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

248. Memorandum of Conversation⁰

Washington, November 16, 1961.

SUBJECT

• U.S. Assistance to Korea (Secretary’s Farewell Call on Chairman Park)

PARTICIPANTS

• Korea
  • Gen. Chung Hee Park, Chairman, Supreme Council for National Reconstruction
  • Ambassador Il Kwon Chung, Korean Ambassador to the U.S.
  • Lt. Col. Sang Kuh Han, Interpreter
• United States
  • The Secretary
  • Ambassador Samuel D. Berger, United States Ambassador to Korea
  • Mr. H. L. T. Koren, Director, Northeast Asian Affairs
  • Dr. Paul S. Crane, Interpreter

The Secretary began by saying that, while he would have the privilege of bidding the Chairman good-bye at the airport the next day, he wanted to have a few minutes conversation with him, as he had mentioned at their first meeting on November 14. The Secretary said he also wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to congratulate the Chairman on his appearance at the National Press Club, which he understood had gone off extremely well. The Chairman thanked the Secretary and said he thought the Press Club meeting had been all right.

The Secretary want on to say that he had reviewed the discussions the Chairman had had with the President, Secretary McNamara, himself, and others, and he hoped the Chairman understood that he could go back with full confidence of U.S. determination to do what the President said we would. There was one particular point he wished to mention and that was he had gained the impression that the figure of $90 million Supporting Assistance had perhaps assumed more importance during the visit than it deserved. He felt he had sensed some disappointment regarding this figure among the Chairman’s colleagues. He himself had discussed with the Chairman the difficulties we encountered in dealing with so many different countries and endeavoring to meet their needs for varying types of aid such as supporting assistance, technical cooperation, development loans, etc.

The Secretary said that he was concerned that, if a member of the Chairman’s party on his return should speak of the $90 million in terms of disappointment, it would be harmful to public understanding on both sides, since this figure might not be related to the total amount of aid received. For example, regular military assistance committed to Korea would be very substantial, even though, for policy reasons, there was never any public announcement of the total figure. Likewise, there were the development loans whose purpose was to initiate and sustain specifically the kind of economic development the Chairman had spoken of during his stay. The Secretary said that he had the impression that a given amount of assistance to Korea would now produce more results than the same amount given to previous governments. In other words, a dollar in the Chairman’s hand was worth more than in the hands of previous governments, but the Chairman must have the profit and not the U.S. Specifically in regard to the questions of offshore procurement and “Buy American” policy, the Secretary reiterated our determination to do our best to make adjustments favorable to Korea.

The Secretary emphasized that Ambassador Berger had the full backing of the President and the other interested Department heads as well as a full understanding of the significance of the President’s assurances to the Chairman of our determination to assist the Republic of Korea and his Government to progress in accordance with the Chairman’s plans. The Chairman’s visit and the opportunity it had afforded the top echelon of our Government of becoming personally acquainted with the Chairman and his colleagues had given us a deep sense of assurance. He hoped the Chairman would go back with a deeper assurance on his side of our interest and determination to assist him and his country. Finally, the Secretary remarked that he had been privileged to receive a number of foreign guests, but it was his opinion that no other visitor had more right to return to his country with confidence. The Secretary had lived through a good part of the recent history of Korea, and he wanted the opportunity to say this simply and directly to the Chairman.

Chairman Park said he fully appreciated and understood the Secretary’s remarks and was grateful for the hospitality extended to him. He had been deeply impressed and encouraged by the assurances of friendship and help which had been conveyed to him. He took pride in sharing the responsibility of meeting the great tasks ahead. He also wished to thank the Secretary for coming to see him with the message that he had just given him. He agreed that if the $90 million figure was singled out it might become some sort of symbol, but it would not represent the truth of the deep relations between the two countries. It would, therefore, perhaps be better to forget the figure in terms of trying to measure U.S. interest in Korea.

In closing the meeting, the Secretary said the Chairman was very strongly represented in Washington, not only by Ambassador Chung but by Ambassador Berger as well.

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 033.95B11/11-1661. Confidential. Drafted by Koren and approved in S on December 1. The meeting was held at the Korean Embassy.