Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XXII, Northeast Asia

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

Washington, May 24, 1961, 9:13 p.m.

1377. For Green.

1. We strongly concur with approach you have taken in your talks with General Chang Do Young and Foreign Minister Kim Hong-il. We are also in substantial accord with your analysis and policy suggestions contained your 1579¹ and 1640.² The sound judgment and sense of balance and proportion you have shown are heartily commended.

2. Department not particularly inclined to issue further circumstantial policy and operating directives at this time unless you feel the need of such additional detailed guidance. Such guidance would almost inevitably have effect of cementing close relations with new regime and thereby increasing their confidence that they can count on full US support, at a time when various disturbing actions taken by them indicate that they should be kept under some indirect pressure from us and in some suspense as to our future course. Possibility that General Chang may pursue application to come to US for consultations is a further reason for refraining from more detailed negotiations at this moment. We are also influenced by adverse results General Magruder’s May 23 meeting with General Pak Chung-hui, amounting to ROK refusal to return ROK armed forces to operational control of CINCUNC.

3. If you nonetheless feel that you need more comprehensive guidance at this stage, you should so indicate, setting forth any new operational areas in which you believe Departmental instructions would be useful. Bear in mind that we believe we can best test bona fides of regime by observing their actions in response to representations made by you and General Magruder and that we would not want to take any new initiatives at this stage which might embolden them to withhold actions responsive to our known wishes. We believe you have ample authority for maintaining all contacts which you consider desirable.

Rusk

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 795B.00/5-2361. Secret; Niact. Drafted and approved by McConaughy.
1. See footnote 2, Document 219.
2. In telegram 1640 from Seoul, May 23, Green described the approaches that he, Magruder, and other members of the Country Team made in line with the guidelines he suggested in telegram 1579 from Seoul. Green stated that the Embassy was more convinced than ever that President Yun Po-sun was able “to exercise little influence and almost no authority.” Green proposed to concentrate his efforts on the new Foreign Minister, Kim Hong-il, who not only was the correct channel, but “one of the principal holders of power in new regime.” (Department of State, Central Files, 795B.00/5-2361)