Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XXII, Northeast Asia

221. Memorandum From Robert H. Johnson of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Deputy Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Rostow)⁰

Washington, May 23, 1961.

SUBJECT

• Immediate Actions in Korea

I believe that there are three kinds of actions that we should seek to obtain from the Koreans in the immediate future:

1. Maximum possible civilianization of the regime and a clear distinction between officers engaged in political and administrative responsibilities and those engaged in military responsibilities.

2. Make it absolutely clear that U.S. assistance in the future, above a minimum maintenance level, will be conditional upon Korean performance, in accordance with this Administration’s new aid concepts.

3. Actions to deal with corruption. This involves inter alia Civil Service and police reform, reform of the tax collection system, reform of government budgeting procedures, improving contracting procedures, and action to rationalize interest rates.

Bob

0. Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Korea, General, 4/1/61-5/25/61. Secret. A note by Johnson on the source text indicates that he discussed the action described here with McConaughy in a telephone conversation on May 23.