895.01/305
The Ambassador in China ( Gauss ) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 28.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose copy of a letter dated October 18th,19 addressed to me by Mr. Syngman Rhee of the Korean Commission in Washington, D. C, in regard to the future status of Korea.
Mr. Rhee anticipates that the Korean divisions trained and maintained by the Soviet Government as a part of the Soviet Far Eastern Army will be used by Soviet Russia eventually to invade Korea and to set up a Soviet Republic there, affiliated with the U. S. S. R. He therefore urges recognition of the so-called Korean Provisional Government now at Chungking.
I have little doubt that should Soviet Russia become, involved in the war against Japan the Korean divisions now in Siberia will be used in any invasion of Korea; but recognition of the so-called Korean Provisional Government of professional revolutionaries constantly [Page 1096] quarreling amongst themselves in China would not prevent the situation he anticipates.
Reference is made to the Embassy’s despatch no. 1815 of November 15, 1943,20 reporting on recent developments in the “Korean Provisional Government” in China.
I am making no reply to Mr. Rhee.
Respectfully yours,