795.00/6–2851
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Officer in Charge of Korean Affairs (Emmons)
Subject: Peace Negotiations for Korea
| Participants: | Dr. Yu Chan Yang, Korean Ambassador |
| Mr. Sae Sun Kim, Counselor, Korean Embassy | |
| Mr. Pyo Wook Han, First Secretary, Korean Embassy | |
| Mr. John D. Hickerson, Assistant Secretary for UN Affairs | |
| Mr. Arthur B. Emmons, Officer in Charge, Korean Affairs |
The Korean Ambassador called upon Mr. Hickerson at 3 o’clock this afternoon in lieu of Mr. Rusk, who had requested him to come in. [Page 575] Mr. Hickerson explained that Mr. Rusk had suddenly been called to an urgent meeting at the Pentagon but that he himself was personally conversant with the subject which Mr. Rusk had intended to raise with the Ambassador.
Mr. Hickerson further explained that the Department wished to keep the Ambassador and his Government up to date on the latest developments concerning current moves looking toward a cease-fire in Korea,1 and showed the Ambassador the original texts of the Department’s telegram to Moscow 831, June 25 and Moscow’s reply 2181, June 27. Mr. Hickerson explained to the Ambassador that these two telegrams constituted the sum total of our information concerning the Russian proposal and he gave the Ambassador paraphrased copies of those portions of the telegrams which contained the questions raised by the Department by way of seeking clarification, and Mr. Gromyko’s answers. Mr. Hickerson pointed out this was the same procedure which we were currently following with the 15 other UN Members having military forces in Korea. He particularly wanted to stress that the United States Government at this point had not formulated a definitive attitude toward the Russian proposal but at this stage was giving it every consideration and studying it from all angles. Mr. Hickerson wished to impress upon the Ambassador that the Department is making every effort to keep the Korean Government informed concerning all developments.
The Ambassador expressed his great appreciation for the kindness of the Department in making what information it has on the peace proposals available to him and stated that he fully understood Mr. Hickerson’s explanation of the fact that the U.S. Government had not yet made any final decisions with respect thereto.
The Ambassador then raised the question of his attendance at the periodic FE briefings of the other UN Ambassadors and pointed out the problem raised for him by the press, which was persistent in its demands to know why the Korean Government was being excluded from representation at these briefings. Mr. Hickerson replied that he was particularly pleased to be able to tell the Ambassador that not only had the Department given every consideration to his request for such attendance but that we had actively raised the matter with the [Page 576] other members of the group on the basis that, unless there were strong objection raised to the attendance of the Korean Ambassador, the Department would invite him to attend the meetings. Mr. Hickerson indicated that although this question had been put before the other members of the group some time ago, there had thus far been no such objection. He explained that tomorrow a further meeting was scheduled and if no objection were raised in that meeting which could not be overcome by the Department, he would give the Ambassador late tomorrow afternoon our invitation to attend the briefings. The Ambassador expressed his deep personal gratification at the action taken by the Department in this regard and stated that he knew that if the ROK were represented at these briefings it would be a source of great reassurance and satisfaction to his Government.
Mr. Hickerson then stated that while these briefing sessions were primarily concerned with the military situation in Korea, one substantive matter which was presently occupying its attention concerned a British proposal to send a communication to the Secretary General of the UN requesting him to bring before the Chinese Communists and the North Koreans a request that, in accordance with the Geneva Convention on Prisoners of War, a neutral State be appointed to assume certain responsibilities for the welfare of UN prisoners of war in Communist hands. Mr. Hickerson explained that a draft of a formalized communication to the Secretary General along these lines had now been worked out through consultation among the 16 UN participating nations, a copy of which he gave to the Ambassador.2 He stated that individual communications to the Secretary General by the 16 countries were contemplated, and that the Department had considered it most desirable that an opportunity be provided the ROK Government to associate itself with this move in a similar communication. He explained that the matter would again be discussed in the first briefing meeting next week in order to work out final details in this regard, and he thought the Ambassador might wish to study the draft and take any action which might be desirable in regard thereto.
The Ambassador thanked Mr. Hickerson for his kindness in making available to him the various items of information and documents which Mr. Hickerson had provided, and assured him of the desire of the Korean people and their Government to continue full cooperation with the United States.
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In telegram 1093, June 26, from Seoul, not printed, Ambassador Muccio had transmitted the text of a press statement by President Rhee, issued following a Cabinet meeting on that date, which read in part as follows:
“Any so-called ‘peace plan’ which involves division of this nation along any artificial border is entirely unacceptable to people of Korea, north and south. Any proposal which leaves aggressors in possession of any part of Korea would be an insult to this nation.” (310.361/6–2651)
↩ - Not printed.↩