357.AD/6–3050: Telegram
The Acting Political Adviser in Japan (Sebald) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 30—11:12 a. m.]
685. ReMistel 654, June 281 and other telegrams concerning UNCOK. Dr. Renborg principal secretary UNCOK informed USPolAd by telephone June 28 that entire commission and dependents totaling about 50 desired proceed immediately to Tokyo and requested necessary travel and billeting accommodations. This mission informed [Page 260] him, with reference to UN SecGen Trygve Lie’s instruction to commission to return to post in Korea, that (a) SCAP would be unable provide billeting, office space, other facilities for commission to function in Tokyo and commission members would accordingly be obliged to make own arrangements, (b) this mission had instruction from State Department to provide all possible assistance to enable UNCOK to return to Korea, (c) headquarters was prepared to provide UNCOK air transport to Korea at anytime, and (d) nothing other than delay would be accomplished by commission’s coming to Tokyo.
Although commission then proposed sending three man delegation to Tokyo to discuss situation and determine feasibility of commission’s operating in Tokyo or returning Korea, in consideration foregoing information from USPolAd Commission later decided to send seven man advance group to Pusan to prepare for later arrival of main body of Commission. Arrangements were accordingly made for advance group to go by courier plane from southern Japan to Korea early morning June 29 although they were unavoidably displaced to meet operational needs of highest priority and were accommodated on next plane leaving for same destination early morning June 30.
Upon receiving names of UNCOK personnel which commission desired transfer Tokyo we made arrangements June 29 with cooperation interested diplomatic missions for billeting independent of occupation facilities. This group of 40 is now en route to Tokyo by air and seven will follow by train, while attempts are being made to have remainder of group sent to general Tokyo area remaining together insofar as possible.
On evening June 29 Renborg telephoned text telegram which he desired transmitted to UN New York asserting Commission had found it necessary come to Tokyo in order be near headquarters and because military authorities were forcing them to leave Camp Hakata, pointing to headquarters delay in providing necessary transportation and requesting UN to have State Department “instruct SCAP” to provide air transport for UNCOK personnel to Tokyo immediately. We telephoned word to Renborg through liaison officer (FSO Farrior) that although his telegram would of course be forwarded if commission desired, it was considered to be a misrepresentation of the situation as (a) commission personnel is not being required to leave Camp Hakata, (b) every effort was being made by GHQ and this mission to facilitate UNCOK’s return to Korea including providing necessary air transport and (c) State Department does not issue instructions to SCAP. I indicated proposed telegram appeared both unreasonable and presumptuous and suggested Commission might [Page 261] wish to consider its revision before transmission to UN”. Text finally approved by Commission was transmitted Mistel 674, June 29.2
It is SCAP’s view in which I fully concur that no authority exists for UNCOK to function in Japan and that its presence Tokyo not only is unnecessary but has important disadvantage of suggesting its activities are being carried on under control and influence of SCAP. We have consistently discouraged UNCOK’s coming to Tokyo and encouraged its return to Korea at same time endeavoring ensure Commission makes its own decisions and is given all possible assistance. In view its insistence on coming to Tokyo every effort has been made to assist in making necessary arrangements but I propose informing representative of Commission immediately upon arrival here that it is understood group has been authorized to proceed Tokyo as individuals for purpose of making arrangements to rejoin Commission in Korea and not as Commission entitled to carry on its official functions while here. Any other premise would, I believe, have the serious disadvantage of UNCOK splitting into two groups, a disadvantage which is entirely separate from the loss of prestige to UN by failure of major portion of Commission proceed to Korea when travel and other facilities are offered.
In circumstances I believe it would be desirable for Department to approach UN with view to having fresh instruction sent to Commission members now in Japan directing them to return immediately to their post in Korea in fulfillment of their responsibilities as members of UNCOK.3
- Not printed.↩
- Not printed. It requested that State Department intervention be sought to obtain air transportation to Tokyo for the Commission and Secretariat members not proceeding with the advance party to Pusan (357.AD/6–2950).↩
- On June 30 at 7 p. m., the Department of State transmittted in telegram 518 to Tokyo, not printed, the text of telegram 566 from New York, received on June 30 at 12:35 a. m., p. 246, which indicated U.N. views on the status and role of UNCOK in the current situation (357.AD/6–2950).↩