740.00119 Control (Korea)/4–648
The Assistant Secretary of State for Occupied Areas (Saltzman) to the Comptroller General of the United States (Warren)
Dear Mr. Warren: Reference is made to the meeting in your office on March 30, 1948 at which time a proposed agreement between the Department of the Army and United States Military Government in Korea for the settlement of accounts for supplies and facilities furnished United States forces occupying Korea was discussed. It was then agreed that the Department of State and the Treasury Department would make available to you in writing their respective views concerning the matter.
The Department of State is in complete agreement with the position of the Department of the Army that, in accordance with U.S. policy, the occupation costs of this Government in Korea should not be borne by the occupied territory, and that reimbursement for supplies, facilities and services already furnished should be made to the United States Military Government, for the benefit of the economy of Korea, as soon as possible. The view, namely, that U.S. armed forces stationed in Korea should pay their way therein as from the date of liberation of Korea, September 9, 1945, is consistent with the policy and commitments of this Government to treat Korea as a liberated and not a conquered country.
In view of your concern with certain legal aspects of the matter, indicated at the meeting referred to, I am enclosing a memorandum of the Legal Adviser of the Department relating thereto.1
Appropriate steps will, of course, be taken by the United States Government to protect its interests, in this matter as well as others, upon termination of the occupation of Korea by United States forces.
Sincerely yours,
- Dated April 2, not printed.↩