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

501.BB Korea/7–2349: Telegram

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

confidential

Seoul, July 23, 1949—noon.

917. ReDeptel 606, July 19 on arrest Choi Yung Sik, charge of “maintaining too close liaison with UNCOK” was communicated, orally and informally to Embassy officer over telephone by Director National Police. To our knowledge no such charge has been made publicly by Korean Government or its officials. Nevertheless, there can be little doubt that close contact of Choi and other four arrested newsmen with UNCOK (Embtel 884 July 19) is factor of some importance in their arrest. But principal reason for arrests is government’s charge it has conclusive evidence said reporters are members of political party (Communist) advocating overthrow Korean Government and that acting on orders from foreign power. While Embassy without evidence whether five arrested reporters guilty of above-cited charges, it is our observation that over period of months certain Korean newsmen have endeavored to exacerbate UNCOK–ROK relations and have by no means been unsuccessful.

2. As Department will have noted from Embtel 909 July 22, UNCOK has already taken position arrest of newsmen has connection with their UNCOK activities.¹ Embassy regards this UNCOK action as tending to prejudge case.

3. Rhee and other concerned officials Korean Government well aware adverse repercussions, specially abroad, to arrests. In this connection, reference is made to Embtels 911 and 913 July 22.² Embassy confidentially informed Rhee has now issued instructions no further arrest newsmen to be undertaken without prior clearance with him.

4. I have on several occasions pointed out to Rhee and other responsible Korean officials unfortunate impression made abroad by arrests of newsmen and National Assemblymen, closing of newspapers, etc. In each case Korean officials have defended action taken on grounds of public security and fight for existence against Communist aggression in its manifold forms.

5. As stated in mytel 899, July 21, Communists are now embarked on all-out campaign to drive UNCOK from Korea. Moreover, there are recent indications Communist infiltration and sabotage activities now being accelerated. In face of these activities, Korean Government feels justified in taking drastic measures preserve its existence even if this means some temporary limitation individual rights and even if some innocent persons may be harmed thereby.

6. Detailed report arrest of five newsmen will be found in despatch 440 July 20 which being air pouched.³

Muccio

1. Telegram 909 not printed. It reported to the Department the issuance by UNCOK of a press release after consideration of the arrest of the five newsmen at its 41st and 42nd meetings on July 20 and 22. The text of the press release read:

   “The Commission, having taken note of the recent arrest of five of the newspapermen assigned to it, and being anxious to avoid any further repercussions which might affect correspondents assigned to cover activities of the Commission, has decided to suspend all Press conferences until further notice. For the time being only Press releases will be issued.” (U.N. document A/930, p. 7)

2. Neither printed. Both telegrams reported on President Rhee’s regular weekly news conference, held on July 22, during which the President touched on the arrest of the newsmen and the question of press censorship. Regarding the five newsmen, Mr. Rhee said that he did not want the incident included in UNCOK’s report to the General Assembly, that he would make a thorough investigation and would invite the U.N. representatives and foreign correspondents to visit the arrested reporters. Concerning press censorship, the President indicated that there was not and should not be any official suppression of legitimate criticism of the Republic of Korea Government. Newspapers, he said, should be allowed to carry critical articles, provided that they did not support or praise the U.S.S.R. and thus assist the Korean Communists. With this exception, newspapers might print anything that was true. (890.20/7–2249, 895.918/7–2249)

3. Not printed. On August 9, UNCOK issued its press release 39, which was transmitted to the Department by Ambassador Muccio in his telegram 1002, August 10, and read:

   “In view of the information supplied from official sources concerning the arrests of some of the correspondents assigned to cover the activities of the United Nations Commission on Korea, the Commission has taken note that these had no direct bearing upon the press coverage of its work. The former practice of holding regular press conferences will be resumed as from 10 August.” (501.BB Korea/8–1049)