501.BB Korea/2–2148: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom
us urgent
616. Rep Brit Emb told this afternoon that Dept believes it important for UK rep Lake Success to receive instructions soonest on Korean question before IC and that Dept does not concur with FonOff views as outlined your 647 Feb 20. Brit rep was told US rep IC would make statement at Tues meeting in response to Menon’s in which he would strongly urge US view that it is “incumbent upon” and “open to” UN Temporary Commiss on Korea under the Resolution of the GA which appointed it to proceed quickly and comprehensively with its task and that the Commiss might therefore proceed in consultation with occupation auths who are ready to assist them to decide upon election laws and procedures thereunder, to designate voting areas and fix the dates on which elections will be held and that Commiss might announce purpose of the elections is to choose reps who will constitute a Natl Assembly of Korea with whom the Commiss may consult and which reps may establish a Natl Govt of Korea. It was pointed out that in view of size of the Commiss it might announce that elections would be observed seriatim in the several areas or zones perhaps beginning in the southern provinces and working northward until the task is completed. It was stressed that if it should prove impossible to continue with observations north of the 38th parallel nevertheless ⅔ of Korean people would have been able to elect their proportional share of the members of a Korean Natl Assembly.
It was also pointed out that according to best and most recent info available to Dept a decision by the IC to instruct the Commiss only to hold elections for a consultative body would not be satisfactory to the majority of the Korean people. The occasion was also taken to correct the FonOff view reported in para 1 of your 647 that the southern [Page 1125] zone of Korea is “bordering on chaos”. It was admitted that conditions are not perfect in south Korea but it was firmly denied that the state of affairs could be described as chaotic.
Importance of the IC reaching a decision if possible prior to Mar 1 was also stressed. Not only does this date have considerable meaning to the Korean people in connection with their struggle for independence but also it is believed important that the UN be able to announce definite action prior to the Sov sponsored plebiscite on a constitution in north Korea scheduled for early Mar.
Dept desires above views be emphasized to FonOff officials concerned with expression of the hope that UK Delegation to IC will be authorized to support US position.1
- In telegram 678, February 23, 4 p. m., from London, the Department was informed that the British Foreign Office had “intended no disparagement US administration its zone.” (895.00/2–2348) Telegram 714, February 25, 4 p. m., from London, reported that the British had sent instructions that day to New York “generally to support US position”. (501.BB Korea/2–2548)↩