740.00119 Control (Korea)/7–847: Telegram

The Political Adviser in Korea ( Jacobs ) to the Secretary of State

secret
us urgent

191. Cite Zurc 870. Thirty-ninth meeting Joint Commission met from 1:30 to 4:15 p.m. July 8. General Shtikov presided and after approval minutes of 34th, 35th, and 36th meetings proceeded to read statement of Soviet position with respect to parties and social organizations to be consulted in which following are highpoints:

1.
Soviet delegation shall be guided by Marshall–Molotov exchange of notes, Moscow decision and Joint Commission decision 12 but not other correspondence (thus ruling out Hodge–Chistiakov letters);
2.
Denied that Soviet delegation is attempting unilateral exclusion of parties and organizations as Subcommission 1 under joint decision 16 has not agreed on a list;
3.
Accused American delegation by various publicity means of attracting as large a number of parties and organizations as possible;
4.
Ridiculed possibility of there being 70 million members of parties and organization[s] as alleged and said this membership must be checked;
5.
Alleged that some organizations aren’t social and should be eliminated;
6.
Insisted that parties and organizations which have applied for consultation and still belong to the anti-trusteeship should be excluded (as such membership is incompatible with declaration to cooperate) until they withdraw from the anti-trusteeship society;
7.
Cited call on June 23 of demonstrators upon General Brown as proof of anti-trusteeship agitation;
8.
Stated willingness of Soviet delegation to hear small organizations, if, after hearing head offices of such organizations, the small units have anything to add;
9.
Denied that Soviet delegation opposed freedom of expression;
10.
Denied that Soviet delegation favors leftists any more than US delegation favors rightists;
11.
Proposed that consultation start at once by consulting parties and organizations above suspicion for which purpose Subcommission should prepare list at once.

[Page 694]

In reply General Brown stated that US delegation would study Soviet statement and reply later but he went on to comment as follows:

1.
Proposal of Soviet delegation mentioned in 11 above was not acceptable;
2.
His purpose in quoting Hodge–Chistiakov correspondence was to review consistent American position concerning freedom of expression;
3.
Admitted US authorities had encouraged parties and organizations to apply for consultation;
4.
Stated allegation against anti-trusteeship society cannot be proven by newspaper reports;
5.
Read his report on the demonstration group which indicated that they were affiliated with Rhee and Kim Koo and not organizations which had filed applications for consultation;
6.
Stated that if Joint Commission had gone on with broad consultation as planned instead of wasting time on debate, matter would be well on road to conclusion.

Commission then recessed for 15 minutes after which Shtikov stated:

1.
Soviet delegation cannot agree to consult with local branch organizations, only with zonal or head offices.
2.
General Brown should refute statements of the three demonstrators;
3.
Public opinion in South Korea is created largely through the press which reports activities of anti-trusteeship society;
4.
Unable to produce minutes of anti-trusteeship society to prove case but press carried report;
5.
Soviet delegation will not include members of anti-trusteeship society until they publicly in the press withdraw from this society, sincerely cooperate with Joint Commission and cease opposing Moscow decision. He again proposed going ahead with consultation with selected group, but Brown proposed adjournment until 1:30 tomorrow which was approved.

General Brown proposes to prepare and read tomorrow brief statement of US delegation’s position which substantially is:

1.
That no organization can be eliminated except upon presentation of acceptable evidence or specific cause such as fraud or serious misrepresentation of facts in its application for consultation (exaggeration of membership not to be acceptable for this purpose);
2.
That only upon presentation of adequate acceptable evidence to Joint Commission that, since signing the declaration, party or organization has fomented or instigated active opposition to the Moscow decision shall be excluded from further consultation by mutual agreement of the Joint Commission.

As the position of the Soviet delegation has not materially changed since this issue was joined 3 weeks ago in Subcommission 1, it seems apparent that the Soviets are either stalling for time or wish to reach [Page 695] a deadlock. Most of us believe that it is the former. Some evidence to support this view may be deducted from rumors from leftist side that deadlock is expected in late July and from fact that Soviet delegation brought with them large quantities of supplies which would seem to indicate expectation of protracted stay here.

Jacobs