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

501.BB Korea/5–2049: Telegram

The Ambassador in Korea (Muccio) to the Secretary of State

restricted

Seoul, May 20, 1949—4 p. m.

576. Luna, Philippine delegate UNCOK, May 19 introduced resolution re disassociation UNCOK from responsibility for timing and facilitation of withdrawal forces occupying Korea. Last section original draft reads as follows:

“Resolves, that while this problem remains to be a problem of the United Nations and not withdrawn by the United States from the jurisdiction of the United Nations, it is the sense of this Commission that the United States may not withdraw unilaterally its troops in South Korea without violating the resolution of the General Assembly of 12 December 1948 without previous consultation with the General Assembly or its Interim Committee,”

Same section subsequently revised after discussion with other delegates reads:

“Resolves, that while this problem remains to be a problem of the United Nations, it is the opinion of this Commission that under the General Assembly resolution 12 December 1948 this Commission assumes no responsibility regarding either the timing nor the facilitating of the withdrawal of forces of occupying powers.”

Original and amended resolution following by despatch.¹ Amended resolution will be considered by UNCOK.²

Principal Secretary believes Luna has instructions adopt anti-American attitude in UNCOK.

Muccio

1. The original and amended resolutions were transmitted to the Department as enclosures to despatch No. 281, May 26, from Seoul (not printed).
2. The amended resolution was adopted by UNCOK on May 23; text in U.N. document A/936, p. 10.