Letter stating that the guest house is ready for General Van Fleet to occupy and the need to find a hotel manager for the Bando.

Personal letter to the wife of James Van Fleet.

Personal letter to the wife of James Van Fleet.

Syngman Rhee sends a short message to General James A. Van Fleet hoping for a quick recovery from his operation.

Syngman Rhee asked General James A. Van Fleet about establishing him as an official military adviser.

General Van Fleet first addresses the two sides of the Asian question. Should the US 1) try to “win back Asia” or 2) face the "reality" of the present conditions and should not recommence fighting in Korea? He advises Rhee to concentrate on expanding the ROK army and to leave reunification matters to the US and the United Nations.

President Rhee once again suggests that the US government should increase the ROK defense forces. It will not only be cheaper to fund Korean (over American) divisions, it also means that Americans do not need to fight in Korea. Rhee then negotiates that if the US government implements the necessary military buildup aid, he too will not take any “unilateral action” for or against the future Geneva Conference until after it has been in session. Finally, Rhee advocates his disapproval of US interest to build up Japan.

General Van Fleet addresses his concern for the Far East. While some Americans are calling for US withdrawal from South Korea, he insists that the US has a “morale and a material obligation” in the Peninsula.

General James A. Van Fleet responds to an invitation to attend a ceremony marking the turning over of operational control to Korean forces and General Paik Sun Yup.

The United States has appropriated the ROK a billion dollars’ worth of weapons and supplies. Rhee gives General Van Fleet full control of these funds and encourages him to help transform the ROK into a self-supporting nation. Instead of buying Japanese goods, Korea should set-up her own arms and ammunition producing machines.