Page 261 →Appendix B Letter from Syngman Rhee to Lulu E. Frey, 1920

Dear Miss Frey:—

Yours of August 11th reached me here sometime ago and I was glad to hear from you. The wedding invitation is interesting although I cannot accept it. Kindly thank Miss Tuttle¹ for it when you write her. To confess the truth I cannot point out any one thing that makes me optimistic, except in a general way—My encouragement comes from two sources, our God and our people. I believe God’s hand is guiding in this movement. I am perfectly confident that in due time we’ll realize our dreams & that due time is not very distant. I would not express myself in this way to any one else for they will laugh at me but I believe it and I am hopeful. Our people are more determined than ever before. It is pity that so many of them suffer and die but that cannot be helped. My only word to them will be— “die happy,” for they will be rewarded somewhere if not here. I wish I could send these words to them all.

You are very lucky to spend the summer in beautiful Maine. Marcella² is working in Washington that hot city. I wish she and others that are working there could get away from that city for a while.

Kindly remember me to Miss Appenzeller.³ I hope to see her before she goes back to Korea. I am preparing to go to Shanghai. I may return to Washington before the end of this year.

I am very anxious to send some words to Korea. I must keep in touch with our leaders at home. Let them know that we are planning to have one of Page 262 →the banks in America establish a branch office in Korea and that some of our friends in Washington and elsewhere are organizing S. S. lines that will touch Korean posts.

With best wishes,

Yours truly

Syngman Rhee