740.00119 Control (Korea)/7–347: Telegram
The Political Adviser in Korea (Jacobs) to the Secretary of State
priority
180. Zurc 857. Thirty-seventh meeting of Joint Commission held 1400 July 2 at Joint Commission offices Pyongyang, General Brown Chairman. This was a business meeting to attempt to reach agreement on the final list of organizations to be invited for consultation scheduled to begin on 7 July. Subcommission No. 1 had failed to reach agreement after several meetings in Seoul and Pyongyang. At this meeting Mr. Tounkin, the Soviet chairman of Subcommission No. 1, outlined the Soviet position, which was fully supported by General Shtikov throughout the Joint Commission meeting. The Soviet position is briefly as follows: First, organizations not political or social in nature such as Chambers of Commerce cannot be consulted; second, all organizations of a local nature which do not have a central zonal headquarters, specifically district organizations, cannot be consulted; third, organizations expressly organized to oppose the Moscow decision or affiliates of such an organization cannot be consulted. In this connection the anti-trusteeship committee including about 15 rightist political parties which have applied for consultation was cited by name.
The US position had been made in Subcommission No. 1 and continued in the Joint Commission meeting is as follows:
The criteria as expressed in joint decision No. 12 and published to the Korean people for inclusion in the lists for consultation required only signature to the declaration of communiqué 5. The present Soviet proposals are an unwarranted attempt to amend and pervert not only Joint Commission decision 12, but also the agreement between Marshall and Molotov.
The Soviet position obviously has the objective of eliminating the non-Communist predominance in South Korean representation. It is fundamental and basically the same issue on which the Commission broke up 1946. Soviet proposed consultation begin 7 July with those [Page 688] parties who are not barred from consultation under the principle enunciated by them as quoted above. This proposal was rejected by the American delegation.
General Brown met General Shtikov at 1000 July 3 at his request. Brief discussion only was had of the issue. No progress was made. Commission meets at 1330 July 3 to continue discussion. Irrespective of result, American delegation plans to depart for Seoul 1800, July 3. General Shtikov stated that Soviet delegation would depart for Seoul so as to arrive about 0800 July 7.