895.01/11–745
The Acting Chairman of the Korean Commission (Limb) to the Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Vincent)
Dear Mr. Vincent: Pursuant to our conversation concerning the procedure of restoring self-government and independence to the people of Korea, I have communicated with Dr. Syngman Rhee, who is now working with the political leaders in Korea as well as with the United States Military Government there and the Korean Provisional Government, for the establishment of an independent Korean Government. Allow me to present herewith the principles collectively enunciated by the leaders of the Korean people and in which they, under the guidance of their revered spokesman, Dr. Rhee, are determined to achieve immediate self-government:
1. That the capability for self-government can be demonstrated by a nation only by the actual practice of self-government.
No one is now in a position to assert that the Koreans are unable to govern themselves because no one has any proof to support that assertion—until the Korean people have an opportunity to administer their affairs.
Therefore, it is imperative that the Government of Korea must be turned over to the people of Korea by holding a national election at once.
2. The military occupation of Korea was instituted for the purpose of facilitating the surrender of the Japanese military forces there. Now that the task has been accomplished, the military forces of Russia will best be withdrawn from Korea by a mutual arrangement between the United States and Russia.
3. Such withdrawal is essential for:
- (a)
- The unification of the nation both economically and politically, which is manifestly impossible under the arbitrary division of the land as at present;
- (b)
- The freedom of communication and unhampered procedure for a nation-wide election for a government.
4. The fact that Korea was under an enemy domination for thirty-five years is not a valid reason for denying her immediate self-government. Other nations have amply proved their ability to administer themselves as exemplified by Bulgaria after the War of 1877 and by Poland after the World War.
5. Korea has maintained an independent nationhood for over forty centuries during which she has contributed much to the civilization of the world. She can at once resume her self-government as soon as she is given a chance to do so. Any idea calculated to apply international [Page 1116] trusteeship over Korea is destructive to the true interests of the Korean people, for such a trusteeship by its very nature will divide up the people and country and make unity and independence impossible. Article 73 of the United Nations charter is obviously intended for uncivilized colonial peoples. Korea, with a history of forty centuries, is one of the most highly civilized and most homogeneous and literate nations on the continent of Asia. Any trusteeship is most definitely inapplicable to Korea if the spirit of the United Nations Charter is to be honestly respected.
6. The commanders of the American occupation forces in Korea have repeatedly expressed their pleasure in having the cooperation and ability of the Koreans in the task of governing the country. The aspiration of the whole population, the thirteenth largest in the world, is definitely and unanimously for self-government for their nation.
7. The Chinese Government has always advocated immediate independence for Korea. The President and the people of the United States have unmistakably stood for the same end. Russia also has come out for it. Korea is ready, eager and able to take up self-government. There is no reason whatsoever why self-government should not be accorded to Korea at once.
8. The sacred pledged word of the American Government to the Korean people—as exemplified in the Korean-American Treaty of 1882, the Cairo Declaration of 1943, the Potsdam Proclamation of 1945 and President Truman’s declaration of September 18, 1945—must be redeemed without any delay whatsoever, so that all the peoples of Asia may not lose their faith in the integrity of international pledges and in the national conscience of the great powers.
9. The Korean people have ably governed themselves for many millenniums among great warring powers; they have determinedly fought against the rule of terrorism of the Japanese; they will never submit to any foreign rule or trusteeship; they will fight to the last to regain their absolute independence and self-government.
In the words of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek at Chungking, November 14 [4], 1945, “Peace for East Asia and the world hinges upon the speedy achievement of independence for Korea. All East Asia is watching the fate of Korea.”21
If there is to be peace in the Far East, therefore in the world, Korea must be allowed to administer her own independent government. Any other arrangement by which Korea is prevented from attaining the paramount will of her 30,000,000 people will surely lead to another world war. Human consideration must prevail over [Page 1117] expediency and all other considerations. Appeasement in any form and sacrifice of justice invariably leads to war. Immediate independence and peace in Korea will greatly strengthen democratic institutions and peace in the world.
Leaders of Korea’s political parties adopted a resolution addressed to the Allied powers on November 2 [4], 1945, at Seoul, declaring that they would refuse joint trusteeship of Korea or any other measure short of complete independence.
In his foreign policy speech of October 27, 1945, President Truman pledged the United States to twelve fundamentals of foreign policy.22 One of these is: Self-government for all peoples prepared for it without interference from any foreign source.
Korea will present an acid test of the application of this policy.
Very respectfully,