Office of the Historian

Records of the Office of the Political Adviser in Japan, Lot 57–F103. 800 Korea: Telegram

The Acting Political Adviser in Korea (Langdon) to the Secretary of State

[Seoul,] 18 November, 1945.

CA 54962. Reur WX 83648.43 The Russian proclamation was obtained from translation of a newspaper article in the “Korean Peoples News” entitled [“]Protect the public and private property, the formation of a peace group permitted and freedom of religion, orders of the Commander of the Soviet Occupational Army[”]. Following is the translation of the text:

“At present there are many wild rumors being spread about Northern Korea, but the following proclamation was released by the Commander of the Twenty-Fifth Occupational Army of Russia on the 23d October. The two main points in this proclamation are, first, the Russians have no intention of taking any land from the Koreans, and secondly, the Russians do not want to run Korea in the same manner as they govern their own country.

‘The Proclamation for Northern Korea by the Commander of the Twenty-Fifth Occupation Army

1.
The Red army has disarmed the Japanese forces in Manchuria and in Northern Korea. Korea, who has been oppressed for over 30 years, has been liberated. The objective of the Red army’s advance into Northern Korea was to rid the area of all the plunderers. Furthermore, the Red army has no intentions of territorial gains or running the Government of Korea under a Russian system. Now, the private and public property of the Koreans are under the protection of the Russian Army.
2.
The following is an order.
a.
Democratic system of Government to overthrow the imperialistic rule of Japan will be permitted.
b.
Unions for the laboring class will be permitted.
c.
Freedom of religion will not be interfered with.
d.
When any organization is formed under “a” or “b” of this order, they must be registered.
e.
All weapons will be turned over to the Russian authorities.
f.
For the maintenance of public peace, peace unions will be permitted if the People’s Committee negotiates with the proper Russian authorities.
3.
It is requested that all the people cooperate through work and obey the Proclamation of the Red army. Signed Guard Col. Gen. Chistiakov Commanding Twenty-Fifth Occupation Army in Korea.’ ”

G–2 USAFIK has made the following comments on the proclamation which are passed on for your information:

“It is not known how the newspaper acquired the proclamation of the Commander of the Twenty-fifth Occupational Russian Army. The proclamation was undoubtedly published for two reasons. One, to show that the Russians have done such a fine job in their occupation of Northern Korea that they have turned over to the Koreans the task of forming their own government. The second reason is to [Page 1130] refute the stories being circulated concerning Russian activities north of the 38th degree north parallel.”

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Langdon
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  1. Copy not found in Department files.↩