795.00/4–2153
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Murphy)1
Dear Bob: We have asked you to associate yourself with Clark as Political Adviser on the forthcoming armistice negotiations. This reflects our feeling, first, that our armistice team locally should have more authority to insure prompt and decisive action. Secondly, that it is important that the political aspects be more fully represented. In this connection, you would appreciate that there is widespread feeling that these negotiations like previous ones will prove to be a booby trap, enabling increased Communist build-up to our disadvantage.
It is important that we should find out quickly whether or not the Commies really want an armistice. They have had nearly two years to think over every aspect of the problem involved and if they mean business it should be only a matter of days to come to a conclusion. Best wishes.
- This personal message was transmitted to Murphy in telegram 2479 to Tokyo, Apr. 21, 1953. The message was drafted by Dulles.↩