Office of the Historian

217. Telegram From the Embassy in Korea to the Department of State0

Seoul, March 3, 1958, 3 p.m.

670. Following is background re UK 977867:1 When General Decker and I met with Defense Minister February 20, he said he had been unable obtain decision from President Rhee. He had no suggestions re future procedure, but intimated that perhaps General Paik might be able, through his friendship with US military in Pentagon, to improve terms of US proposal during his forthcoming visit to Washington.2

In ensuing discussion, I pointed out negotiations must be carried on in Seoul, and that under my instructions I would have to take problem up with President Rhee. Defense Minister did not object, and in fact gave impression he would welcome this move.

At meeting February 24, at which General Decker, Defense Minister and General Paik also present, President Rhee launched into long monologue, in course of which he posed three questions: (1) who was responsible for US decision (he implied it could not have been his good friends US military and must therefore have been State Department); (2) why was decision taken; and (3) what could be done to compensate for man-power cut.

My reply was, I fear, equally long monologue, but at conclusion President Rhee said if Defense Minister and General Paik were satisfied US re-inforcement plus matériel for ROK forces warranted, he would accept reduction. It was agreed General Decker and I would meet again with Defense Minister later in week.

Request for agreed minute was put forward for first time at February 28 meeting, and I am uncertain as to ROK motives. Defense Minister was emphatic in saying government agreement was desired, and seemed to envisage wholly new agreement along lines of 1954 minute, although General Decker and I pointed out that New Annex B would apparently cover requirements present agreement. In any event, ROK request appears reasonable, and I believe we should agree to it, insofar as military support levels are concerned. If 1954 minute is to be revised in its entirety, I shall have revisions to recommend in other important [Page 447] aspects, including annex A,3 in order to obtain more binding commitments from ROK Government.

Dowling
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 795B.5/3–358. Secret; Limit Distribution; No Distribution Outside Department.↩
  2. See footnote 3, Document 214.↩
  3. General Sun Yup Paik, Republic of Korea Army Chief of Staff, came to Washington on March 9 at the invitation of Army Chief of Staff General Taylor. For a memorandum of General Paik’s meeting with Acting Secretary Herter on March 10, see Supplement.↩
  4. Appendix A of the Agreed Minute of November 17, 1954, printed in Department of State Bulletin, November 29, 1954, pp. 810–811, outlined the measures that the Republic of Korea agreed to take to make the agreed economic program for Korea effective.↩