895.24/7–3048
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State for Occupied Areas (Saltzman) to the Under Secretary of State (Lovett)1
Subject: Transfer of Arms to Korea.
I have attached a memorandum to the Foreign Liquidation Commissioner for your signature which relates to the transfer of certain [Page 1266] military supplies and equipment to the new Korean Government.2 I think the memorandum is self-explanatory.
It is our present plan to negotiate an agreement with the new Korean Government, shortly after its formation, covering the transfer of this military equipment. According to our best estimates the Government will be formed on August 15, 1948. From this you can readily understand that we are working on an extremely tight time schedule.
The Army has been requested to supply the Department of State with a detailed list of the equipment to be transferred. The Policy Committee on Arms and Armaments has been requested by Mr. Butterworth, FE, to approve this transfer of arms to the new Korean Government. By the time this memorandum reaches you I trust that the Policy Committee on Arms and Armaments will have approved the transfer.