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    "localId": "229036471",
    "label": "Letter from President Syngman Rhee to President Harry S. Truman, with Related Material",
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    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "Letter from President Syngman Rhee to President Harry S. Truman, with Related Material",
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    "ocrText": "-2-\nThe question of arming this additional large body of Kor-\nean\ntroops has become inter-twined in the thinking of some people with the\nquestion of re-arming Japan. These people declare that the Korean reserve\ncontingents are not sufficiently trained. As a matter of fact, they\nare\nbetter trained than were many of the men in the present Republic of Korea\nforces when they were sent to the front. Under the direction of General\nRidgway, working through the Korean generals, such an expanded Korean army\ncould drive the Chinese across the Manchurian border and keep them there.\nMr. President, I know that you are being advised from some quarters\nto revitalize Japanese military power as a means of defending Asia from\nfuture Communist conquest. I must plead with you to look earnestly at\nthe fallacies in this kind of proposal. The nations of Asia which have\nsuffered for centuries from Japanese militarism cannot now trust the inten-\ntions of a rearmed Japan. Both for the sake of our own security and for\nthe sake of the peace and stability of Asia, the armed strength of Korea\nshould be at least equal to that of Japan. We have demonstrated our\ndetermination to resist aggression. Never in our long history have we\nattacked another nation outside our own borders. We have the manpower,\nthe natural resources, and the will to provide a secure base of democracy\nin north Asia. We trust that American policy will not overlook either\nour requirements for self-defense nor our urgent desire to cooperate in\nthe common defense structure of the world-wide democratic community.\nEventually the forces of the United States will leave Korea\nand we must then depend upon our own armies for the defense of our country.\nUnless everything possible is done to prepare and strengthen the Korean\nforces not only to achieve but to maintain the unification of our country,\nfull effect cannot be given to your declared policy of establishing a\nunited, independent, and democratic Korea. It is my sincere request\nthat\nthe Korean army be put in position to carry out and give full effect to\nthis policy.\nWith assurances of my highest regard and personal good wishes,\nI am, Mr. President\nVery sincerely yours,\nThe\nThe President of the United States of America\nThe White House\nWashington, D. C."
}