795.00/5–1954: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Korea1

secret
priority

933. Seoul’s 1204 sent Geneva 95 Tokyo 712.2 Tokyo pass CINCUNC. Department concerned about paragraph in Dean letter to Rhee which begins “We believe the achievement of unity at Geneva” and closes “to the end that your army will be equipped to repel any attack”. This paragraph implies that if Rhee accepts statement basic principles for presentation at Geneva US will implement recommendations Van Fleet mission whatever they are. It also implies object buildup ROK forces is enable them repel any attack which goes beyond NSC policy.

You should therefore in some appropriate way correct these statements for record. Defense concurs.

Dulles
  1. Repeated for information to Geneva priority as telegram Tosec 214 and to Tokyo as telegram 2567.
  2. Dated May 19, p. 284.