740.00119 Control (Korea)/10–2545: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Acting Political Adviser in Japan (Atcheson)
59. News items appearing under by-line of Richard J. [H.] Johnston in New York Times, date line Seoul, October 17, mentions Syngman Rhee10 as guest of General Hodge. Same item states Rhee was “outspoken in his hostility of Soviet policy”.
Editorial, New York Times, October 20, mentions public utterances apparently made by Syngman Rhee since his arrival in Korea regarding division of country by 38 degree parallel and supported his views.
Department understood from Rhee before his departure that his primary objective was to bring together Koreans in cooperation with military government. Unguarded references to international questions made locally are likely to complicate negotiations shortly to be undertaken with Soviets for exchange of goods and services in Korea. (Cm-out 75018,11 902). Rhee’s attention might be drawn to this and his commitments, Dept’s 1569, September 27.
Repeat to Polad,12 Korea.
- Mr. Johnston’s article stated Mr. Rhee arrived at Seoul on October 16.↩
- Not printed; this message from General Marshall to General MacArthur stated that “it is proposed to open immediate negotiations on diplomatic level with Russians to nullify so far as practicable objectionable economic and governmental features occasioned by 38 degree parallel” and requested figures on import requirements of southern Korea and its surplus resources available for exchange for products of northern Korea (740.00119 Control (Korea)/10–1045).↩
- Office of the Political Adviser.↩