South Korean President Syngman Rhee Writes To Future American Historian Laying Out His Views On The Korean War And How To Prevent World War III: “There Can Be No Peace While Bandit Nations Are Allowed To Terrorize And Subjugate The Weak”

SYNGMAN RHEE (1875-1965). Rhee was a South Korean politician who served as the first president of South Korea from 1948 to 1960. His presidency was defined by anti-communism and close ties to the United States during and after the Korean War until rising protests forced his resignation and the inauguration of the Second Republic of Korea. TLS. 2 pg. 8” x 10”. March 5, 1954. Kyung Mu Dai. A typed letter signed “Syngman Rhee” to “Mr. James Murfin”: “I was pleased to receive your letter and to know of your enthusiasm for collecting letters from well known people of the world. In particular I note that you are interesting [sic] in keeping these for your children and grand children for their historical interest. I would like to say how important it is for these children to know freedom, and to know peace in their time. To achieve peace – permanent peace – will require the cooperation of all non-aggressive peoples. When a ruthless, ambitious power threatens a neighbor the combined strength of other nations – ready for instant retaliation – will stand as a guarantee that the aggressor will not strike. A nation that believes in the use of force to gain its own way respects only superior force – that’s why international cooperation is necessary. There can be no real peace while bandit nations are allowed to terrorize and subjugate the weak. History will cite the war in Korea as an example of international action to assure peace. The United Nations came to my country’s aid to halt the forces of aggression and penalize the aggressor. However, this precedent-setting case still is incomplete. The task was interrupted with the Chinese Communists still on Korean soil. The are making that soil part of China. The Communists have hailed the truce as a victory and millions of fearful people in still free countries and behind the Iron and Bamboo Curtains are becoming convinced nothing can stop Communism, that they too are doomed. Unless all of Korea is liberated the U.N. is likely to go the way of the League of Nations, which failed because its member nations refused to stand up for their bleeds, and that would be the beginning of the end for freedom. World War III can be averted by acting now. The Communists don’t want war if they can succeed in their program without it. If by our unified action they are compelled to give up their ill-gotten gains in Korea they will realize that their dreams of world domination cannot be realized, that the U.N. will stop them wherever they attack. Then there will be peace, and only then. But we who want peace for our children must show our determination, our courage and our strength. Unless we face the grave situation honestly there will be no liberty for us whether we live in Korea, Europe, or America”. This powerful letter from President Rhee was most likely sent to James V. Mufin (1929-1987), who left a legacy of more than a dozen books, numerous articles, and other works writing for the National Park Service and various historical publications. Rhee’s view, that the Korean War was a strong but unfinished example of global action and that peace can only come through strength remains a hallmark of much of Western foreign policy thought. Seeing such a prominent 20th century political leader articulate his philosophy this forcefully makes this letter a unique and important artifact with great historical context.