740.00119 Control (Korea)/12–3045: Telegram
Mr. Arthur B. Emmons, 3d,65 to the Secretary of State
[Received December 30—2:12 p.m.]
Tfgbi 97. News released concerning results of recent Moscow conference respecting Korea have caused strong and widespread Korean reaction varying from depression and disillusionment to anger and open defiance. Agitation is centered around prospect of trusteeship for period of up to 5 years any mention of which causes unreasoning resentment and violent opposition in the Korean mind. Unrest in the Seoul area thus far has largely taken the form of handbills, posters, and articles in the Korean press expressing in the strongest terms opposition to the trusteeship plan, which the Koreans appear to have interpreted as a fait accompli involving the maximum period. One or two small street demonstrations have been organized but there has been no serious violence although passive resistance has taken the [Page 1153] form of limited non-cooperation and refusal to work in military government offices and agencies. Many stores and business establishments in Seoul have closed in protest. Preliminary reports indicate that resentment of the general populace is not directed so much toward the United States and its military occupation forces here as towards the Soviets66 and towards the local Korean political leaders who, it is claimed, have not taken sufficient steps to unify the country and thus remove the excuse for a trusteeship, which is interpreted by uninformed Koreans as a form of military protectorate or dictatorship. It is being emphasized to the Korean political leaders and press by General Hodge and other high American officers that the question of a trusteeship for Korea has not been finally settled, but that the removal of the 38th degree line and the setting up of a provisional Korean government constitute a significant step towards the independence of this nation and therefore should be a cause for great satisfaction and not for suspicion or resentment. It has been pointed out to these Korean leaders that a calm and objective view of the new developments [will go a long way to assist and hasten the day of final independence,]67 a thesis which they appear to have accepted and which has calmed them at least for the moment. General Hodge intends to broadcast along similar lines tonight and press releases are now being prepared in the same vein. Leaders of the principal political parties are organizing immediate party meeting ostensibly to discuss the results of the Moscow conference and presumably to frame protests to the trusteeship plan. Further widespread demonstrations are being organized and troops and police have been altered [alerted] in an effort to prevent possible disturbances. It is considered unfortunate that news service press releases from Moscow concerning trusteeship, some in fragmentary form, were permitted to reach the Korean people in their present highly volatile state of mind before a statement or interpretative comment had been received here from official sources which could have been used to calm their fears and sensibilities. It appears presently desirable if not essential to our security to avoid the use of the word “trusteeship” in press releases or official public statements with regard to Korea, in view of the severity of local reaction to that word. The Department will be kept telegraphically informed of further developments. ComGen USAFIK concurs. Repeated to Tokyo.
- Foreign Service Officer in the Office of the Political Adviser in Korea.↩
- In telegram Tfgcg 209, December 30, to General of the Army MacArthur, Lieutenant General Hodge stated: “Definite evidence that Leftist groups here are taking the opportunity to cause widespread antagonism among the Korean people by spreading word that capitalistic United States alone is responsible for all mention of trusteeship.” (740.00119 Control (Korea)/12–3045)↩
- Insertion taken from copy in files of the Office of the Political Adviser in Japan.↩