Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXIX, Part 1, Korea

104. Memorandum of Conversation¹

Washington, December 1, 1966.

SUBJECT

• Mr. Bundy’s Meeting with Mr. Colby, December 1, 1966²

PARTICIPANTS

• Messrs. Bundy, Berger, Unger and Lakeland for EA; Messrs. Colby and Smith for CIA; Mr. Stuart for INR/DDC; Mr. Fleck of EA for Korea Item

Korea

Mr. Colby said that his staff had done an analysis of the recent upsurge in North Korean attacks across the demilitarized zone and had come to the conclusion that these attacks might signal the adoption of a new North Korean policy which might culminate in an all-out attack.³ The fact that the North Korean party had recently held a congress during which they decided to draw away from the Chinese Communists, but without joining up with the Soviets, seemed to support this conclusion. Mr. Colby said he was not fully persuaded of the correctness of this analysis; Mr. Bundy agreed that the situation did not appear to have developed to a point warranting these judgments. Mr. Bundy went on to say that General Bonesteel had vigorously argued for the conclusion that the North Koreans had adopted a new aggressive policy. The General also called for some retaliatory action to protect his troops. One could sympathize with the General, but here again Mr. Bundy did not find himself in agreement. Mr. Bundy said, however, that he thought perhaps the General was right in believing that the North Koreans were attacking and trying to infiltrate South Korea in order to do what they could to disrupt the April elections. The opposition in South Korea had been claiming for some time that South Korean strength was not sufficient to protect the country. The North Korean strategy appeared to be tailored to aid the opposition.

[Here follows discussion of China, Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia, and the Philippines.]

1. Source: Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, East Asia and Pacific General File, Weekly Staff Meetings, August through December 1966. Secret. Drafted on December 5. McAfee sent this memorandum to Hughes, Denney, and Evans.
2. Agenda at Tab A. [Footnote in the source text; attached but not printed.]
3. [text not declassified] (Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Country Files, East Asia and Pacific General File, East Asia Reviews, 1964–1966)