Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE the E.O. 6, 1982 WASHINGTON State By Dept. DEB NLT, Date 7-26-85 May 28, 1952 SEGRET SECURITY INFORMA' TION SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS KOREA In response to an UNCURK invitation, General Van Fleet came to Pusan yesterday afternoon to discuss the political crisis that has developed over the past few days in Korea. Together with our Charge Van Fleet called on Rhee to express his concern lest developments come about which would reflect on the Government of Korea and cause the out- side world to lose confidence in it. Van Fleet pointed out that he had not been informed or consulted on the necessity for the proclamation of martial law in the area and that as far as he knew the situation did not re- quire intervention of the military. Rhee gave some indication that he might be willing to lift martial law if Van Fleet requests it, but he made no definite commitment on this point. Rhee then told Van Fleet that the Korean Chief of Staff, General Lee, was implicated in the plot against him and that he would have to be removed. Van Fleet expressed his in- credulity at this, based on his long association with General Lee. Rhee then inveighed at length against the "gangsters" in the National Assembly who were plotting against him. Our Charge pointed out that regardless of whether the Assembly was right or wrong in its various controversies with the President the impression on the outside world would boil down to a few simple facts: that the executive was pre - venting the democratically elected legislature from meeting; that Rhee! political opponents in the Assembly were being arrested; that drastic police measures were being taken to prevent the legislature of the country from proceeding with its business, Rhee indicated that he would proceed with "what was right" regardless of world opinion. Our Charge feels that further informal representations such as that of General Van Fleet and the Embassy will have no effect upon Rhee, and that stronger action now seems required. BERLIN Our Berlin office reports that as of mid -afternoon - yesterday land cables maintained for Allied use be - tween Berlin and the West had not been affected by the new Communist measures seyering travel and communications between East and West, and there had been no hold-up of either German or Allied civilian traffic, SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION