Memorandum from the Department of State to President Harry S. Truman Regarding the Korean Situation

This item relates to outbreak of the Korean War.

Extracted text

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TOP SECRET DEPARTMENT OF STATE COPY NO. / 156 TOP SECRET Memorandum of Conversation OF 8 COPIES LIMITED DISTRIBUTION DATE: June 25, 1950 THERE SUBJECT: Korean Situation THE ARCHIVES RECORDS "NATIONAL AND LIMITED SERVICE OUTERAMENT PARTICIPANTS: The President Secretary Acheson Secretary Pace Secretary Johnson Secretary Finletter Secretary Matthews General Bradley Admiral Sherman COPIESXIO! Mr. Webb Mr. Rusk } General Vandenberg General Colling Mr. Hickerson State Mr. Jessup ) Dept. 1-1408 The persons listed above met with the President for dinner at Blair House at 7:45 PM. Before dinner General Bradley read a memorandum prepared by General MacArthur in which he emphasized his views about the importance of denying Formosa to the Communists. After dinner the discussion began around the table. The President called on the Secretary of State to open the discussion. MR. ACHESON summarized the various problems which he thought the President should consider. The first point was the question of authorizing General MacArthur to supply Korea with arms and other equipment over and above the supplies of ammunition presently authorized under the MDAP program. He recommended that this be done. He suggested that our air cover should be used to aid in the evacuation of the women and children from Seoul and that our air force should be authorized to knock out northern Korean tanks or airforce interfering with the evacuation. He then mentioned the resolution adopted by the Security Council and suggested that consideration should be given to what further DECLASSIFIED - O. 11632. Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or (E) 12.29.75 D.p. of State letter. Augu 9, 1973 TOP SECRET Ba NLT HC NARS Date 6-11-26