795.00/12–650
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Acting Officer in Charge of Korean Affairs (Emmons)
Subject: Latest developments in Korea.
| Participants: | Ambassador Chang, Korean Embassy |
| Mr. Dean Rusk, Assistant Secretary for Far Eastern Affairs | |
| Mr. Arthur B. Emmons, 3rd, Officer in Charge Korean Affairs |
Ambassador Chang called on Mr. Rusk at 11 o’clock this morning by prior appointment. Mr. Rusk briefly reviewed the military situation in Korea as it had developed in the last 24 hours, adding that the U.S. and Great Britain were determined to back up UN forces now fighting in Korea. He also called the attention of the Ambassador to the fact that General Bradley’s statement of yesterday, concerning a withdrawal from Korea, had referred only to the evacuation of the 10th Corps and other troops from the northeast coast, and that General Collins had reported that the 8th Army was now in a position to look after itself.
Mr. Rusk then referred to the statement issued yesterday at New York by the delegations of the 13 Arabic and other middle eastern countries which called upon the Chinese Communists to halt at the 38th parallel, and read the Ambassador the text of the statement.1 The Ambassador emphasized that he and his Government were completely opposed to any arrangement with respect to Korea, such as that proposed, which would leave Korea disunited and render the Republic open to further armed attacks from the north. He added that the Koreans would rather die fighting than to sacrifice their principles and their freedom to Communism.
Mr. Rusk pointed out that the statement would have the obvious advantage of tending politically to separate the Chinese Communists from the rest of Asia if the proposal that they halt at the 38th parallel were not accepted by the Chinese. He stressed that the Koreans in the foreseeable future would continually be faced with the menace of Communist aggression from China and the Soviet Union, no matter what line might be drawn, and pointed out that the proposal, if accepted, would for the moment at least save south Korea, the only alternative to which might be the complete and immediate occupation [Page 1424] of the whole country by the Chinese Communists, in which case all would be lost. Mr. Rusk also said that a halt at the 38th parallel would give the United Nations and ROK forces a chance to regroup and to strengthen themselves and emphasized that if this happened the ROK and Korean people would have to expend every possible effort to build up a strong defense for the future. He hoped that the Ambassador and the ROK would make no comment upon the 13-power proposal until sufficient time had been given to see whether or not the Chinese Communists were disposed to accept it and to halt their offensive and that this was of great importance.
Dr. Chang stated that he had received new instructions from President Rhee to put off his departure from the U.S. for several weeks and until the situation in Korea had become more clarified.
Mr. Rusk then remarked that he was very much disturbed by a report from Seoul concerning certain unfortunate remarks reportedly made by Chang Taek Sang upon his return to Korea relative to a conversation that he had had with Mr. Rusk, at which Ambassador Chang had been present. Mr. Rusk added that these remarks were false, entirely misrepresented the tone of the conversation and created a very unfortunate impression concerning relations between Chang Taek Sang and officials of the U.S. Government. Dr. Chang replied that he had not previously heard of these remarks but that he too was very disturbed at hearing of them and would like to see just what Chang Taek Sang had said. He promised to see if a rectification could not be made, since he personally could bear witness to the fact that the remarks were not based on the truth, if such were the case.
The Ambassador mentioned that he had received another instruction from President Rhee asking him urgently to solicit the assistance of the U.S. in supplying arms to Korean youth who were only too eager to throw themselves into the battle against the Communists, and that this additional manpower should prove of great help in stemming the Communist invasion. Mr. Rusk reassured him that all possible arms were being sent to Korea which it was within the capacity of the U.S. to supply and that we had dug deep into our military resources to provide all possible assistance to the forces fighting under the United Nations in Korea. He said that no question of policy was involved as to the extent of arms thus to be supplied but that it was merely a question of our capacity to do so. Dr. Chang said that he would also raise this question with the President when he saw him this morning.
The Ambassador indicated his great interest in seeing Mr. Attlee at some time during his visit and asked if Mr. Rusk could not assist him in so doing, adding that he had made a request of this nature through the British Embassy but had received no reply. Mr. Rusk [Page 1425] replied that he would be willing to discuss the question with Mr. Attlee’s staff but that he did not expect to see Mr. Attlee personally.
Mr. Rusk stated that he would get in touch with the Ambassador concerning a future appointment with him at the Department, in line with his previous suggestion that these daily discussions be continued.