740.00119 Control (Korea)/12–2148: Telegram
The Special Representative in Korea (Muccio) to the Secretary of State
300. Remytel 289, December 15,1 following text reply sent Soviet Command North Korea by General Coulter concerning closing respective liaison offices:
“Dear General Merkulov: I have received your letter of 14 December 1948 stating that you will recall the Soviet liaison officers at my headquarters on 25 December 1948 and requesting that I recall the American liaison officers at your headquarters.
I propose to send a train to Pyongyang on 22 December 1948 and have it return with my liaison officers and all their household and personal equipment on 24 December 1948.
I request that you furnish my liaison officers such assistance as will be necessary to enable them to properly pack, transport to the railroad station, and load their equipment.”
Subsequent Soviet reply indicated our departure schedule unsatisfactory and revised arrangement calls for crossing parallel by both respective liaison officers trains December 25.2
- Not printed.↩
- In airgram 68, December 23, from Seoul, an exchange of letters between Generals Merkulov and Coulter in regard to assignment of a custodian of Soviet property at Seoul was quoted, in which General Coulter on December 22 stated that the matter concerned the Government of the Republic of Korea with which the Soviet authorities should deal directly. (740.00119 Control (Korea)/12–2348)↩