Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1942, General; the British Commonwealth; the Far East, Volume I

740.0011 European War 1939/19207

Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hamilton)

[Washington,] February 5, 1942.

Reference Dr. Syngman Rhee’s note of February 2, 1942,⁶⁷ requesting that he be permitted to sign on behalf of the Korean people the Declaration by the United Nations.

In the Department’s press release of January 4 [5], 1942,⁶⁸ it was stated that “…⁶⁹ the government of the United States as the depository for that Declaration, will receive statements of adherence to its (the Declaration by the United Nations) principles from appropriate authorities which are not governments”. A considerable number of requests for permission to adhere have been received from such authorities. The Department has as yet taken no action in regard to any of them. As Dr. Rhee is stated by the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea to be its representative, it is suggested that the attached note from Dr. Rhee⁷⁰ be forwarded to Mr. Hoskins in Mr. Berle’s office to be held with other similar communications, which are understood to be some 25 in number. It would seem that consideration of the action to be taken with regard to Dr. Rhee’s note should be deferred until consideration is also given to the similar requests.

M[axwell] M. H[amilton]

67. Not printed.
68. Department of State Bulletin, January 10, 1942, p. 44.
69. Omission indicated in the original memorandum.
70. i. e., the note of February 2, not printed.