740.00119 Control (Korea)/7–346: Telegram
The Political Adviser in Korea (Langdon) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 4—4:04 p.m.]
Tfurc 54 [to Tokyo]. [From Langdon and Thayer.] Third underlying covers developments since our Tfurc 53.
Negotiations between right and left have been proceeding slowly but with steady progress and have now reached a stage of formal exchanges of proposals for the formation of a coalition.
Up to the present only the moderate leaders of each wing have participated although Syngman Rhee and Kim Koo have kept informed of developments. It had originally been intended to keep both Rhee and Kim Koo out of the coalition and they had more or less acquiesced. However, extreme-rightest opposition to the negotiations developed during the past week to a point where it may be best to allow Kim Koo a minor position in the coalition, thus conciliating his followers and preventing their uniting with other extremists in opposition.
It is believed that once the coalition is in operation it will be relatively simple to remove him if that becomes necessary because of Russian pressure. Despite this move a crisis developed over the weekend when, under pressure from the extreme right, Dr. Rhee announced the formation of a general headquarters for national unity with himself as leader and Kim Koo as number two man. Kim Koo when offered the Vice Presidency had refused. Prior to publicizing this move, Rhee had informed the American command of his intention and efforts were made to prevent him from trying in this manner to recapture control of and credit for the unification movement. These attempts were unsuccessful and he announced his new organization on Saturday. Although the negotiatiors on both right and left were seriously disturbed by this development, unfavorable press reaction to Rhee’s move and a public statement by General Hodge commending Dr. Kimm and Lyuh Woon Hyung in their unification efforts put an end to the crisis and greatly reassured the negotiators. Apparently realizing the futility of further efforts to recapture the initiative, Dr. Rhee thereupon made a public announcement likewise commending Dr. Kimm and Lyuh.
USE [Members?] Representative Democratic Council met yesterday and today it is expected that they will vote full support to Dr. Kimm in his efforts. Meanwhile on the left unconfirmed but reliable reports indicate that the Communist Party is torn by dissension, the more moderate elements apparently supporting Lyuh and the extremists or Moscow controlled elements opposing any unification. It is also reported that Pak Hun Yung, Communist Party chairman, [Page 711] has not been attending meetings of the people’s front to discuss the unification.
While very little news of the actual terms of negotiations has leaked to the press, the subject of unification is receiving considerable attention in the papers which in general are favorable. Except for the two extremes, all political elements appear to support some form of coalition.
With the state [stage?] thus set, we have published the contents of a letter from General Lerch to General Hodge suggesting the establishment of a legislative body which this morning received favorable treatment in the press except for the Communists.
To forestall criticism that the legislative body would constitute a separate govt and would indefinitely postpone the reconvening of the joint commission, General Arnold today informed the press that two letters had already been sent to the Soviet command suggesting reconvening the commission but that no answers had been received. It is planned that General Hodge will see the principal [sic] relative to the formation of a coalition in the form of a legislative body. He will suggest that the negotiators themselves agree on a slate representing the major political parties to be supplemented through elections of provision [sic] representatives. If they are unable to agree on such a slate, General Hodge will in the next week propose one for the consideration of the negotiators.
While it is impossible to predict with any accuracy any actions and reactions of Korean politicians, it is believed that the movement toward unification by the Koreans themselves has gathered such momentum that it will be difficult if not impossible for any larger parties except perhaps the Communists to resist it. In the meantime we are prodding the movement along and lending such assistance as we can to overcome the periodic crisis which are the inevitable [con]comitants of Korea’s political immaturity.