Office of the Historian

895.01/301: Telegram

The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State

Chungking, December 7, 1943—11 a.m.
[Received December 7—10:06 a.m.]

2333. 1. Representative[s] two major Korean parties at Chungking called at Embassy December 4 and requested interpretation of phrase “in due course” relating to Korea in Cairo Declaration.21 They stated initial Korean reaction one of unqualified approval but Chinese press translation of phrase as “at appropriate (or proper) time” together with rumor at Chungking that postwar Korea would be under Chinese mandate had already disturbed Koreans; that Korean meeting in celebration Cairo statement was canceled when official text released; that Koreans were now attempting to obtain interpretation of phrase from Foreign Office and Wang Chung-hui.22 Korean representatives revealed strong fears of Chinese intentions regarding postwar position of Korea and expressed belief Japs would use “qualified statement” as propaganda in Korea and occupied areas to show United Nations intended place Korea under Chinese control.

2. Ta Kung Pao December 3rd reported statement by Foreign Minister Korean Provisional Government expressing Korean pleasure at Cairo Declaration and suggesting United Nations now recognize Provisional Government and furnishing military Lend-Lease aid to Korean Army, but this statement was issued prior to release here of text Cairo Declaration.

Gauss
  1. Made by President Roosevelt, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, President of the National Government of the Republic of China, and British Prime Minister Churchill; released by the White House on December 1, 1943. The part of the Communiqué relating to Korea stated: “The aforesaid three great powers [the United States, China and the United Kingdom], mindful of the enslavement of the people of Korea, are determined that in due course Korea shall become free and independent.” The full text of the Communiqué is printed in Foreign Relations, The Conferences at Cairo and Tehran, 1943, p. 448. For further references to documentation on Korea, see ibid., index entries on p. 916.↩
  2. Secretary-General of the Chinese Supreme National Defense Council.↩