OPTIONAL FORM NO. 10
8010-104

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

Memorandum

Ambassador Douglas MacArthur II DATE: April 11, 1961

FROM : Robert H. Miller (Ww ry

kc lemme TN Er Oe

SUBJECT: Anniversary of Belgian Participation in-Korean War.

You will recall that, in his letter to you of March 28 (attached),
Tony Freeman asked your sympathetic consideration of a proposal for giving
recognition to the 10th anniversary of Belgium's participation in the
Korean War. Attached behind Tony's letter are copies of an exchange of
letters with Dick Finn, Political Adviser at EUCOM, giving the backround
to Tony's letter.

When I checked this proposal out earlier, I found no one who was en-
thusiastic about it for reasons given in my letter to Dick Finn. I do not
see how the fact that the Belgian contingent was unique in that is was
composed of volunteers adds much counterweight to the arguements set forth
in my letter. In view of these arguéments, it seems to me that the message
from Secretary McNamara to Defense Minister Gilson is appropriate recogni-
tion of this anniversary.

Attachments:

March 28 letter from Tony Freeman
Letters from Dick Finn