Office of the Historian

805.01/6–647

Memorandum of Conversation, by Commander Allen B. Moreland of the Office of Assistant Secretary of State for Occupied Areas

[Washington,] June 6, 1947.

Subject: Formation of Korean Government.

At his request, Dr. Robert T. Oliver of the Korean Commission, was received by General Hilldring at 4:10 P.M. on Wednesday, June 4, 1947.

Dr. Oliver requested General Hilldring to give him assurances on the following points so that they could be transmitted to Dr. Rhee:

1.
That the composition of the Provisional Government of Korea would be a result of free elections instead of being an appointed “Coalition Government”.
2.
That the Trusteeship Plan is in fact nothing more than “Aid and Assistance”.
3.
That the democratic government to be provided for Korea should be a democracy measured by the standards of the U.S. interpretation of this term.

General Hilldring indicated that he could not make a statement on these points as he was a public official and statements made by him during the present proceedings of the Joint Commission would be subject to misinterpretation.

General Hilldring emphasized the fact that the best way to realize the objectives of Dr. Rhee would be for him to enter into the fullest consultation with the Commission. It was pointed out that if a central government could be established for all Korea on the basis of free and fair elections, the other difficulties facing that country could be met and in due course satisfactory solution could be found for them.

General Hilldring further stated that there seems to be a little question as to whether this Government wanted one Korea or two Koreas. He emphasized that it had always been the desire of the United States Government to turn one Korea over to the Koreans.

Dr. Oliver requested permission to send the following cable to Dr. Rhee:

“Have conferred with General Hilldring. Assures you that Korean provisional government will be established only on the basis of fair and free election. Assures that you need not now worry about trusteeship issue. He feels highly desirable that you enter into consultation with the Commission”.

Authorization was not given for the transmission of this message on the ground that it would be interpreted as a statement from Washington which might have an effect on the present negotiations of the Joint Commission.