SECRET DEPARTMENT OF STATE This document consists of 5 Pages Copy No a of 1 Copies SeriesB PARTMENT of Conversation DATE May 20 1957 1957 JUN I9 AM 9 42 Introduction of Atomic Weapons into Korea - V OFFICE OF 01% sz l V M Jacques Vimont Charge d'Affaires French Embassy M Pierre Landy Counselor French Enbassy - - Walter S Robertson Assistant Secretary Admiral Redford Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Mr William T Nunley EUR COPIES To Mr Howard 1 Parsons Director Northeast Asian Affairs Ff 2 cc USUN 1 NA 5 cc EIR 2 Amembassy Seoul 1 cc I0 2 Amembassy Paris 1 Amembassy Tokyo 2 one for CINCUNC DRF lcc - Mr McCormick Rm 2E837 Pentagon 2 OLI 2 I Mr Robertson explained our request for Mr Vimont to come to the Depart- ment of State as a desire to discuss the Communist violations of Article 13 d of the Armistice Agreement in Korea He eaq lained that the Armistice had three sig- nificant purposes 1 to establish a cease-fire 2 to convene a peace conference within 90 days and 3 to freeze the military status quo and maintain a military balance between the Commist forces and the United Nations forces me Amisticesintended to cover a period until a political settlement could be reached has now stretched into nearly four years Mr Robertson said that it took almost a year to get the Communists to agree to a political conference and at the Geneva meeting in mid-1951 after twO months of persistent negotiation by the United Nations the Conmmnists showed absolutely no negotiating position regarding is the unification of Korea except on their own terms In other words this is another case of the usual Commnmist practice of keeping agreements only so long as and to the extent which it suits them to do so Mr Robertson explained that the Communists have brought extensive equip- e ment into north Korea in violation of Article 13 d Our intelligence indicates that they now have between 600-700 modern airplanes and modem artillery In the meantime the United Nations Command has scrupulously observed the Armistice Agree- ment Consequently the United States now has two divisions in the Republic of Korea equipped as at the time of the Armistice Much of this equipment is no longer in production If the Comunists had not violated Article 13 d we could replace on a piece-by piece basis the nearest equivalent to that in existence at the time of the Armistice Agreement However the Communists having introduced jet planes and modern artillery have upset the military balance which the ECLASSIFIED ori y 7 1 SECRET swam 2 - Amistice was intended to preserve The Comml'nist violations were reported the Sixteen two years ago by Admiral Redford mey were also discussed with the Sixteen in early 1956 just prior to the action to withdraw the Neutral Nations Inspe Ftion Teams from both the north and southern zones of Korea In correcting this situation which the United States considers essential at this time it must be done in a manner to demonstrate that it was the Communists Who were the violators of the Armistice and not the United Nations Command In connection with this we are consulting with the six countries who still have forces in Korea the United Kingdom Australia New Zealand Canada turkey and Thailand and with the French Before any action is taken we will inform the remaining members of the Sixteen as well as the Swiss and the medes At this POint Mr Robertson read the proposed course of action outlined in the attached paper I Mr Vimont rewonded that he would report the conversation as soon as possible and'would inform the United States Government of his Government's reaction Mr Landy asked about the nature of the armaments which the United States pro- posed He referred to recent press reports indicating that major types of atomic weapons would be included Admiral Radford responded that the United States has no intention of equipping the army of the Republic of Korea with dual-capable weapons In addition anything which the United States does for United States forces will be done gradually and naturally As far as modern airplanes are concerned it is the intention to rotate new squadrons into the Republic