740.00119 Control (Korea)/5–2147: Telegram
The Secretary of State to Lieutenant General John R. Hodge, at Seoul
92. For Hodge from Hilldring. Dept in full accord with your efforts to prevent Rhee and Kim Koo from embarrassing U.S. position on Commission. Secy Marshall is personally anxious that no Korean group engage in any activity obstructing the work of Joint Commission mtg (ref Seoul’s Zgcg 662,77 10478 10979). You may feel free to show Rhee a paraphrase of this message and inform him that there never has been any question in my mind but that the policy of the United States is based on Moscow Decision and that “establishing and developing a provisional govt, for a united Korea, through U.S. representatives on the Joint Commission, is the policy of the U.S.” (see Seoul’s Zgcg 662, May 17). Such a procedure seems preferable to my cabling him directly.
Any reference Syngman Rhee may have made to alleged promises from me that we would form a southern Korean Govt probably result of Rhee’s misinterpretation of discussions in Dept based on possibility that the Joint Commission would not again convene. In the eventuality that the Commission did not meet again, the Dept realized para 1 of [Page 648] Moscow made it incumbent upon U.S. Govt to take such steps as it could toward the formation of a provisional Korean Govt. This Govt has repeatedly insisted that its basic policy in ref to Korea was based on the Moscow Agreement and hence has cont’d to press the Soviets for the reconvening of the Joint Commission. This Govt welcomed, therefore, Molotov’s acceptance of the reconvening of the Commission and as already indicated to you by formal instructions from the JCS,79a you are carrying out the expressed wishes and consistent policy of the U.S. Govt by reconvening the Joint Commission on May 20.
For your personal info, the Secy is prepared to make a statement here emphasizing need for cooperation of Koreans during session of Joint Commission and referring personally to recalcitrant attitude of Syngman Rhee. If you think such action advisable, please notify. Dept is anxious to assist you in any way possible. [Hilldring.]