Records of the State–War–Navy Coordinating Committee, Lot 52–M45, 091 Korea

Memorandum by the State Department Member of the State–War–Navy Coordinating Committee ( Dunn ) to the Committee

Subject: Korean Delegation to United Nations Convention

Reference is made to SM–4613 dated December 31, 19454 on the above subject and enclosing a copy of War Department telegram CM–IN 8258 of December 30, 1945.5

The following memorandum was sent to the Operations Division, War Department General Staff on January 3, 1946 prior to the receipt of SM–4613 under reference:

  • “(1) It is suggested that with a view to obtaining more accurate information upon which to base a decision General Hodge be asked [Page 606] for details regarding the extent and scope of the ‘great pressure’ mentioned by him.
  • “(2) It is suggested that General Hodge be informed that it is not within our competence to consent to a formal Korean delegation or a group of observers to proceed to the UNO meeting, as this matter would have to be taken up and cleared with the other United Nations.
  • “(3) The State Department would have no objection, however, to a grant by General Hodge of transportation facilities to London for one or two Korean individuals, provided the General felt that such action would prove of definite value to him in his administration of Korea and provided also that it was clearly understood that the Koreans were going, not as officials or as a delegation, but purely as private individuals.”6

It is recommended that the Secretariat be authorized to inform the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the action taken as outlined above.

James Clement Dunn
  1. Not printed.
  2. Supra.
  3. The quoted paragraphs were sent to General MacArthur by the War Department in telegram Warx 93660, January 18.