Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXIX, Part 1, Korea

334. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Johnson¹

Washington, January 23, 1964.

When you see Dean Rusk before he leaves for Japan/Korea,² you might remind him we want to push hard to get a ROK/Japanese settlement.

This has been hanging fire for ten years. It would mean a flow of over a half billion dollars into the Korean economy, which would greatly reduce the burden on us over time.

At long last we’re close to the wire on this. A word to Rusk that you’re personally interested would put him on his mettle, and help get State to push harder. A ROK/Jap settlement would be a nice foreign policy plus in 1964.

R. W. Komer ³

1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Files of Robert W. Komer, Japan-Korea. Secret.
2. Before returning to Washington from Tokyo, Rusk stopped in Korea and met with Pak in Seoul on January 29; see Document 3.
3. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.