Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947, The Far East, Volume VI

740.00119 Control (Korea)/7–1747: Telegram

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

secret
operational priority

Seoul, July 17, 1947.

211. Zpol 916. At yesterday’s meeting (43rd session) of the Joint Commission, two interesting developments took place. Refer to Seoul Pol Ad number 210, July 16.³⁶

1. General Shtikov at one point in rather heated manner stated that the Korean people would ultimately get truly democratic government based on the Moscow decision whether the present American delegation wishes or not. He emphasized the word “present” to convey the impression that the American delegation as at present constituted opposition to the carrying out of the Moscow decision.

2. At another stage when General Brown was pressing General Shtikov for more positive proof than had been produced of anti-trusteeship activities of parties and organizations which have already signed declaration, Shtikov suddenly said in heated manner that we “felt it on our skins” referring to incidents on June 23 when mud and sticks were thrown at cars of the Soviet delegation in which some members of that delegation were riding. When General Brown attempted to get General Shtikov to say what proof he had that the members of the Anti-Trusteeship Committee had instigated such mud slinging, General Shtikov suddenly became angry and said that the Soviet delegation had been insulted and he would have to report to his Commanding General for instructions. General Brown replied that he had not intended to insult the Soviet delegation; that he was merely pointing out that the Soviet chairman had produced no proof that the members of the Anti-Trusteeship Committee were responsible for the incident. This did not seem to satisfy Shtikov and, as the Commission had already been in sessions for more than 4 hours, adjournment was taken to study the record on both sides to determine whether there had been any misunderstanding or misinterpretation.

Jacobs

36. Not printed; it pointed out that the “Soviet are demonstrating extreme sensitivity toward ‘exact fulfillment of the Moscow decision’ and those who ‘struggle against any word or any period in it’.” (740.00119 Control (Korea)/7–1647)