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

501.BB Korea/6–2449: Telegram

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

secret

Seoul, June 24, 1949—6 p. m.

770. Mytel 725 June 15.¹ In letter elated June 23 UNCOK Subcommittee III requests Embassy furnish it complete details regarding numbers and quantities military materiel transferred Korean Government for period January 1, 1949 to June 30, 1949, details to be in form of inventories, military orders, bills of lading and evidences of transfer of title from US to ROK. Similar request transmitted by Subcommittee to Korean Foreign Office.²

General Roberts and I reluctant grant Subcommittee’s request in view fact once such information in possession UNCOK, its transmittal to USSR and North Korea virtually inevitable, thereby endangering security ROK. We, therefore, feel it advisable reject request. Korean Foreign Minister concurs. In lieu thereof, we think it would be appropriate inform Subcommittee US Government has divested itself of control of military equipment and supplies remaining in Korea except personal side arms with ammunition and motor vehicles such as jeeps retained KMAG.

In same letter UNCOK requests detailed statement concerning status KMAG and its functions and power, requesting copy any agreement entered into governments US and ROK. I propose informing Subcommittee agreement this respect between US and ROK still under consideration and text will be supplied UNCOK once agreement signed and implemented.³ Department’s instruction regarding these matters urgently requested.⁴

Muccio

1. Telegram 725 not printed. The text of the letter from the Chairman of Subcommittee III of UNCOK to Ambassador Muccio is printed in U.N. document A/936/Add.1, p. 33.
2. Text ibid., p. 34.
3. The agreement between the United States and the Republic of Korea on the establishment of KMAG was not signed and did not enter into force until January 26, 1950, although it had operative effect back to July 1, 1949. The text is printed as TIAS No. 2436 in United States Treaties and Other International Agreements (UST), vol. 3 (pt. 2), p. 2696.

4. The Department’s reply, in telegram 522, June 27, to Seoul, read as follows:

   “Reurtel 770 Dept concurs in your proposed reply to UNCOK Subcommittee 3 request that Emb furnish it complete details re numbers and quantities mil materiel transferred Korean Govt for period Jan. 1, 1949 to June 30, 1949.

   “Dept also concurs your proposed reply to UNCOK request re status KMAG and its functions and powers.” (501.BB Korea/6–2449)

   For the text of Ambassador Muccio’s letter, July 8, to the Chairman of Sub-Committee III, see U.N. document A/936/Add.1, p. 34.

   On the question of verification of the disposition of U.S. military materiel in Korea, the final report of Sub-Committee III, dated July 27, read as follows:

   “The Sub-Committee has not been able to verify the disposition made of United States military materiel in Korea because the information requested in this connexion has not been supplied to it. The Sub-Committee has not, however, considered that it was essential to press for such information. The Ambassador of the United States has adduced considerations of military security affecting the Republic of Korea which appear to the Sub-Committee to be cogent.” (U.N. document A/936, p. 18)