895.01/104
The Ambassador in China ( Gauss ) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 27.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to my despatch no. 297 of February 12, 1942 on the subject “The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea”, and to transmit for the information of the Department copies of the following:20
- (1)
- Memorandum of conversation of a member of my staff with Dr. Yang Yun-chu, Director of the Eastern Asiatic Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on March 19 regarding the general subject of Korean activity in China;
- (2)
- A bulletin, no. 285, March 10, 1942, of the China Information Committee, an organ of the Kuomintang21 Publicity Board, entitled “The Free Korean Movement”; and
- (3)
- A “Manifesto of the Korean National Revolutionary Party Congress” published in the National Herald of Chungking on January 14 and 15, 1942.
The official Chinese attitude toward the Korean question, as outlined by Dr. Yang, is one of sympathy but hesitation to accord formal recognition to any particular group in the face of obvious disunity among the Korean expatriates and the inability of any one of their organizations to show that it has a real following among the Koreans in the homeland. Dr. Yang indicated that the Chinese were attempting, as a step looking towards eventual recognition, to strengthen the Korean movement in China by a union of its present factions.
During the course of a recent general conversation with the Counselor of this Embassy, Dr. Foo Ping-sheung, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, confirmed the principal points brought out by Dr. Yang and added the interesting observation that, some months ago, Dr. Quo Tai-chi, then Minister of Foreign Affairs, had recommended recognition of the Korean independence movement, but that General Chiang Kai-shek vetoed the recommendation and counselled delay.
Respectfully yours,