501.BB Korea/7–1348: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State
secret
London, July
13, 1948—5 p. m.
3147. Depcirtel July 10, 1 p. m. [a. m.], and Department’s 2668, July 10, 8 p. m.1
- 1.
- Before receipt Department’s 2668, officer of Embassy had talk with Dening2 and MacDermot of Foreign Office re proposed procedure outlined in Paragraph 6 of Depcirtel under reference. Both officials stated that, after consultation with Foreign Office legal advisers, Foreign Office very dubious of advisability of statement of recognition of new government as “National Government of Korea” because (a) recognition would be unrealistic as government in, fact would not exercise control over half of territory over which it would claim sovereignty, (b) recognition might be interpreted as by-passing GA and [Page 1240] IC of UN, causing resentment and dissension among members of UN, (c) USSR would exploit to fullest any such dissension for propaganda purposes, and (d) such recognition would give USSR some justification for proclaiming puppet government of North Korea as “national government”. Existence of two so-called “national governments” would only serve to increase tension and enlarge areas of controversy between US and USSR.
- 2.
- Dening working with Foreign Office legal advisers in endeavor to compose proposed substitute statement which will not include words; “national” or “all Korea” but which will in effect permit US to enter into negotiations for implementation of further provisions of GA resolutions. Substitute proposed statement should be ready in day or two.
Department please pass Seoul.3
Douglas