320. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Johnson)0

SUBJECT

  • Korea

I have your memorandum of December 18 on force reduction in Korea.1 I agree that we need to develop a political-military plan of U.S. action which will deal with all of the implications of U.S. and ROK force reduction.

The President is most anxious that we get some action on this matter which has been hanging fire for so long; and in this connection I assume that State will want to consider not only how to convey to the Koreans the rationale for the suggested force reductions, but would also want to formulate a diplomatic plan for achieving an ROK-Japanese peace treaty in the very near future. This is especially important in light of the economic impact of a U.S. force reduction and the diminished funds we will have available for economic assistance to Korea in the coming year.

McGeorge Bundy2
  1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Aides Files, McGeorge Bundy, Chron Dec. ‘63. Secret.
  2. Document 319.
  3. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.