COMMENT ⊗   VALID 00002 PAGES
C REC  PAGE   DESCRIPTION
C00001 00001
C00002 00002	.require "let.pub" source
C00006 ENDMK
C⊗;
.require "let.pub" source;
∂AIL Senator Edward F. Kennedy↓Senate Office Building
↓Washington D.C.∞
Dear Senator Kennedy:

	I think your proposal, as described in the %2New York Times%1
of April 3,  to threaten withdrawal of aid from South Korea unless it
becomes more democratic  in an unspecified  way will promote  nuclear
proliferation.  A proposal that said  we will support military aid to
Korea,  if Park does  A, B and  C would promote  democracy better and
might avoid this danger.

	At present,  Park  can justifiably  conclude  that he  cannot
satisfy  you, because  the  demand for  more democracy  is  merely an
excuse for denying the  aid, the denial being  really motivated by  a
desire to  avoid another Vietnam-like  situation.  Since  South Korea
cannot predict what  will happen in the United States elections, they
must conclude  that  their only  hope  lies  in acquiring  their  own
nuclear weapons.   %3When the  policeman quits, everyone  must defend
himself as best he can.%1

	While  your statement finds  it expedient to  ignore the fact
that South Korea  faces the danger of  a far worse dictatorship  than
Park's, no  South Korean who values his  personal freedom will forget
it.  Park will  have no trouble  mobilizing his country's  scientific
and  industrial resources  for  an  atomic  bomb project,  and  other
nations  that also face  a re-examination of  American commitments by
the next Administration will be motivated to co-operate with him.

	If South Korea (or Israel  or Taiwan or South Africa)  deters
an attack by demonstrating  nuclear capability, nuclear proliferation
will take  off in earnest.  Every general in the world will feel that
anything else is a toy.  Th Japanese, who look  down on Koreans, will
reverse their attitude toward nuclear weapons.

	On the  other hand, a positive statement,  %3We will reaffirm
our guarantee to South Korea if ...%1 will both advance democracy and
retard proliferation.

.sgn