740.00119 Control (Korea)/5–2747: Telegram
The Political Adviser in Korea (Langdon) to the Secretary of State
128. Cite Zpol 714. General Hodge’s ZGCG 705 to State Dept for Hilldring85 evidently crossed Department’s 97 of May 23 and disposed for the time being of the question of a special statement in Washington or here designed to obtained general rightist support of the Joint Commission’s work. Also such a statement may be too late to do any good as “National Unification Headquarters,” Doctor Rhee’s super pool of 26 rightist parties, yesterday memorialized the Commission directly along lines of message quoted in my telegram 115, May 21, including a particularly provocative reference to Soviet “democracy”. As and if strategic need arises for a statement, the proposed text thereof will be submitted to the Department for prior approval. Meanwhile, at General Hodge’s suggestion I passed on to Rhee in an amiable letter a paraphrase of Deptel 92, Hilldring to Hodge.86
The following telegram from Rhee to his Washington office, just released by censorship today, suggests his evident reaction to it and probably to Department’s May 22 denial that it had any secret agreements with anybody about the future of Korea:
“Released statement denying secret agreement story as smearing campaign. Hope you received my wire. One pressman sent that story. Some people here and Washington trying to discredit me but truth will indicate they trying to blur issue. You and many other Americans heard the spokesman say our six-point program was workable and US would support in forming a government for whole nation when legislature passes election laws. You heard General Hodge say our program is what he was working for and that Rhee should help pass legislation. They cannot deny it now. The best they may say is that this plan was accepted when there was no hope of reconvening Joint Commission. Regarding proposed government, General Hodge now says it will be interim and not independent. How can we without independence deal with other powers as stated in six points. They are trying to silence me here and misrepresent me abroad, but many Americans here know the facts. Legislature cannot adopt election bills. Coalition groups backed by authorities and supported by Communists hailed as moderate leftists. Some as moderate rightists are making a quorum impossible.”
The purpose of the message is not clear but the last two sentences suggest that noncooperating rightists may be losing control of the situation.