Office of the Historian

501.BB Korea/3–148: Telegram

The United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin) to the Secretary of State

confidential
priority
New York, March 1, 1948—2:45 p. m.

228. For Rusk and Butterworth from Wainhouse.1 The following is text of letter Chairman of IC2 is sending to Chairman of UNTCOK:

“As Chairman of the IC of the GA, and in accordance with the instructions of the committee, I have the honour to bring the following to your attention:

“As you are aware, upon receipt of the resolution by which the UNTCOK decided on 6 February 1948 to consult with the committee [Page 1135] with respect to the application of the resolutions of the GA of 14 November 1947 in the light of developments, the IC opened its consideration of the matter on 19 February 1948.

“During this first meeting the resolution adopted on 11 February 1948 by the UNTCOK in connection with the questions on which the IC was to be consulted (document A/AC.19/34 which you transmitted to me on behalf of the commission), was brought to the attention of the members of the committee as document A/AC.18/27. At the same meeting the committee heard the comprehensive statement which you made on the development of the situation in Korea and on the work accomplished by the UNTCOK since its establishment by the GA (document A/AC.18/22). The documents mentioned in your statement were also communicated to the committee.

“Later, after an interval of several days to allow for a careful study by each of its members of all the facts brought to their notice, the committee, during its sixth, seventh, and eighth meetings, on 24, 25, and 26 February respectively, engaged in a detailed examination of the application of the GA resolution of 14 November 1947 in the light of developments.

“At the close of its eighth meeting on 26 February 1948 the committee adopted the following resolution:

“(The resolution will be inserted here in full.)

“At its following and last meeting devoted to this consultation on 27 February 1948, the committee recognized that the advice sought by the UNTCOK was best met by the definite answer given in the above resolution, rather than by amplifying it to incorporate all of the reasons on which it is based.

“However, in order to bring to the notice of the members of the temporary commission the relevant considerations it had in mind upon reaching its conclusion, the committee agreed that such information should be summarized in the present letter of notification. In addition, the committee agreed that this letter should be accompanied by the summary records of the consultation which contain all of the views expressed by members of the committee.

“In deciding to answer in the affirmative the first question propounded by the UNTCOK, the IC had in mind the following main considerations in addition to those stated in the resolution whereby it expressed its views:

  • ‘1. The elections to be observed by the UNTCOK should be held in a free atmosphere wherein the democratic rights of freedom of speech, press, and assembly would be recognized and respected. In this connection, the IC took note of the assurance given by the representative of the US that authorities of the US in Korea would cooperate to the fullest extent to that end.
  • ‘2. The national assembly to which representatives are to be elected would be a stage in the formation of a Korean Government, the form of which is to be determined by the Korean people themselves. In reaching this conclusion, the IC noted that the representatives constituting the national assembly would be entirely free to consult with the UNTCOK and to carry on such negotiations as they wished with any other Korean groups which might not have participated in the elections, regarding the form of government to be established and the participation of those groups therein. The IC entertained the hope that in these consultations and negotiations, the Korean representatives in the national assembly would be able to secure through their efforts the full cooperation in their government of all Koreans. The IC was confident that all peaceful methods of persuasion would thus be used to the greatest possible extent for the attainment of Korean unity.
  • ‘3. The IC recognized that the UNTCOK itself has the authority and discretion to discharge its duties in Korea wherever and to the extent that circumstances permit.’

“It is the firm belief of the committee that it has reached its conclusion with a real understanding of the complexities involved in the problem. It was animated by the spirit of the UN Charter and the intention of helping the Korean people toward the achievement of their national independence and unity. It was keenly sensitive to the legitimate aspirations and to the noble qualities of the Korean people and wished, through its advice, to contribute to the realization at the earliest possible date of a free, united, and democratic Korea.”

Please relay to CGUSAFIK, Seoul, for Political Adviser.3

Austin
  1. Col. David W. Wainhouse, Associate Chief of the Division of International Security Affairs.↩
  2. Luis Padilla Nervo, of Mexico.↩
  3. This was done the same day.↩