Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

WLTCPSF-KORED) 16 DEPARTMENT OF STATE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHINGTON June 27, 1950 T SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS KOREA We have advised the North Atlantic Treaty countries as well as India, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, and Indochina that the President has ordered US air and sea forces to give cover and support to the forces of the Republic of Korea. The Foreign Offices of those countries are being informed by our mis- - sions that under the present circumstances Communist occupation of Formosa would directly threaten the security of the Pacific area and of US forces performing necessary and legitimate functions in that area. As a consequence the Foreign Offices are being told of the President's decision to order the Seventh Fleet to prevent any attack on Formosa and to see that the Chinese Government in Formosa ceases all sea and air operations against the mainland. The President has also directed that military assistance to the Philippines and to French and associated states forces in Indochina be expedited. The President's decisions are being conveyed personally to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek. We have directed our Embassy in Moscow to make an approach to the Soviet Foreign Office, calling its attention to the serious situation in Korea and asking the USSR to use its influence with North Korean authorities to withdraw their invading forces immediately. While we recognize the disadvantages of involving Soviet prestige more directly in Korean aggression, we incline to the view that, as long as the Soviets can utilize their satellites to take aggressive action without serious danger of becoming involved themselves, they will be likely to employ this device with increasing boldness. If on the other hand it can be made clear to the USSR that aggressive action by satellites risks involving its own prestige directly, the Soviets may be more cautious in pushing this tactic to the extreme. We also feel that prompt and explicit exposure of Soviet responsibility for the present clear-cut aggression in Korea should go far toward destroying the effectiveness of the Kremlin's "peace offensive.' DECLASSIFIED s TRUMAN SWORET E. o. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or (E) Dept. of Amp.9.1973 11-8-77 State letter, SERVICE PROJECT NLT 77-37 Es By NLT- IVE NARS Date 1-17-78 country