Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, The Far East and Australasia, Volume VI

501.BB Korea/5–1348: Telegram

The Political Adviser in Korea (Jacobs) to the Secretary of State

secret
priority

Seoul, May 13, 1948.

351. Cite Zpol 650. Following are comments on Mughir statement, text of which was communicated to Department in Seoul PolAd No. 350, May 13.

1. This statement was issued suddenly today by Mughir himself as chairman without usual UNTCOK number and, so I am informed by two delegates, without prior consultation with other delegates. Later Schmidt of the Secretariat gave it a number. Knowing something of Mughir, I am sure that he did not write it (his English is not good enough) although I am sure he entertains the ideas expressed therein. From all that can be learned, it was written by Schmidt collaborating with Mughir and using him as a front to put out his own ideas.

2. Understand that at least three delegates are rather incensed that Mughir took this unilateral action and one (French) has told me that he contemplates issuing release of his own to express other views. However, as all delegates (except possibly French) are incensed over their rebuff about trip to Japan, they are inclined to let their feelings run away with their better judgment and do nothing.

3. Clearly such a statement should not have been issued at this time before the election results have even become final. But aside from that fact, Mughir’s references in paragraph 3 of the statement questioning what he described as super efficiency of the election and in paragraph 4 to possible request by UNTCOK that the dissident elements headed by Kim Koo and [Kimm] Kiusic (elements which have been thoroughly discredited by election results) be taken into the new government, will arouse opposition and resentment among successful Korean leaders and incline them to refuse in advance when they might have been won over later in private discussions if effort toward that end should later be considered desirable. Commission has already lost much prestige among South Koreans by their biased attitude toward the North Koreans and dissident elements in South Korea and by their announced plan to write their report in Japan. Mughir’s statement will further lower that prestige.

5 [4] General Hodge and I have definite feeling that there is Communist group in UNTCOK, composed of Schmidt and Mughir, and possibly Milner and Engers,¹ aided and abetted by Jackson and Patterson for both personal and official reasons, which is seeking to see that UNTCOK’s efforts fail and that as result Korea will fall into Soviet orbit. If they are not Communist fellow travelers, then they are stupidly playing the Communist game with little thought of really helping Koreans out of a dilemma from which neither they themselves nor the United States can do much to save them without UN help.

6 [5]. Have just learned that delegates Jackson, Singh, Liu and Mughir, accompanied by Schmidt and Hausner of the Secretariat, are leaving Sunday, May 16 for Shanghai to be followed in few days by remainder of UNTCOK (possibly few members of Secretariat will remain), the Commission having decided to write its report in China.

Jacobs

1. The latter was a Netherlands member of the UNTCOK secretariat.