212. Editorial Note

At the 483d meeting of the National Security Council on May 5, 1961, with President Kennedy in attendance, the Council “agreed that a Task Force under the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs should be established to prepare and circulate a report on the subject [U.S. policy toward Korea] by May 15 for discussion by the Council on May 19.” The President approved this as National Security Action No. 2421 on May 16. (Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, NSC Meetings, No. 483) In his brief memorandum for the record of this meeting, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Arleigh Burke noted that the task force would include representatives of the Departments of Defense (tentatively William P. Bundy), the Treasury, and State, and the Central Intelligence Agency. Burke also noted that Under Secretary Bowles had planned to go to Korea, but would be replaced by “a Senator.” (Naval Historical Center, Burke Papers, Area Files, Bumpy Road)

Deputy Assistant Secretary Avery Peterson told Assistant Secretary of State Walter McConaughy that he had information from White House staffers that President Kennedy “was concerned with Korea in the sense that the situation might be one in which real trouble could arise and he wants to plan to head off that contingency.” Another concern reportedly expressed by the President was that the Korea Task Force study should be “focused on important problems and should propose action within known limitations.” (Memorandum from Peterson to McConaughy, May 9; Department of State, FE/EA Files: Lot 65 D 235, K6.8 Korea Task Force, Jan-June 1961)

No complete record of Task Force discussions has been found. The best source for documentation on the Task Force, including agenda, related papers, and draft minutes of some meetings, is ibid.