Office of the Historian

740.00119 Control (Korea)/3–146: Telegram

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

secret
us urgent
Washington, March 5, 1946—9 p.m.

32. Urtel 33 undated reed Mar. 1.61 No commitment made to Russians by US Govt on disposition Jap property in Korea. US views on handling of Jap property in liberated areas presented in note by Am Emb Moscow to Foreign Commissariat following Deptel Aug 28, 1945.62 Dept also cabled on Feb 28 to Am Emb Moscow63 US views on reparations policy with inst to explore informally with Soviet Govt. Relevant portions of reference tels contents of which have not been made public are quoted below for your info. No replies received from Soviets.

[Here follow quotations from two telegrams cited.]

Sent to Seoul and repeated to Moscow [as] 394.

Byrnes
  1. Not printed; it requested information on “possible American commitments made to Russians at Yalta, Potsdam or Moscow” that “Russians might bring up to defend their actions should the question of removal of capital goods from Korea arise.” (740.00119 Control (Korea)/3–146)↩
  2. Telegram 1923 to Moscow, Foreign Relations, 1945, vol. vi, p. 990.↩
  3. Telegram 349 to Moscow; see telegram 1868 to London, p. 480.↩