Memorandum of Conversation with President Harry S. Truman, Ambassador of Korea Dr. John M. Chang, and Stanley Woodward

CONF IDENTIAL DEPARTMENT OF STATE Memorandum of Conversation DATE: June 27, 1949 SUBJECT: Korean Aid The President PARTICIPANTS: The Ambassador of Korea, Dr. John M. Chang The Chief of Protocol, Mr. Woodward G COPIES TO: U/FAA FE TRUMAN NA ARCHIVES Gg. "NATIONAL SERVICE" AND RECORDS For epo 1-1493 The Korean Ambassador called on the President at 12:00 noon today to thank him for his message to the Congress on Korean assistance. Dr. Chang said that he had sought the appointment upon the explicit instructions of President Rhee. The future of Korea, Dr. Chang stated, depended upon this help and if it should not be forthcoming his country would be in serious straits. The President assured the Ambas- sador that every effort would be made by the Administration for the enactment of this legislation during the present session of the Congress, adding that he had assurances from II The Big Four" only this morning that the Korean aid bill would be given immediate consideration by the House Committee in charge of it. The Ambassador went on to say that Korea needed not only this financial help but also military assistance. When American troops will have been withdrawn from southern Korea, unless arms and military supplies are furnished southern Korea that part of the country would not be able to protect itself against the dangerous threat from the North. The President asked if the withdrawal of Soviet troops from DECLASSIFIED È. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or (E) D.p. of State letter, 27.75.75 SONFIDENCIAL 8,7 NLT- H , NARS Date3-1-76