Office of the Historian

795B. 13/7–2953

Memorandum for the Record, by the Officer in Charge, Korean Affairs (Emmons)

top secret
no distribution
[Washington,] July 29, 1953.

Subject:

  • Conversation Between Mr. Walter S. Robertson and the Korean Ambassador Concerning the Korean Foreign Minister

In the course of a general conversation between Mr. Walter S. Robertson, Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs, and the Korean Ambassador, Dr. Yang You Chan (see memorandum of conversation July 29, 1953, prepared by Mr. Emmons1), Mr. Robertson stated that speaking in a personal capacity and off the record, he believed Dr. Yang should have his views concerning the part played by the Korean Foreign Minister, Dr. Pyun Yong Tae, in the recent discussions with President Rhee.

Speaking very frankly, Mr. Robertson told Ambassador Yang that whereas his talks with Rhee were conducted in a friendly and cordial atmosphere, Dr. Pyun constantly sounded a discordant note and at every stage attempted to influence the President adversely with respect to our proposals and to dissuade him from placing faith and reliance upon our offers of assistance. At times Dr. Pyun was openly insulting and at one point even challenged General Clark’s good faith to his face. Through his statements to the press and to other Korean officials, Dr. Pyun had done everything possible to sabotage the conference with President Rhee and the Foreign Minister throughout had displayed a strong anti-American bias. He had been truly a thorn in the side of Mr. Robertson’s mission during his visit to Korea.

Mr. Robertson recalled the difficulties created by Dr. Pyun’s attitude at the Seventh Session of the General Assembly in New York and pointed out the damage which the Foreign Minister had done to ROK relations with other allied and friendly United Nations members. Mr. Robertson was at a loss to understand how the President could afford to permit Dr. Pyun to continue to influence so adversely the foreign relations of the ROK at a time so critical in its history.

[Page 1448]

The Ambassador was clearly uncomfortable during this discussion. He took no exception to what Mr. Robertson had to say, nor did his reaction appear to be one of disagreement. Dr. Yang indicated that there had been a number of occasions when he had attempted to moderate the Foreign Minister’s approach, particularly at the General Assembly at New York last fall, but without success. The Ambassador, however, offered no comment as to what might be done to correct the situation.

  1. Not printed. (795.00/7–2753)↩