President Truman's Statement on the Situation in Korea

In this press release, President Truman announced that he was committing American forces to a combined United Nations military effort in Korea. The decision was made after war broke out along the 38th parallel on June 25, 1950. On that day, North Korean troops coordinated an attack at several strategic points along the parallel and headed south toward Seoul.
 
Truman's statement illustrates his concern with communist aggression and expansion. He argues that "communism has passed beyond the use of subversion to conquer independent nations and will now use armed invasion and war." He informed his advisors that he believed the invasion was "very obviously inspired by the Soviet Union." This gave America a moral imperative to act. "If we don't put up a fight now," Truman observed to his staff, there was "no telling what they'll do." His statement shows his concern about the future of anticommunist governments in Asia: he pledged to defend Formosa (Taiwan) from attack, and to support French forces in Indochina (a conflict that would eventually escalate into the Vietnam War).

Truman had met with his advisors on the morning of June 27th to draft and revise this public statement. At 11:30 a.m., he met with members of the foreign affairs and foreign relations committees of Congress; shortly after, the statement was released to newspaper reporters. That afternoon, Truman attended a meeting of the United Nations to propose a resolution urging all U.N. member countries to give assistance to South Korea. The meeting had been originally planned for the morning but was postponed to accommodate one of its members. Secretary of State Dean Acheson later reflected that the Soviets liked to point out that since the U.N. meeting occurred after the President's statement, Truman could not truthfully claim that his decision to commit forces was influenced by the wishes of the United Nations.

When it did meet later that day, the United Nations passed Truman's resolution, although a handful of dissenting countries abstained. The resolution condemned North Korea's invasion as a "breach of the peace." In addition to the United States, 15 other nations also sent troops to Korea. Truman did not seek a formal declaration of war from Congress; officially, America's presence in Korea was a "police action."

Transcript

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Immediate Release

June 27, 1950

Statement by the President

In Korea the Government forces, which were armed to prevent border raids and to preserve internal security, were attacked by invading forces from North Korea. The Security Council of the United Nations called upon the invading troops to cease hostilities and to withdraw to the 38th parallel. This they have not done, but on the contrary have pressed the attack. The Security Council called upon all members of the United Nations to render every assistance to the United Nations in the execution of this resolution. In these circumstances I have ordered United States air and sea forces to give the Korean Government troops cover and support.

The attack upon Korea makes it plain beyond all doubt that communism has passed beyond the use of subversion to conquer independent nations and will now use armed invasion and war. It has defied the orders of the Security Council of the United Nations issued to preserve international peace and security. In these circumstances the occupation of Formosa by Communist forces would be a direct threat to the security of the Pacific area and to United States forces performing their lawful and necessary functions in that area.

Accordingly I have ordered the 7th Fleet to prevent any attack on Formosa. As a corollary of this action I am calling upon the Chinese Government on Formosa to cease all air and sea operations against the mainland. The 7th Fleet will see that this is done. The determination of the future status of Formosa must await the restoration of security in the Pacific, a peace settlement with Japan, or consideration by the United Nations.

I have also directed that United States Forces in the Philippines be strengthened and that military assistance to the Philippine Government be accelerated.

I have similarly directed acceleration in the furnishing of military assistance to the forces of France and the Associated States in Indochina and the dispatch of a military mission to provide close working relations with those forces.

I know that all members of the United Nations will consider carefully the consequences of this latest aggression in Korea in defiance of the Charter of the United Nations. A return to the rule of force in international affairs would have far-reaching effects. The United States will continue to uphold the rule of law.

I have instructed Ambassador Austin, as the representative of the United States to the Security Council, to report these steps to the Council.