of Korea to enable pilots to learn the terrain rather than to locate such equipment in Republic of Korea territory He added that it was the intention to put in more modern tanks and more modern artillery for the United States forces Mr Robertson explained that we recognize the importance of enphasizing our allegiance to cease-fire provisions of the Amistice and re-emphasizing that our course of action is only a defensive measure Admiral Redford explained that the situation regarding the deterioration of our position in Korea as explained to the Sixteen two years ago has accelerated during the last We years It has now reached the point where the possibility exists that a sudden breakthrough by the Communists could not be adequately handled This posi- tion is one which invites aggression through weakness At the same time it generates doubts on the part of the Republic of Korea as to the intentions of the United Nations and the United States to defend the country in case of aggression 'Ihe conversation concluded with Mr Vimont' observation that the world will understand that this action taken by the United States is in response to a course followed by the Commists However the world will also want to know whether the United States intends to go beyond actions which the Communists have taken Admiral Radford responded that the world would have to trust the United States in this con- nection bearing in mind that the United States has worldwide responsibilities against which actions in the Republic of Korea are constantly evaluated 4 DECLASSIFIED lil 5M6 0' SEBRET men meat to thu timing and ahculd it to deem 3 glimmer 1m weapon into Km an 05' Pmoodin own a no later than July 1 195 and zoom 8 patina the senior We aopmaentstiu in the me would nah atoms at am that following 11mm the aid 2m violet the Ami-tie Ammcm in an 011me particulars 1 It has immanent reinforcing combat mum at the types warm to in paragraph 13k in contravention 01 the provisions allowing only pun-forwqu or equip-mm worn out and dent er tar tho data or the Armistice 2 It Mn also intro ueod combat muipmnt and of entirely different types and capabnuua from try it had Earn Ct the than at the Ammun- 3 hu can mm e was damn It has introde mu aqummt at parts or may other than than manna 1n the Armistice Amt-1t 5 me has truath ammu a mm mum cm to him than inoml as th properly Msumt approprhto hmticml mamas this purpose under Ambition Dot-I110 or malts violuubm mum b0 Swine in tho mm The United Hutton- Gem-ma has mm an again protum than mutton by tho Comth do and has mm in 1am to have it mu with provision o the Amati amount A11 procodm'll mum by Agnew to - tho aetth at 1109111598 have boon mam by the 1th atten CW The wanted protests and the methods a utqu pursued will be an tpcoi c in the 15m harm the Military uni-tut Commission Tho United athm Colman infant to the Amniotic Lyceum However the agrant repeated and willful vialmiom at that Apromm by the aid undemme provision smut was manually design to assure the stability of the mum-y mini A 7 DECLASSIFIED 2 of then pmhlom 1m to imam tho mutual 0 status quo by tho ninth guitar humane mine on M an 1953 The Comwzizt side by Ma rammed violrtlont at tho Amati mlomnt has seriously upset the relative military mum by bandit 9 mum umbiliby 1n the ma many sum-aria to that which it had an tho time of the savanna in tho otlwr hand the United Nation 00mm due to its scmnuloua obccr mmo or the Imam Agreement increased its cordon and 13 um maimed vim tho um type or umparm it bad at the two of tho Armin-m internment an to 1am long period of the 91mm tho Arnm co went into tract and weapon ham ammonia and outmoded and than undue mplacomnt cannot in twinned weeks on hand cr aux-mm in production This annular upgrath the ind-111123310 The possibility that this situation would trim was not foreman at 310 am the Andat cn Agrenncm vac mrotiated and indeed it would not 12mm armor had tn 81d grounded to magnum in goo- 1 faith the peaceful emu want that was content-dam the Amutice In 11m c the fact that tho Cnmmiat side has greatly violated provhslom of paragraph 1301 tho U310 comm that it is mum