740.00119 Control (Korea)/7–1747: Telegram
Lieutenant General John R. Hodge to the Secretary of State
priority
212. To Hilldring. Jacobs and I talked with Rhee last night (July 16) for almost 2 hours along the lines indicated in paragraphs 4 and 5 of State 142, July 14.37
At times Rhee conversed in rational manner but at other times he burst into irrational tirades, speaking rapidly and almost unintelligibly.
He denied that he was responsible for various rumors appearing in rightist papers, saying that he did not even read them. However, he repeatedly referred to other news appearing in the same papers [Page 709] he claims not to read. At one stage, he revealed that he had recently discovered that Kim Koo was not acting in the best interests of Korea and that he might have to sever all connections with him and his group.
In this connection intelligence sources reveal that about 15th July Rhee underwent a change of heart in working with Kim Koo in setting up unilaterally a provisional government. How far he has come to his senses on this remains to be seen.
Rhee made it completely clear that he and his party would not participate in the work of the Joint Commission and would not accept anything that the Commission did unless satisfactory to him and his party. He spoke heatedly against the Moscow decision, saying that neither the United States nor Russia had any right to prescribe trusteeship for Korea and that he and his party would oppose to the death any form of trusteeship that restricted the complete sovereignty of Korea. He indicated that he expected a provisional government would be set up as a result of free elections and said that his party was now preparing to enter candidates in that election in an effort to secure control of the government which would then oppose trusteeship.
While Rhee may now cease to spread rumors that there is a disagreement of the question of policy between me and various US Government agencies in Washington, he made it clear that neither he nor his party as long as he is the leader thereof will cooperate in implementing the Moscow decision.38
- In telegram Zgcg 934, July 21, from Seoul, General Hodge reviewed his relations with Syngman Rhee. He concluded that he still felt a statement issued in Washington would have been helpful some time ago though he feared that it might then be too late; he stated that “Koreans in the street now believe Rhee is right because Washington has shown no public support to Hodge and is sending Wedemeyer to find out what is wrong.” (895.00/7–2147)↩
- Telegrams 213, July 17, and 221, July 21, from Seoul, reported further on Syngman Rhee’s opinions; in the latter telegram he was quoted as saying: “We stand now as always have for Korean-American cooperation in ending division of Korea and establishment of elected government.” (895.00/7–2147)↩