Telegram from Allan Lightner to Secretary of State Dean Acheson

INCOMING TELEGRAM Department of State RE TELEGRAPH BRANCH 17-X SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION Action Control: 830 FE Rec'd: June 3, 1952 FROM: Pusan 2:23 p.m. Info SS TO: Secretary of State G UNA NO: 1259, June 3, midnight (SECTION ONE OF TWO) P I DCR NIACT DCRM RPTD INFO CINCUNC, EUSAK ADVANCE DIP-263 BY OTHER MEANS Two Embassy officers called on Prime Minister Chang at 1300 today, arriving just as Prime Minister returned from Cabinet meeting at President's residence. Chang told them with sigh of relief that President had backed down on threat dissolve National Assembly. Chang reported Cabinet session with Pres as follows: Pres continued insist Cabinet endorse his plan dissolve National Assembly. Most of Cabinet members refused support plan. After long and fruitless discussion, meeting interrupted by Lightner's arrival (to deliver Pre$ Truman's letter of June 3). As Rhee left room he told Cabinet that if they cld not accept dissolution National Assembly, they must devise other means accomplish his ends. Upon returning to Cabinet meeting, with Pres Truman's letter in hand, which he refused to show to Prime Minister even though requested to do so, Rhee asked Cabinet what sug- gestions they had to make in lieu of dissolving National Assembly. Home Minister Yi Pom-Sok came up with remarkable suggestion that all (repeat all) Assemblymen be arrested and put in stockade". Prime Min stared at Yi with amazement and said, "What a fine set of brains you have! You are 52 years old. Is that all you have to contribute?" When no one else produced alternative plan, Rhee then launched into tirade. He reminded Cabinet that "thousands, perhaps millions' of people are streaming toward Pusan to demand dissolution Assembly. He said there would be terrible disorders "in two or three days" and Assemblymen's lives w1d not be worth much before demonstra- tprs wrath. Pres turned to Home Minister Yi and ordered him not to prevent flow of these people into Pusan. Prime Min previous to this Cabinet meeting had been trying devise plan to forestall Rhee's attempt dissolve Assembly and to placate Rhee enough to give Assembly breathing spell permit- ting continued functioning of Assembly. To this end Prime Min had drafted "compromise" constitutional amendment for sub- 86 mission by Rhee to National Assembly. Central provisions this draft REPRODUCTION FROM THIS SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION COPY, IF CLASSIFIED, IS PROHIBITED