CONFIDENTIAL
Republic of Korea
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
July 11, 1952.
Dear Doc:
This crisis is definitely over with now! The Assembly is thoroughly whipped! And the whole thing came off with no bloodshed and a minimum use of force, Thank God! SMR will undoubtedly be nominated and elected. Lee BS will also undoubtedly be the running mate as Vice-President. John Chang has finally left the sanctuary of the Hospital and may be a candidate also. But there isn’t the slightest chance of anyone but SMR being elected. I am hoping and working on the possibility that Martial Law will be lifted at least on Election Day. To lift it right now, would justify the criticism that it originally had been politically motivated. The P.’s order calling for a re-trial of the SohMinHo case is having good effect here, and. things are generally smoothing out.
As to my personal situation, I am totally exhausted and badly in need of a change. What is your reaction to my returning after the August 15th Inauguration? What is the possibility of returning to work for KPP for 4 or 5 months, permitting me to catch up with myself, see my family again, and await the future in respect to a regular transfer of my family out here? I still have not brought up these thoughts with them, prefering to get your reactions first. But I would like to be able to make some plans and I am getting concerned over how this practically 2-hour-a-day-assignment leaves me very little time for working definitively on the dissertation. Perhaps your letter in the coming pouch will help resolve some of these questions for me.
Also, I now have enough good color motion picture film for a good illustrated lecture, should I be back in the States. Do you know of any booking agent that should be approached on this score? I would like to be able to put it to use; (it contains over 5 good minutes showing SMR in action.) I have always felt that the more lectures the merrier and the better for Korea.
The last several days I have sat with my ears glued to the radio, listening to the Contention proceedings. I still have high hopes for Brother Ike.
Col. Green has moved out and up to be a personal advisor to General Clark on Korean Affairs; he dropped by here and asked if I would come over to Clark’s headquarters when summoned for a briefing. Naturally, I said yes. Walt is the same as ever, except for more nightmares, poor fellow. Incidentally, the Embassy report you mentioned in your letter of June 29th was not in the least exaggerated; there were more than three and stemmed from different groups, but did not worry me at all. Now, of course, there is no danger at all. They did make me a little jumpy at the time and I took extra precautions of all types.
All’s well that ends well,