501.BB Korea/3–1148: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin)
130. Please in your discretion seek appointments with SyG and, separately, with Padilla Nervo, president of IC, and convey to them informally substance Seoul’s 140 Mar 10. You should point out in this connection that repudiation by Menon of decision duly arrived at by Commission and formally announced to Korean people by Commission as well as by US Command would serve only to confuse Koreans and to detract from moral authority of UN and Commission in their eyes. You should emphasize that announcement of elections by Gen Hodge was made oil basis of what was unequivocally represented to him as unanimous and considered decision of Commission, and that in our opinion any attempt on part of latter to disassociate itself from that decision would raise serious doubt as to good faith of Commission. While we realize that Commission is competent to make its own decisions with respect to its procedure under GA Resolutions, we feel strongly that it would be acting against best interests of all concerned were it to permit view of disgruntled minority, and Canadian member [Page 1150] in particular, to deter it from carrying out clear will of majority of members of IC.1
Sent USUN as 130. Repeated Seoul 75 for info only.
- Telegram 278, March 12, 5:49 p. m., from New York, reported carrying out the instruction and concluded: “Padilla agreed that General Hodge’s conduct seemed to have been entirely correct.” (501.BB Korea/3–1248) For statement by the Secretary of State on March 10, see Department of State Bulletin, March 21, 1948, p. 375. This was reported in telegram 76, March 12, to Seoul.↩