이 대통령 제주 방문

2 May 1949 Lieut General Albert C. Wedemeyer Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans & Combat Operations Department of the Army Washington 25, D. C. 300 /1 Dear Wedemeyer: I know your busy but feel you're the person to informally keep in touch with there about the Korean situation. We are now in probably the quietest period for a large number of years -- the border or parallel incidents are practically nil now -- Communist activity is practically all underground now not only in the Army and police but in civilian activity too. Purges in the Army recently have succeeded in pulling the teeth of that group right efficaciously -- 500 alleged leftists in the Army are now being watched. Today (May Day) was quiet all over I hear. Down South in the Chiri-san mountain area the guerrillas have been beaten down by an intelligently conducted operation with 12 battalions. This force is now being sent back to its various stations. The several leaders of the guerrillas, the guerilla staff, and the bulk of the active force have been destroyed. Similarly in Cheju-do, the guerrilla force has been beaten down and most of the active members killed or captured along with their weapons. Lee Bum Suk is out as Defense Minister but is still Premier. I hear he's on his way out of that job too. Sihn, who was Home Minister when you were here, is now Defense Minister. He is the best they have and I fear he may become Premier and thus we'd lose him. I have rumors Chough, now in the states, may be the Defense man. Bill Dean liked him above all except for his bottle habits. The President went to Cheju-do recently and was widely acclaimed. It was a home run. Friday the 29th of April he returned from a week's trip in the South -- I think both the trips were excellent for the nation. Mr Sihn and the President have both agreed to reorganize the Defense Department along the lines wanted by us. In them we get rid of the job of the Supreme Chief of Staff, give the Coast Guard more voice and reduce the Bureaus of National Defense Department. My two-cents worth follows: -- the cheapest thing big industrial America can do is to furnish other peoples the product of our factories and resources in order that they may shoot for us and may shoot first, consequently 1 or 2 billions of dollar value is but a drop in the bucket and the finest bit of preparation we can make. I feel that way about this South Korean Army, my work is to make them capable of shooting first and well for Uncle Sugar. By all the agreements, my power here now is puny and after C-day will be punier. However I think I can still, by persuasion and sincere treatment of the leaders by the officers of KMAG, command their army and make it do what is necessary when the time comes. Best personal regards, Yours, W. L. ROBERTS Brigadier General, U. S. Army Commanding