501.BB Korea/7–2548: Telegram
The Political Adviser in Korea (Jacobs) to the Secretary of State
confidential priority
Seoul, July 25,
1948.
596. Cite Zpol 1143. UNTCOK finally approved text of Chapter VI of its report on July 22 (Seoul PolAd dispatch 196, July 11) and copies are being forwarded by air mail.2 Conclusions, however, which may be of timely interest to Dept are quoted below.
“58. The Commission having taken into account the facts noted above is of the opinion:
- A.
- That there existed in South Korea during the period of preparation for the elections and on election day itself, a reasonable degree of free atmosphere wherein democratic rights of freedom of speech, press and assembly were recognized and respected;
- B.
- That the US Army Forces in Korea and the South Korean interim govt complied with the recommendations of the Commission on electoral procedures and that the conduct of the elections conformed generally to the electoral laws and regulations;
- C.
- That the elections were regarded as a step in the re-establishment of the independence of Korea and as such were the only substantial issue placed before the electorate, resulting in the large percentage both of registration and balloting; that the candidates who stood for election were in favour of this method of erecting the unity and independence [Page 1261] of Korea and therefore did not place any fundamentally conflicting issues before the electorate; and that opposition to the issues involved in the elections took the form of a boycott of the elections themselves;
- D.
- That, having taken into account the reports of its observation groups, the conclusions noted above, and bearing in mind the traditional and historical background of the people of Korea, the results of the ballot of 10 May 1948 are a valid expression of the free will of the electorate in those parts of Korea which are accessible to the Commission and in which the inhabitants constitute approximately two-thirds of the people of all Korea.”
Jacobs