Telegram from John Muccio to Secretary of State Dean Acheson

TELEGRAM Department of State Kanea 6-1-X TELEGRAPH BRANCH CONFIDENTIAL SECURITY INFORMATION A Control: 12976 Rec'd: March 27, 1952 Pusan 10:32 p.m. DECLASSIFIED TO: Secretary of State E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402 State Dept. Guidelines, March 6,1982 UNA NO: 937, March 27, 11 p.m. P By DEB NLT, Date 4-15-85 DC DC RM RPTD INFO CINCFE PERSONAL FOR GEN RIDGWAY AND EUSAK PERSONAL FOR GEN VAN FLEET DIP 83 BY OTHER MEANS. DEPTEL 646, March 5. Fol verbatim text letter dated March 21 handed me today by President Rhee addressed President Truman: (original by pouch). "My Dear Mr. President: "Your good letter of March 4, 1952 was handed to me personally by Amb Muccio and I am exceedingly sorry to realize how (rpt how) I have caused you so much concern by my open statement re the cease-fire negotiations. I need not (rpt not) remind you that it is you who have saved us by your momentous decision to defend Korea against aggression and that we owe you our very lives. My people have been given at least, a fighting chance. Not (rpt not) only Koreans will remember you with deepest gratitude but all the peoples of the free world will always acclaim you as the greatest leader in world history in the cause of human freedom and security. Indeed I am the last person to raise voice against any change you may deem neces- sary to pursue in your efforts to settle the Communist problem in Korea as well as in the entire world. "Mr. President, allow me to express frankly what I have had in mind for some time past. Please accept this as a sincere personal conviction of one of your grateful admirers, whose only desire is to see you succeed in completing the greatest service you undertook to render to all humanity by checking the expansion of Communism. You will remember how spontaneously the entire free world responded to your call for a joint action against the Communist aggression in Korea and against the pos- sibility of another world war. The cease-fire talks have, how- ever, dampened the morale and high spirit you so inspiringly and effectively aroused among all 1ree men everywhere, besides allowing the Communists to build up to dangerous proportions. I always believed in a strong American leadership in the orient and I was strengthening the American hand against the middle ground groups in CONFIDENTIAL SECURITY INFORMATION REPRODUCTION OF THIS MESSAGE IS PROHIBITED