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

274. Memorandum of Discussion at the 406th Meeting of the National Security Council⁰

Washington, May 13, 1959.

[Here follow a paragraph listing the participants at the meeting and agenda items 1–3.]

4. U.S. Policy Toward Korea (NSC 5817; OCB Report, dated April 29, 1959, on NSC 5817)¹

Mr. Harr presented the reference OCB Report to the Council. He said that the Operations Coordinating Board recommended a review of U.S. Policy toward Korea primarily because two paragraphs (9 and 10) of NSC 5817 are self-expiring, i.e. by their own terms do not extend beyond June 30, 1959. These paragraphs (as well as par. 2–d) relate to the level of U.S. forces in Korea and the level of ROK armed forces. Moreover, during the ten months covered by the OCB Report, activity of the most strenuous kind was required in order to advance U.S. objectives. Withdrawals of Communist forces from North Korea had not lessened the threat to the ROK.

Mr. Harr then mentioned various “problem areas” in Korea: The internal political situation had been complicated by a resurgence of undemocratic tactics. The economic situation had been marked by a decline in exports, by inflationary tendencies, and by Development Loan Fund activity. Congress had been requested to provide additional technical assistance funds for Korea. Relations between Korea and other Free World countries, with the exception of Japan, were good. However, the military capabilities of the ROK forces were at a somewhat lower level than the policy prescribes (see par. 6 of the OCB Report). Mr. Harr then referred briefly to cost studies of alternative levels of ROK forces now under way, to the revised US–ROK military aid agreement of November 1958,² to the delivery to Korea of a second wing of jet aircraft, and to the need for improvement in the counter-subversive activities of the ROK police.

Mr. Gray expressed the feeling that the Planning Board should address itself immediately to the problem of the expiring paragraphs in the Korea policy, without awaiting the full-dress review of Far East policy which it would be undertaking a little later.

Secretary Dillon requested that the Planning Board in the course of its review consider paragraph 24 of the existing policy, which provides for actions to be taken if ROK forces should renew hostilities unilaterally. The present paragraph 24 omits any consideration of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Korea. Secretary Dillon accordingly thought it would be desirable to restudy the paragraph with a view to the possible inclusion of a definite provision for protecting ROK territorial integrity, even if ROK forces renew hostilities unilaterally.

The National Security Council:³

a. Noted and discussed the reference Report on the subject by the Operations Coordinating Board.

b. Noted that the NSC Planning Board would review NSC 5817 and make policy recommendations prior to July 1, 1959, with particular attention to paragraphs 2–d, 9, 10 and 24.

[Here follows agenda item 5.]

Marion W. Boggs

0. Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records. Top Secret. Prepared by Boggs
1. See footnotes 1 and 2, Document 275.
2. See Document 248.
3. Paragraphs a and b constitute NSC Action No. 2083, approved by the President on May 18. (Department of State, S/S–NSC (Miscellaneous) Files: Lot 66 D 95, Records of Action by the National Security Council)