Eisenhower Library, Eisenhower papers, Whitman file
The President of the Republic of Korea (Rhee) to President Eisenhower1
Dear President Eisenhower: I have often thought of writing you, but refrained from doing so for fear of encroaching upon your valuable time. The moment has come, however, when I have to inform you of what steps we must take regarding the Korean war situation.
I know without doubt the sincerity of your determination to settle the Korean war with honor as soon as possible. I know also that the opposition to your policy on the part of foreign powers, as well as of the peace-at-any-cost circles, is so strong that any Administration might feel hampered and handicapped. Under this circumstance, the Korean people again suffer disappointment, although they are not disappointed with you but in the whole situation.
[Page 903]If this situation is allowed to continue, Korea cannot survive as an independent nation and it will be made another China. Perhaps that is what some United Nations members would wish. If Korea were given to the Soviets, nonetheless, all the so-called free nations will be in grave danger of being the next victims, one by one.
At all events, either as a result of the Indian resolution or of the Communists’ recent offer of peace negotiations, if they arrange a peace agreement allowing the Chinese to remain in Korea, we have to ask all the friendly nations whose armed forces are now fighting in Korea and who do not desire to join with us in our determination to defeat aggressive communism and drive up to the Yalu River, to withdraw from Korea. Any nation which will join with us in our efforts to drive the Chinese Communists out of Korean territory will be welcomed to work with us. In this we must reiterate our original announcement that we will not move one step beyond our age-old national boundary line without your request.
[Here follow two paragraphs which President Eisenhower paraphrased in Mandate for Change, pages 181–182.]
With prayers for your health and success,
Sincerely yours,
- The source text was the signed original; Sherman Adams sent a copy of this letter to President Eisenhower in Augusta, Georgia on Apr. 14, 1953.↩