501.BB Korea/5–1749
Memorandum of Conversation, by the First Secretary of the Embassy in Korea (Gardiner)1
(Dr. Ranshofen-Wertheimer called on me by appointment.)
Dr. Ranshofen-Wertheimer showed me a copy of a cable he had just received from Lake Success which presented the views of the UN Secretariat on the subject of UN military observers being stationed in Korea.
The cable stated in substance the Secretariat’s lack of enthusiasm for the project, pointing out that all previous UN observer teams had been sent to the field by resolution of the Security Council or the General Assembly, and that the General Assembly Resolution of December 12, 1948 made no direct reference to the problem of military observers other than those which the Commission might require to implement paragraph 4 (d) of the Resolution. The cable went on to say that military observers were hardly capable of evaluating internal civil disturbances. (I gather that in his letter to the UN (see memorandom of conversation No. 35 dated May 2, despatch No. 243 dated May 4, 1949)),2 Dr. Ranshofen-Wertheimer had suggested that observers be stationed at the tension points within the Republic of Korea, in addition to being located along the 38th parallel.) The telegram went on to say that if the U.S. withdrew its armed forces from Korea, it could be presumed that America was at least satisfied that there was no longer a threat to international peace existing in this area. The cable said further that it hoped that the Commission would study this matter very carefully, but at first glance there appeared to be little justification for UN military observers being stationed anywhere in Korea other than for the purpose indicated in paragraph 4(d) of the General Assembly Resolution of December 12, 1948. The stationing of UN observers would be an expensive proposition, and UNCOK had no funds for such purpose.3
[Page 1011]Dr. Ranshofen-Wertheimer went on to say that if it could be proved there was a threat to international peace in this area, that something might be done about setting up the observer teams. I said that in other words if, for example, UNCOK had evidence that the South Korean military were probing across the 38th parallel in a series of damaging raids, that that information might serve as a basis on which UNCOK might adopt a resolution calling for UN military observer teams. Dr. Ranshofen-Wertheimer said that such information in the hands of the Commission might be useful for his proposal.
I asked Dr. Ranshofen-Wertheimer if he would care to make a copy of the cable he showed me, but he felt he could not do so. I said that that was alright as in any event I could remember the main details of the cable. These are presented herewith.4
- Transmitted to the Department as enclosure 1 to despatch No. 250, May 17, from Seoul (not printed), which was received on May 25.↩
- Neither is printed.↩
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On May 11, Mr. Ranshofen-Wertheimer met with Ambassador Muccio and Mr. Gardiner to discuss again the question of military observer teams. In a memorandum of conversation (not printed), May 12, transmitted to the Department as enclosure No. 2 to despatch 250, Mr. Gardiner quoted a portion of a telegram handed to Ambassador Muccio by Mr. Ranshofen-Wertheimer, which the latter said he had recently received from U.N. Headquarters. The excerpt from the U.N. telegram read as follows:
“Military observation is expensive undertaking. Commission budget is limited; therefore, Secretary General could not finance it except as emergency threatening maintenance international peace. Withdrawal U.S. troops weakens this justification. Sending material on organizational problems but these should not worry Commission this stage. Important thing is to find adequate basis for presence military observers. Urge upon them (Commission) importance most careful study.”
↩ -
For UNCOK’s treatment of the question of military observers, see U.N. document A/936, p. 12. On April 29, the representative of El Salvador proposed that UNCOK consider the question. On May 26, an Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole was established “to study and report to the Commission within two weeks whether observer teams were authorized under the resolution of 12 December 1948, and what their functions and usefulness would be” (ibid.). On June 2, UNCOK accepted the report of the Ad Hoc Committee that it would not be useful to continue consideration of the matter further at that time.
On July 11, the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea, Ben C. Limb, wrote to UNCOK (text in U.N. document A/936/Add.1, p. 46) drawing the Commission’s attention to attacks on the Republic from the north and suggesting that the presence of U.N. military observers could stop these attacks. On July 20, UNCOK decided not to commit itself to making any recommendations on military observers but to agree to forward Mr. Limb’s letter with the UNCOK report.
In a report on the activities of UNCOK during the period January 1–July 22, 1949, transmitted to the Department with despatch No. 463, July 28, from Seoul (not printed), Ambassador Muccio noted that there appeared to be little enthusiasm among the members of UNCOK for the proposal on stationing UN military observers along the 38th parallel and that “both the Australian and French delegates received instructions from their respective governments to actively oppose it.” The net result was the inactivation of the proposal. (501.BB Korea/7–2849)
Subsequently, telegram 1103, September 6, from Seoul, informed the Department that all the UNCOK representatives had privately told Embassy officials that they personally supported the proposal for military observers but were nearly unanimous in their belief that such a proposal would have to come from the General Assembly, since, according to their interpretation, the UNCOK terms of reference did not permit making recommendations on observers (501.BB Korea/9–649).
U.N. General Assembly Resolution 293 (IV), adopted October 21, 1949, did authorize the stationing of military observers in Korea. See p. 1090.
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