795.02/3–753: Telegram
The Ambassador in Korea (Briggs) to the Department of State
1116. Pass Tokyo; repeated information Tokyo 292 CINCUNC Tokyo DIP 428. Please pass to JCS. Yesterday afternoon I accompanied General Clark to call on President Rhee with reference to latter’s back to Seoul movement. General Taylor and Acting Prime Minister Paik also present. Clark explained our government’s position, based on military considerations, which would render imprudent return by Korean Government to Seoul at this time. After listening to Clark’s exposition, Rhee agreed that for the present government as such would not officially return to Seoul. He said certain key officials would set up shop in Seoul in order to transact business with him, but that their Ministries would stay in Pusan. Other Ministries (he mentioned Public Health, Agriculture and Education and one or two others) would remain in Pusan 100 percent.
President then bespoke General Clark’s support for rehabilitation of three or four buildings (specifically including Banto), declaring that government could not afford to wait until end of war to start repairing buildings for use when government finally does move back. General Clark expressed sympathy with this point of view and it was left that Prime Minister and General Hamblen (new CINCUNC member of Combined Economic Board) would discuss such matters as what buildings and how repairs could be financed, matériel obtained, et cetera.
General Clark has seen this and concurs.