Telegram from Ambassador Alan G. Kirk to Secretary of State Dean Acheson

UT in INCOMING TELEGRAM Department of State ACTION COPY B-X TELEGRAPH BRANCH SECRET Action Control: 10861 Rec'd: FE June 25, 1950 FROM: Moscow 9:59 a.m. Info TO: Secretary of State DECLASSIFIED 26 SS E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and S(D) G NO: P 1726, June 25, 3 p.m. en us 1954 vel. OSD letter, April 12, 1974 EUR By NLT. N/C , NARS Date 9-16-77 UNA USUN PRIORITY DCR DEPARTMENT PASS USUN SENT DEPARTMENT NIACT 1726 REPEATED INFO NIACT USUN 35. FROM BARBOUR. If estimate last paragraph Seoul's 925 June 25 to Department correct, this aggressive NK military move against ROK represents clear-cut Soviet challenge which in our considered opinion US should answer firmly and swiftly as it constitutes direct threat our leadership of free world against Soviet Communist imperialism. ROK is a creation of US policy and of UN action. Its destruction would have calculably grave unfavorable repercussions for US in Japan, SEA and in other areas as well. We feel therefore, that we are called upon to make clear to the world, and without delay, that we are prepared upon request to assist ROK maintain its independence by all means at our disposal, including military help and vigorous action in UNSC. Embassy assumes that ROK has or will shortly ask for such assistance. Public declaration our willingness to assist in any feasible way desired by ROK need not, and should not, in Embassy view, await formal ROK initiative, Delay could suggest to Soviets possibility their precipitat- ing with impunity further immediate action against Indochina et cetera. Soviets probably calculating that we will be inclined to allow "neutralization" of Korean civil war in which numerically stronger and more heavily armed NK troops and Commie fifth columnists in ROK territory will form victorious combination and thus advance boundaries Soviet empire without actual use Soviet military forces. For reasons given EMBTEL 1214 April 24 and despatch 514 same date ( "Embassy estimate Soviet intentions") which we believe still valid Embassy RECORDS GERVICK does not think Soviets prepared now risk possibility full scale war TOP SECRET PERMANENT RECORD COPY This copy must be returned to DC/R central files with notation of action taken REPRODUCTION OF THIS MESSAGE IS PROHIBITED