795B. 11/3-552
President Truman to the President of the Republic of Korea (Rhee)
confidential
[Washington,] March 4, 1952.
My Dear Mr. President: Last August, in my reply to your ltr of July 28, I took occasion to refer to certain matters which were giving the US Govt great concern. I regret that circumstances make it imperative that as Chief Executive of the country which has been charged by the UN with exercising the Unified Command, I must again bring them to your most urgent attention.
As an indication of the importance which I attach to these questions, I have requested that Amb Muccio personally deliver this ltr to you. It is my hope that you will accept this ltr in the same frank and friendly spirit in which it is offered, and that any misunderstandings which may have arisen with regard to the policy of the US toward Korea may be eliminated.
The Govt of the US has noted with mounting concern the statements which have been made with increasing frequency by reps of the Govt of the ROK expressing open opposition to the efforts which are being made by the Unified Command to bring the hostilities in Korea to an honorable and satisfactory conclusion consistent with the security of the ROK and with the objectives of the UN. From these statements it would appear that your Govt is taking a stand which not only is sharply at variance with the policies and objectives of the UN which are fully supported by the US, but also threaten to jeopardize the success of the UN efforts on behalf of your people. If this is in fact the case, and your Govt is not fully resolved to continue its cooperation with the nations that have come to its assistance at great cost, I am convinced that only the most serious consequences can ensue.
It should by now be abundantly clear that the UN action in relation to your country has from its very inception been motivated by the deepest concern for the protection of the ROK against its foes and, beyond that, for the achievement of a just settlement of its problems by peaceful means in full knowledge of and in accordance with the desires and aspirations of the Korean people. The US Govt has never deviated from these aims, nor will it now.
The UN action in Korea has been marked by an outstanding unity of purpose on the part of all of those nations participating in it. It has been this unity of purpose which has led to the repelling of the aggressive attack upon your country while avoiding the dangers of a broader conflict which might destroy forever the freedom of your country and lead to untold misery for the world. This unity of purpose must, therefore, be maintained at all costs. To allow divergencies to develop within your own country or between it and the UN which would threaten the support of the UN at this critical period in your history, would be to court disaster for your country and to weaken, if not destroy, the chances for the achievement of its just aspirations.
The degree of assistance which your Govt and the people of Korea will continue to receive in repelling the aggression, in seeking a just political settlement, and in repairing the ravages of that aggression will inevitably be influenced by the sense of responsibility demonstrated by your Govt, its ability to maintain the unity of the Korean people, and its devotion to democratic ideals.
Because the people of the US have the future of Korea and the peace of the world so deeply at heart, I feel that I can ask that you assert your influence and that of your Govt in restoring to our association in this great cause the essential spirit of confidence and understanding which alone can ensure its success. I hope that in response you will assure me that your Govt, its armed forces and the people of Korea will continue to cooperate in every way with the UNC.
Very sincerely yours,