. The Republic of Korea, in consultation with CINCUNC or his designated representative, will develop plans for the eventual establishment of a regular army, navy, marine corps and air force.

“2. The Republic of Korea Army will organize and maintain a balanced fighting force not to exceed 18 active and 10 reserve divisions. These divisions will be organized as mutually agreed by Ministry of National Defense and CINCUNC. The 10 reserve divisions will become capable of attaining combat readiness by M plus 60. The Republic of Korea Army will develop adequate combat capabilities and combat and logistic support units to meet wartime requirements.

“3. The Republic of Korea Navy will continue to build up toward mutually agreed force objectives and required logistical support units.

“4. The Republic of Korea Air Force will continue to build up toward mutually agreed force objectives and required support units.

“5. The Republic of Korea will continue to maintain one active Marine Corps division and mutually agreed required logistical support units.

“6. The Republic of Korea, with U.S. assistance, will continue development of the reserve components within its military establishment, to include development of plans and programs by the organization and training of reserve units and the training of individual specialists in the reserve. Programs for the training of unit and reinforcement reservists will continue to be developed and further improved in order to insure that reservists undergo efficient training and maintain an effective state of readiness for combat.

“7. In the interest of efficiency and economy of manpower and resources, functions which are common to more than one military service will continue to be operated under a consolidated type of organization which will provide logistic support for common items and services for all ROK military forces. Such operations will be performed in accordance with policies approved by the ROK Minister of National Defense and CINCUNC.

“8. The Republic of Korea military budget will be jointly reviewed and analyzed by the Republic of Korea and CINCUNC in order to assure that the military program will produce the most effective forces at minimum cost. The Ministry of National Defense budget will include all ROK requirements which are or can be produced by the ROK economy without adversely affecting essential civilian supply.

“9. The Minister of National Defense, in consultation with CINCUNC or his designated representative, will take action as necessary to re-examine the ROK military force structure, military pay, food and monetary allowances, and propose legislation for necessary revisions consistent with the maintenance of financial and economic stability.

“10. The Republic of Korea will cooperate with CINCUNC by implementing recommendations designed to increase the effectiveness of the Republic of Korea armed forces and to effect the economies therein. No Republic of Korea force asset shall be expended for any project which is not clearly and directly a military requirement unless specific concurrence for such diversion shall have been granted by CINCUNC.”³

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 795B.5–MSP/11–1958. Secret; Priority. Also sent to OASD/ISA and repeated to CINCPAC and the Embassy in Seoul.
1. Document 244.
2. In telegram 221 from Seoul, November 19, Ambassador Dowling urgently requested authorization to sign the revised agreement.
3. Ambassador Dowling was authorized, in telegram 203 to Seoul, November 25, to sign the revised Appendix B, as conveyed in UK 978587, on behalf of the U.S. Government. (Department of State, Central Files, 795.00/11–1958) See Supplement. The agreement was signed in Seoul on November 29 by Dowling and Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung W. Cho. A copy of the signed agreement was transmitted to the Department in despatch 297 from Seoul, December 1. (Department of State, Central Files, 795B.5–MSP/12–158) See Supplement.