Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Far East and Australasia, Volume VII, Part 2

501.BB Korea/3–1849: Circular airgram

The Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic Offices ¹

secret

Washington, March 18, 1949—8:15 a. m.

For your information following represents present views of this Government with respect to problem of Korea. Should appropriate occasion arise, these views may be communicated to government to which you are accredited as informal and confidential statement of U.S. position:

1. It is U.S. view that UN has already made substantial progress toward restoring freedom and independence of Korean people and that in GA Resolution of December 12 it has formula for pursuing that progress to fruition.

2. U.S. believes consolidation of existing gains and success of further UN efforts in Korea will depend in large measure on firm and unwavering support by UN member states of December 12 Resolution and endorsement of Government of Republic of Korea contained therein.

3. In this connection U.S. feels every assistance and facility should be afforded new UN Commission on Korea established under December 12 Resolution in its efforts to help Korean people and their lawful government to achieve goal of free and united Korea, a goal to which U.S. is convinced an overwhelming majority of Koreans of both north and south wholeheartedly aspire.

4. U.S. position on troop withdrawal is based on view that to withdraw its occupation forces prematurely or to permit their retention on Korean soil for any longer than is necessary would in either case be to jeopardize attainment of UN objectives in Korea. Accordingly, and in keeping with spirit of GA Resolutions on Korea, U.S. has during past several months effected substantial reduction of its occupation forces in Korea. Such U.S. forces as still remain do so at request of Korean Government pending further development of its own rapidly improving security forces and, in accordance with December 12 Resolution, will be withdrawn “as early as practicable”, hopefully in matter of months, subject to consultation with UN Commission.

5. In addition to supporting procedures set forth in December 12 Resolution, and quite apart from question of troop withdrawal, it is U.S. intention to continue to provide limited amount of economic, technical, military and other assistance regarded as essential to economic and political stability of newborn Republic.

6. U.S. is convinced main burden of responsibility for failure of UN efforts so far to achieve final solution of Korean problem must be placed on Soviet Union and its evident determination to subordinate legitimate aspirations and welfare of Korean people to its own objective of Communist domination of entire Korean peninsula. U.S. believes further this obstacle can be overcome only through united support of UN decisions as envisaged in paragraph 2 above.

Should you have occasion to present foregoing views to government to which you are accredited, you may add that U.S. would welcome any views that government may have on Korean problem, which U.S. regards as one of international concern.

Acheson

1. Sent to the Embassies in Ankara, Asunción, Athens, Baghdad, Bangkok, Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Cairo, Canberra, Capetown, Caracas, Ciudan Trujillo, Copenhagen, Guatemala, Habana, Jidda, Kabul, Karachi, La Paz, Lima, London, Managua, Manila, Mexico, D.F., Monrovia, Montevideo, Nanking, New Delhi, Oslo, Ottawa, Panama, Paris, Port-au-Prince, Quito, Rangoon, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, San José, San Salvador, Santiago, Stockholm, Tegucigalpa, Tehran, The Hague, Wellington; the Legations in Addis Ababa, Beirut, Damascus, Luxembourg, Reykjavik, Sana’a; and for information only to Seoul and to the U.S. Political Advisor in Tokyo.