795.00/10–1150
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Acting Officer in Charge of Korean Affairs (Emmons)
Subject: Problems Relating to Korea
| Participants: | The Secretary of State |
| Col. Ben C. Limb, Korean Foreign Minister | |
| Dr. John M. Chang, Korean Ambassador | |
| Mr. Arthur B. Emmons, 3rd, Officer in Charge of Korean Affairs |
The Korean Foreign Minister, Col. Ben C. Limb, and the Korean Ambassador, Dr. John M. Chang, called on the Secretary by appointment at five o’clock today. The purpose of the visit was to permit the Foreign Minister to pay his respects to the Secretary and to exchange views on the Korean situation.
The Foreign Minister opened the conversation by saying that on behalf of President Rhee and the Korean Government and people, he wished to express their heartfelt gratitude for the profound assistance which the United States Government had rendered to Korea through the United Nations in the present conflict. He continued by saying that his Government realized its obligations and responsibilities to the United Nations for the aid thus rendered, and stated that his Government was fully resolved to cooperate with and assist the United Nations to the maximum extent in the attainment of its objectives in Korea and to support the new United Nations Commission in its work. He pointed out that the Government of the Republic of Korea had betrayed certain weaknesses during its first two years of existence, but had also had successes and added that his Government was [Page 929] sincerely trying to improve itself and would continue to do so with such help and advice as might be rendered by the United Nations.
The Secretary pointed out the importance of such cooperation, that the present United Nations’ solidarity in relation to the Korean problem must be preserved at all costs, and that the Korean Government had a most significant part to play in maintaining such solidarity. The Secretary added that there may be times when it will be difficult for the Republic to see eye to eye with the United Nations, but that a big effort should be made not to allow dissension to creep into the efforts to achieve a successful solution to the Korean problem.
Ambassador Chang remarked that he and the Foreign Minister felt very grateful that a new Commission was being sent to Korea by the United Nations, since the old Commission had left something to be desired. Both he and the Foreign Minister expressed enthusiasm for the presence on the new Commission of Pakistan as against former Indian participation, which they felt had tended to make their relations with the old Commission difficult in the past. The Secretary emphasized that the United States Government is endeavoring to impress upon the states represented on the new Commission the importance, in its view, of obtaining men of the highest caliber for the new Commission in Korea.
The Ambassador mentioned the concern of his Government that sufficient foreign military assistance be rendered to Korea at the end of the present conflict to ensure that an effective armed force can be maintained to defend Korea in the future. The Secretary replied that this was a matter which he understood was receiving very active consideration and that General MacArthur was even now in the process of strengthening the armed forces of the Republic.
The Foreign Minister next raised the question of a Pacific Pact and asked what the attitude of the United States Government was to such a Pact. The Secretary replied that we were in sympathy with the principle involved and would give encouragement to it. Thus far, however, we had been somewhat disappointed and discouraged at the lack of progress which the nations interested in such a Pact had made toward its establishment. The Foreign Minister remarked that he was gratified, to hear this, that it was a matter to which his Government gave considerable importance and one which must of necessity involve its further attention.
In closing, the Foreign Minister mentioned that he would be in the United States until the middle of November and hoped that he would have an opportunity for another exchange of views with the Secretary.