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

895.01/7–2548: Telegram

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

confidential
urgent

Seoul, July 25, 1948.

595. Cite Zpol 1142. In discussing use of word “national” for new government about to be formed here question arose as to just what Korean text of constitution (official document) does provide. I have therefore had careful check made (my own knowledge of Chinese characters confirms result) and find that while word “national” is used for Assembly (Kook Hoi), it is not used with respect to government to be formed under constitution adopted and proclaimed by National Assembly. Constitution describes Korea as “the Republic of Korea” (Ta Han Min Kuo) and never refers to government of that Republic as “national”. Also only once is word “democratic” used in connection with Republic to be formed in Article I which provides that “the Republic of Korea shall be a democratic republic”. (Dai Han Min Kook Min Ju Kong Wha Kook.) Hence it seems necessary change references to new government as used in several documents as follows:

1. Tab “A”, last revised text submitted by CINCFE and approved WARX 62174, July 8: Six references to “national Korean Government” (including one reference in title) should be changed to read “Government of the Republic of Korea”.

2. Tab “B”, last revised along with tab “A” as indicated above: Four references to “National Korean Government” (including one reference in title) should be changed to read “Government of the Republic of Korea”.

3. Words “new government recently formed in Korea” used in first sentence of quoted draft of statement found in paragraph 2 of Seoul PolAd 594, July 24, should be changed to read “Government of the Republic of Korea”.

4. Following changes should be made in text of constitution transmitted with PolAd’s despatch 217, July 16:¹

In title strike out word “democratic”.

Article I should read “the Republic of Korea shall be a democratic republic”.

Article III [IV?]: Add words “the Republic of” before word “Korea”.

Articles V and VI and note bottom page one: Strike out word “democratic”.

Article 84: Strike out word “Korean” and add words “of Korea” after word “Republic”.

5. This deletion of all references to “national” in spaeing [speaking?] of the new government may remove objection on part of some UN members to new government. However, note that Assembly still remains “national” and that territory of the Republic as described in Article IV “consists of the Korean peninsula” which includes North Korea.

6. Corresponding changes will also need to be made in the remaining tabs of the Korean White Paper.²

Jacobs

1. Not printed.
2. Department of State publication 3305, Korea, 1945 to 1948 (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1948); for press release on this, October 15, see Department of State Bulletin, October 24, 1948, p. 529.