Office of the Historian

253. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Korea0

Washington, December 6, 1958, 3:51 p.m.

218. For Dowling. Embtel 241.1 Assistant Secretary Robertson called in Ambassador Yang today2 and expressed concern US Government in strongest terms on impact on Korean international position of proposed amendment National Security Law particularly Paragraph 5 Article 17 cited reftel. He emphasized passage law as proposed would cost ROK dearly in international support, tarnish its international standing and subject ROK criticism by its friends. Said this would play into hands Communists who will exploit situation and that ROK could not afford to take such action. Stressed this particularly unfortunate when Korean UN membership application expected to be considered by Security Council near future. Said Paragraph 5 Article 17 would be interpreted by press in US and elsewhere as attempt strangle free press and muzzle opposition and would lead charge ROK dictatorship. Speaking as friend ROK, Mr. Robertson earnestly urged ROK not seek deal with problem this way. Said cure for distortion of news by press is not in suppression of press. Suggested strengthening ROK libel and obscenity laws to prevent false attacks on political leaders as well as pornographic publications. Mr. Robertson said he would be recommending that Ambassador Dowling make strongest representations ROK Government this matter and requested Yang inform his Government our views. Ambassador Yang emphasized necessity tightening ROK laws as regards infiltration and espionage; however, ROK had no wish create any such [Page 515] impression as that indicated by Mr. Robertson. He said he would communicate views expressed by Mr. Robertson his Government at once adding he had written yesterday to President Rhee in this regard as result earlier conversation with Mr. Robertson this subject.

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 795B.34/12–658. Confidential. Drafted by Bane and approved by Parsons and Robertson.↩
  2. Document 252.↩
  3. A memorandum of this conversation, drafted on December 5 by Bane, is in Department of State, Central Files, 795B.5/12–558; see Supplement.↩