501.BB Korea/10–147
Memorandum by the Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Butterworth) to the Under Secretary of State (Lovett)
Subject: Presentation of Korean Problem to the United Nations.
Problem
To determine, in view of the Soviet proposal in the Joint Commission in Korea for the simultaneous withdrawal of US and Soviet occupation forces from Korea, what steps this Government should take in furtherance of its announced intention to present the problem of Korea for the consideration of the General Assembly of the United Nations.
Discussion
On September 29, 1947, at a meeting in the Secretary’s office attended by the Secretary, the Under Secretary, Mr. Kennan S/P, Mr. Butterworth FE, Mr. Rusk SPA, and Mr. Allison NA, the Korean problem was discussed. It was agreed that (a) ultimately the US position in Korea is untenable even with expenditure of considerable US money and effort; (b) the US, however, cannot “scuttle” and run from Korea without considerable loss of prestige and political standing in the Far East and in the world at large; (c) that it should be the effort of the Government through all proper means to effect a settlement of the Korean problem which would enable the US to withdraw from Korea as soon as possible with the minimum of bad effects; (d) the latest Soviet proposal offers an opportunity if properly exploited to increase the probability of the US’ being able to withdraw gracefully from Korea; (e) therefore, nothing should be done which would make it impossible for the Soviets to agree with the US on a solution of the Korean problem; (f) the US resolution for UN consideration should be drawn up with the above factors in mind and should be forwarded to the Secretary-General of the UN as soon as possible under cover of a letter referring to the Soviet proposals and bringing them as well as the US proposals to the attention of the UN; (g) the US proposals should be presented tentatively and not in a take-it-or-leave-it manner.
Recommendations
- 1.
- The letter in Tab 1 and its enclosure (Tab 2) be forwarded to the US Delegation in New York for transmission to the Secretary-General of the UN by Senator Austin.28
- 2.
- The letter and its enclosure be given to the press after dispatch to the Secretary-General.
- 3.
- The letter and its enclosure in Tabs 1 and 2 be forwarded to the US Delegation on the Joint Commission in Korea with instructions (a) to read them into the record of the Joint Commission, and (b) to propose that pending consideration of the problem of Korea by the UN the Joint Commission be recessed and the two Delegations hold themselves in readiness at their respective headquarters for such assistance and consultation with the UN as may be desired by that body.
Concurrence
The following Offices have concurred in the above recommendations: C, A–S, FE, EE, NA, SPA, OA, Le.