895.00/3–948
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Butterworth)
| Participants: | The Honorable Alfred Stirling, Minister, Australian Embassy |
| Mr. W. W. Butterworth, Director, FE | |
| Mr. J. M. Allison, Chief, NA |
Mr. Stirling came in at his request and, under instructions from his Government, raised the following points:
- 1.
- His Government requested clarification as to whether or not General Hodge had in fact consulted with the UN Temporary Commission on Korea before announcing May 9 as the election date.
- 2.
- It had been reported to the Australian Government that a report prepared by the Australian Delegate on the UN Temporary Commission as Chairman of Subcommittee 2 had been destroyed and only one copy made available for the Chairman of the Commission. This report [Page 1144] apparently dealt with alleged acts of the US Military Government in Korea which would prevent a free atmosphere for the elections.
- 3.
- The Australian Government requested that the US Government take no further steps with regard to the holding of an election in Korea until the UN Temporary Commission on Korea could be assured that such elections could be held in a free atmosphere which would make possible the expression of views of all sections of opinion.
Mr. Stirling was informed that with regard to point 1, General Hodge had in fact consulted the Commission which had, at a meeting on February 28, decided to proceed with the elections and had authorized the Acting Secretary General of the Commission, Mr. Schmidt, to telephone the Chairman, Mr. Menon, in New York with regard to the setting of an exact date. As a result of this telephone conversation it was decided that the Commission would announce that elections would be held prior to May 10. General Hodge thereupon coordinated action with the UN Commission and announced the actual date for the elections as May 9.
With respect to point 2, Mr. Stirling was informed that as the United States was not a member of the Temporary Commission on Korea it naturally was not in a position to say what action had been taken by the Commission. (In point of fact, according to the Department’s information the report allegedly destroyed was one to which all other members of the Commission except the Australian Representatives had taken exception and he had insisted on one copy being taken to the meeting of the Interim Committee by the Chairman of the Commission.)
On point 3, Mr. Stirling was informed that this was a matter of extreme seriousness. Any reversal of the decision now to hold an election in Korea would undoubtedly create repercussions in Korea which would be of real concern to the US Command there. Therefore if the Australian Government persisted in its request after being informed about General Hodge’s consultation with the Commission prior to announcing the election date, the US Government would have to request that the Australian desire be forwarded in a formal communication. It was also pointed out to Mr. Stirling that in view of the fact that General Hodge had acted only after consultation with the duly appointed officials of the United Nations Temporary Commission on Korea and in accordance with their express desire it would appear that the Australian Government’s request might more appropriately be directed to the United Nations than to the United States Government.