to bc mumcd of corrupcmlimf unclear the proviniona of this yummy until such time as the relative militant balance has lawn stand and the mm by an actual has in ame to canny The stability or the Amati and the mutant me or the tenth unitary balance which 1% the primry purpose 0 than provision 01 tho Armistice to 11mm can now on be watered and by the wplawnmt the 210 as its old mpozm with mm mm manna The use is taking appropriate stopclearly untede that 1 am only purpose or the United Nation Comma action to to restor- tm relative mum a mum twang mt tho rm interned tn pram 2 United mums Comma taxation to tho fact that the replacea- mt weapons no being deployed for animal purpose only 3 Th United mum wanna tn tm a an it we in the past fully to chem-m the cease re and all the prwieiom of tho mum Apmmn'o can to the about to which it 1 untitled -I DECLASSIFIED F5 ii 0 I 53 gtifhd to be mum from comnmco Menu 01 Comm mum of mum 13 4 and of moss cowde in its sb to31 1956 3 imumwsto the mam n vr- nt 5n Amistico mmiceln cute 5 ute-wrong statement ham on it would 120 Located in mas-hingth no $0 1am than August 1 1767 and mom it vaccine the bullied Command cum brawn It full report of the Mum taken and mum it to tho Unimd Minna swim to this rfMemm cmzroroncw will is mm with an Hartman at tho United mam Comma an aorta and internal mtl nation of the curse of anti will be 51mm to the sun and Swain n m era of the 159mm Humane Super- may nonunion DECLASSIFIED orime It I I la mu m4 4 Thisdocu tconsisth-Y IFEes BET Na cwies Series Km mm Ion-Mon 0 mm uni Fm in tau 1 than Ir Porn-v- lawnmo- in Just W06 my 1967 8 constant to support an at luau-n and mo mun non-Mon- de ru- both 88 torus in my and no forces The can include plan-s capabl- of carrying mam Wm mu amt qu to ban on grunt an and I than and realistic mmuunon at th- hm mun Wat 5 I ruin oppanud to Maximum mica into men Sven on M propane anon-dawn rear the military balmth in Man an shelving that Commas strength in North In as boon immucd to an anon mun-1n u to stain molm weapon in Karat We have mum at a 0mm force buildup no the mm min - uapm countor this 1 5 no instant in knuu that autumn 1511 roman on 1n comint ground forces have taken plum The security or am Ropubuo of dam on it tram relaunch with than US summing a tow nun our upon- in Iona 111 1 ammo this security upccially that than with nuclear capability will b autumn Inau- tho agraad put of the prom To the coal-I17 u mmduction or mush upon In am at Ann me in Karat and mat more difficult an Iranian or condition landing to gram mm mum in the support coat or 30 tan-cu DECLASSIFIED w-gguthomy 55not mun- at an 1 Justin um ml in human mm political Mitt Luth- troomld and in saint lm can hamummdu poo-anth mm lo LASSIFIED DEC A lins docs il 73 of_ g 1 will mm'm mm mm 30' Swim for rut-cu in Km 1 in rospenlu to your 1001 of stub 15 of no oquihnalt for 0 8 Parlil ll 2 TM Donn-an or has and tin aunt chants of staff but that in cc-monnu with 9 5-2 pulley ta Uri rams sm- 9 uncut Il lulu min whiny 13 an an the attache int amw not In approved for tho Woman of 0 1 1 For in Man That an that only by no mounting 0 3 hm can any arch-1c tho training an upstaticanl vartutilaty to us both convontisnal 31 auelnnr won eas 3 the of tato belitvws that nadir a like 1529 ratattnm of rtieln 13 4 at an auntie Aaroalolt 0 any reriaca obnelgto and worlpoat aquira ng 21th an item as clan in affa tivms and mg as continent rim node-n sundst at Muetwa The nrtmat Mn that cant an inasrgretnticn 111 tho 13- troductioa of uwspona ub tn atailo 13 their primary feature thu Dmartm ut has Mon # 1111- to saga-an 1211 than on tha stuck-m list amp times John the reek ebcrt I hurt Osaistant of stat DECLASSIFIED Junta Mink 61' Mme mu Farrell Lt central 0341 Spatial sllotnnt kt tho 305 it use attain any 4' 8 arm am Math-r mtm Mt Ii-103 run D97 Maul 30 lot that Cam nix-om 43 an mu-pupal Ir-53 7 In an Gnu Skymopcr tractor lay In Islam on but of titanium and ponle nuns by um up at a data not t dit nu n hi #0 ngtlalrea amt-c hum Carrie In an uncut Emu 30h Imp-1 mm mm In hub 80 11pr M1 This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu