Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, Korea and China, Volume VII, Part 1

795B.5/5–651: Telegram

The Ambassador in Korea (Muccio) to the Secretary of State

secret   priority

Pusan, May 6, 1951—Noon.

929. Not for distribution outside Dept. Remytels 894, April 23¹ and 928, May 5.² In view possibility Dr. Pyun may take advantage presence Wash to raise with Dept question further arms for ROK, fol text of letter I addressed Pres Rhee May 4 is quoted for Dept’s info and more follows by air pouch:

“Gen Van Fleet has forwarded to me copies of letters which he has written to Lt. Gen Chung Il Kwon, Chief of Staff ROK Army, and by Gen. Hoge, Comdr of the 9th US Corps to Brigadier Gen Chang Do Young, Comdr of the ROK 6th Division, dated May 2, 1951, and April 28, 1951, respectively. Both letters are on the subject of the extremely unsatisfactory conduct in battle of the ROK 6th Division and the great loss of major items of equipment. Copies of these letters are enclosed herewith for your information.³ It is the desire of the Commanding General of the 8th US Army that I convey to you the following:

“The primary problem in the ROK is to secure competent leadership in their army. They do not have it, from the Min of Defense on down, as is clearly evidenced by repeated battle failures of major units. This is the chief and basic responsibility of the Pres of the Republic in the mil field. Until we get competent leadership, there is little reason to expect any better performance of ROK troops, or any higher degree of confidence than presently exists among their UN comrades.

“Until competent leadership is secured and it demonstrates its worth, there shld be no further talk of the US furnishing arms and equipment for additional forces. Such action wld be as criminal waste of badly needed equipment, when the forces already equipped continue to abandon major items of equipment without justification.

“The problem today is leadership and training and a greater desire to fight for their native country and loved ones. If and when they demonstrate their competence and worth, consideration will be given to a recommendation by the 8th US Army for an increased ceiling of strength, but not until that worth is demonstrated in the battle now raging,”⁴

Muccio

1. Not printed; it transmitted the text of a letter, dated April 21, from President Rhee asking Ambassador Muccio to forward to President Truman Rhee’s request for arms, ammunition, and equipment to supply 10 additional Republic of Korea army divisions according to American standards (795.00/4–2351).
2. Not printed; it reported on the departure of Korean Foreign Minister Pyun Yung Tai for the United States to attend a ceremonial occasion (033.95b11/5–551).
3. Neither printed. Copies of these letters were transmitted to the Department under cover of despatch 161, May 8, from Pusan, also not printed. (795B.551/5–851)

4. In despatch 161, May 8, from Pusan (not printed), Ambassador Muccio gave the following account of the meeting on May 4 at which the substance of the above letter was communicated to President Rhee:

   “May 4—General Ridgway, General Van Fleet, and I met with the President at Taegu. In the course of a lengthy conversation both General Ridgway and General Van Fleet emphasized the points contained in General Van Fleet’s letter of May 3 and suggested measures for improving discipline and the will to fight. The President agreed to take stronger measures in enforcing discipline in the ROK Army, particularly at the higher levels, to address a statement of encouragement to the troops, to spend more time visiting the troops at the front, and to insure that ROK Chief of Staff rather than various politicians be able to deal responsibly with UN Forces on military matters.” (795B.551/5–851)