It can positively be foretold that the communists will make every attempt to prevent the political conference from being a success but it will equally be assiduous to keep it from being labeled a failure... In every conference in which Communists take part, their aim is to prolong the discussion as a sounding board for their hateful ad hurtful propaganda, and to make the talks a screen behind which to carry on their own programs of infiltration and subversion. This is why we have insisted that the conference should not be prolonged beyond ninety days. That is ample time for the Communists to demonstrate the degree of their sincerity in being willing to settle the issue of their aggressive attack upon Korea by political means.

As Armistice negotiations proceeded, South Korea became more agitated. They did not agree with the U.S. over the terms of the agreement. Non-repatriates would remain on South Korean soil during the period of explaining and Rhee opposed the selection of India as the chief custodial nation. South Korea feared the U.S. would abandon them after the agreement. Rhee said that a truce between UN and Communists “meant death” to his country. He believed that the Chinese Communists should be driven out from Korean territory, and he was willing to do it even if he had to fight alone. The ROK position stood firm: an indefinite truce in a divided Korea was unacceptable. In any case, Washington now meant to press for an armistice with or without Rhee’s participation. He refused to be satisfied by U.S. assurance of economic aid and a mutual defense treaty, and the premise to win political unity for all Korea. In a Swedish newspaper Rhee wrote: “I need something concrete to show the people that our security has been guaranteed... If the U.S. government is ready to conclude a mutual-security pact, it will be a great encouragement to our people – so long as it is not conditioned, as it is [now], by so perilous an armistice.” However, President Eisenhower agreed to negotiate the defense treaty only after the signing of the armistice.

In a moving speech delivered on July 4, 1953 in Seoul, Rhee asks the United States to remember our Independence Day. The American ideals that were instilled that day inspired many revolutions around the globe including the French revolution, the uprising of the Russian serfs, and the Korean revolt against Japan. He reminds us that:

Ignoring Rhee’s warnings the US also gave into a slew of Chinese propaganda aimed at making the ROK seem like a power-hungry dictatorship. Radio Peking sounded almost sympathetic with the US as it bitterly attacked Rhee and “his criminal regime.” The ROKs were putting up a “desperate struggle in coercing the Americans” to wreck the truce, said the Red broadcast. “This is ... an insult to the spirit of independence of the American people.” This in effect could have deepened the mistrust already existing between the U.S. and the Republic of Korea. In Philadelphia, ROK Ambassador Dr. You Chan Yang accused “officials of the UN” of threatening to cut off even food shipments to Korea, “to force us to accept the truce terms.” The State Department flatly denied it, and reportedly considered asking that You be called home.

The South Koreans were so agitated by the armistice they sometimes attacked UN troops. One GI in Korea wrote, “they are supposed to be our friends, the South Koreans... I don’t know if I’ll spend Christmas at home or in a prison camp somewhere. We don’t know who the hell’s the enemy over here.” South Koreans went to great lengths to oppose the armistice. However, the height of the armistice opposition was yet to come.

Some topics in this essay:
Republic Korea, South Korean, Syngman Rhee, North Korea, South Korea, President Rhee, Korea United, Independence Seoul, Day American, Chan Yang, republic korea, south korea, * *, syngman rhee, * * *, 38th parallel, president eisenhower, north korea, van fleet, south korean, united nations, chinese north koreans, stood firm belief, crossed 38th parallel,