740.00119 Control (Korea)/5–2246
Memorandum on Meeting of Secretaries of State, War, and Navy, May 22, 1946, 10:30 a.m.
| Present: | The Secretary of State |
| The Secretary of War, Mr. Patterson; accompanied by Assistant Secretary of War, Mr. Petersen. | |
| Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Sullivan; accompanied by Captain Dennison. | |
| General Hilldring99 | |
| Mr. Matthews |
Korea
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Mr. Byrnes inquired as to the present situation in Korea. General Hilldring said that the Joint Commission had adjourned sine die. Mr. Patterson said that all the negotiations of the Commission boiled down to the fact that the Russians insist on excluding all parties from participation in Korean Political life except the Communists. They are doing this on the ground that all the other parties opposed the “trusteeship” provided for in the Moscow Agreement and are, consequently, opposed to the United Nations. In fact, however, the Communist party originally likewise opposed trusteeship but almost immediately received instructions to change their attitude. General Hodge has insisted that all parties be permitted to participate. General Hilldring said that he hoped to present to Mr. Byrnes in several days a recommendation with regard to Korea. The Office of Far Eastern Affairs of the Department of State believes that there is not much [Page 682] hope for future accomplishment by the Commission and suggests that we proceed to hold elections immediately in southern Korea. These elections would not be for a national government but would be for higher political office than those held in Germany. He said that the time has come to admit that we picked the wrong horse in supporting Kim Koo which support, in view of his lack of popular support in Korea, is bringing ill will toward the United States. Our hope is to stimulate some political activity in our zone, which is now completely dead. Mr. Patterson commented that General Hodge had emphasized the political immaturity of the Koreans, characterizing them as very backward and unruly. General Hilldring said that the weakness of our position lies in the fact that the Russians have actually placed Koreans in office, however much they may be guided by Russians, and are making political capital out of the situation in our zone where everything is done directly by military government officials. He feels that we should get off this spot. Mr. Byrnes said that he agreed with the proposal. Mr. Byrnes said that he regretted very much that nothing has been accomplished since the Moscow Agreement since Korea is the one instance where we have attempted to work out direct U.S.-Soviet cooperation without the complications of the presence of other nations. Its failure is therefore all the more unfortunate. He inquired as to who would hold the elections and General Hilldring replied that they would be held by our military government as is the case in Germany.
- Gen. John H. Hilldring, Assistant Secretary of State for Occupied Areas.↩