Office of the Historian

137. Telegram From the Embassy in Korea to the Department of State1

Seoul, May 1, 1972, 0852Z.

2476. Subj: President Nixon’s Message to President Park. Ref: State 73671;2 Seoul 2475.3

1.
Presidential Advisor Hahm Pyong Choon over lunch today commented at length on President’s message after observing that he had come to lunch direct from Blue House meeting at which subject was discussed by govt leaders.
2.
In recent months Hahm has increasingly come under criticism as an apologist for Park administration policies and we treat his comments on current affairs with some reserve. It is likely, however, that in the meeting he attended there was some sentiment along the lines of main points he was making.
3.
Hahm said good effect of President Nixon’s meeting with FonMin Kim4 has been dissipated with belief that President saw Kim only to set up Korean Govt for this request and because US is in trouble militarily in VN. Worse yet, US had undermined FonMin by sending the message separately after latter’s departure from Washington instead of asking him to carry the message.
4.
In the course of the discussion, Hahm acknowledged that he is counseling withdrawal of ROK troops as originally scheduled. He asked why should ROK troops remain in VN and how could President justify to Korean people expansion of area of operations at time when President Nixon has just announced withdrawal of another 20,000 US troops. In making these points Hahm also alluded to absence of ROK/US summit meeting, failure of US over extended period to respond to ROK request regarding support of ROKVN should it postpone withdrawal, and failure of US reply when it came to respond to all Korean points.
Underhill
  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 543, Country Files, Far East, Korea, Vol. V, 1 Jan–31 Dec 1972. Secret; Nodis.↩
  2. See footnote 2, Document 135.↩
  3. Telegram 2475 from Seoul, May 1, reported the delivery of President Nixon’s message to President Park. (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 543, Country Files, Far East, Korea, Vol. V, 1 Jan–31 Dec 1972)↩
  4. See Document 136.↩