740.00119 Control (Korea)/8–2046: Telegram
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur to the War Department40
[Received August 21—9:55 p.m.]
C 64318. Reurad 97200, following msg received from CG USAFIK:
“This visit of WFTU group to South Korea at this time is deemed highly inopportune in view of the strained Korean political situation and the adverse effect that it may have on our mission here.
[Page 725]The Council of All-Korean Labor Unions (Loaong Cho Hap Chawn Kook Pyawng Ooi Hway), joined the WFTU 128 [28th?] July ’46, via channels of communication through Northern Korea and is a completely Communist organized, controlled and dominated [apparent omission]. Although [apparent omission] labor organization, its Communist leadership used the Chawn Pyawng (short title) as a political football. Reference is made to Tfgbi 347 dated 29th July ’46 as one example.
The leadership of the Chawn Pyawng is top heavy with Communist party members.
At the 28th July celebration of joining with WFTU, the following were elected honorary chairmen of the Chawn Pyawng:
- Pak, Heun Yung, South Korean Communist Party leader;
- Lee, Choo Ha, member of the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party;
- Lyuh, Woon Hyung, head of the Communist controlled People’s Party;
- Hu, Hun, one of the chairmen of the Democratic People’s Front and definitely a Communist Party follower.
One of the Chairmen of the Chawn Pyawng, Pak, Sei [Heun?] Yung, publicly admitted the close affiliation between the Council of All-Korean Labor Unions (Chawn Pyawng) and the Communist Party in his opening address at the 28th July celebration. In his speech, Pak Sei Hung [sic] stated, ‘Since 1924 the Communist Party has guided us, cooperated with us, and supported us in all our efforts and movements. It was with the help of the Communist Party that we could join the World Federation of Trade Unions this year.’ [Hodge.]”
There is no doubt here that the Communist Party controls the Chawn Pyawng and uses it to bolster its political campaigning. The arrival of the WFTU mission to South Korea, with the quasi-official backing of the US in permitting and facilitating its movements, would boom the prestige of the Chawn Pyawng, and, in turn, strengthen the power of the Communist Party, whose political fortunes now appear to be at a low ebb. Any abetting of the Communists, who are obstructing American Military Government, will adversely affect our Mission in South Korea. Much verified info this subject has been obtained since Gen. Hodge was consulted by telephone as to clearance for the visit of the WFTU group. Under the circumstances, it seems highly undesirable to admit a WFTU group into South Korea at this time.
There is no objection to survey group visiting Japan.
- Transmitted to the State Department for information.↩