<--PREV Doc #984  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  Second Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #986 Document #985; December 25, 1958 To Syngman Rhee Series: EM, AWF, International Series: Rhee ; Category: Cable. Secret The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XIX - The Presidency: Keeping the Peace Part VI: Setbacks; November 1958 to February 1959 Chapter 14: A "dreary election result"   Dear Mr. President: The recent developments in the Korean National Assembly prompt me to write directly to you to express my personal concern.1 I understand that action to revise the National Security Law was taken in order to provide a more effective legal basis to deal with Communist infiltration, espionage and subversion efforts in the Republic of Korea. This is an objective with which we, of course, strongly agree. The manner in which this law was adopted by the National Assembly, however, greatly troubles me. The Republic of Korea and you, Mr. President, enjoy the high esteem of the American people. We have made common cause with you during tragic times of trial and we have sought to contribute to the reconstruction and development of your country ever since then. We intend to continue this course to the extent we are able. It is because of our relationship that it grieves and disturbs me to read the reports which have appeared lately of the incidents which attended the consideration and passage of this bill. Regrettably, the manner in which the law has just been passed, with Democratic Party Assemblymen confined outside the Assembly hall, will raise serious doubts in the minds of the allies and friends of the Republic of Korea as to the merits of the law, regardless of its true value or the real necessity for the law. To the extent such doubts are raised we are handicapped in our efforts to muster the strong support we desire for Korea in the United Nations and elsewhere. The image which Korean actions create abroad necessarily affects our ability in this regard. This development is now attracting the attention of the press and public of the United States.2 It would be my hope that in implementing the law the Republic of Korea Government will demonstrate that it will be used, as it was announced it was intended, to deal effectively with the Communist threat of subversion and that the apprehensions that have been voiced as to the prospects of the continued growth of the democratic and representative government in the Republic of Korea will have been without foundation. I have written you in this way, Mr. President, as a friend of Korea and trust that you will receive my comments in this spirit.3 Sincerely 1 On November 18 the Liberal party government of President Rhee had submitted to the National Assembly a revision of the 1948 National Security Law dealing with subversive activity. While the new law provided more legal safeguards for suspects, it made it a crime to report or spread falsehoods or distorted news. Denouncing the measure as an end to freedom of the press, the opposition Democratic party had pledged an all-out fight against the measure. On the preceding day guards had forcibly ejected opposition members from the assembly hall, reportedly injuring several in the process. Then, after barring American embassy observers from the deliberations, Liberal party members had unanimously passed the law (State, Foreign Relations, 1958 - 1960, vol. XVIII, Japan; Korea, pp. 508 - 22; see also ibid., Microfiche Supplement, nos. 656, 682, 686, 688 - 89, 692 - 93). Acting Secretary of State Robert Murphy had told Eisenhower that the opposition and the press were convinced that the government would use the law to suppress its political opponents and ensure its success in the 1960 Korean presidential elections. After Eisenhower approved the State Department draft of this letter, it was transmitted by priority telegram to the U.S. ambassador in Seoul, who would deliver it immediately to President Rhee (Murphy to Eisenhower, Dec. 24, 1958, AWF/I: Korea; see also Parsons to Dowling, Dec. 27, 1958, State, Foreign Relations, 1958 - 1960, vol. XVIII, Japan; Korea, Microfiche Supplement, no. 701). 2 See New York Times, December 25, 1958. 3 Rhee would write Eisenhower that opposition members had been excluded from the deliberations because they "had attempted to disrupt normal proceedings." He assured the President that the new law would be applied in a way that would enhance democracy in Korea (State, Foreign Relations, 1958 - 1960, vol. XVIII, Japan; Korea, pp. 523 - 25, 526 - 28). Eisenhower would accept Secretary Dulles's recommendation that he not reply to Rhee's letter (Dulles to Eisenhower, Jan. 27, 1958, AWF/I: Rhee). Bibliographic reference to this document: Eisenhower, Dwight D. Cable. Secret To Syngman Rhee, 25 December 1958. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 985. World Wide Web facsimile by The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission of the print edition; Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/second-term/documents/985.cfm <--PREV Doc #984  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  Second Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #986

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