172. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Eliot) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)1
SUBJECT
- Congratulatory Message to President Park Chung Hee
Under the recently approved revisions to the Korean constitution, an indirect method of election of the President by a National Council for Reunification has been established. This election will take place on December 23, and it may be taken for granted that President Park Chung Hee will be reelected. His inauguration will take place December 27.
Since October 17, when President Park and his advisors began an extensive series of changes to the Korean government, mainly accomplished under martial law and government pressure, they have attempted to demonstrate to their public that the United States supports their actions. We, however, have taken the position that we were not consulted, and are not associated with these changes. Publicly our position is that the constitutional amendments were an internal matter on which we declined to comment.
Given the above circumstances, a congratulatory message from the President poses certain problems. The Korean Government will make every effort to publicize this message as White House approval of [Page 448] Park’s election. Notwithstanding, considering our interests in Korea, a cordial but diplomatically correct message is warranted.2
I recommend that the enclosed congratulatory message be sent by the President just as soon as the results have been officially announced.3
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 15–1 KOR S. Confidential. Drafted by Ranard on December 21 and cleared by Green and Sneider.↩
- The draft message is attached. The substantive portion of the congratulatory note reads as follows: “Dear Mr. President: Allow me to express the congratulations of the American Government and people on your election once more to the leadership of your country. I look forward to the continuation of the cooperative and friendly relations that have marked the close association of the past between our two countries, and to working with you toward the goal of peace in Asia.”↩
- Telegram 231688 to Seoul, December 24, transmitted the congratulatory note to the Embassy. According to an attached handwritten note, December 23, the note was approved by Holdridge at the White House by telephone. In attached telegram 7399 from Seoul, December 26, the Embassy reported delivery of the note to the Korean Blue House, which released it on the evening of December 26 along with others including messages from the Governments of Japan and the Philippines. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 15–1 KOR S)↩