795.00/9–2850
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. John C. Ross of the United States Delegation to the United Nations General Assembly
US/A/C.1/1949
Subject: United Kingdom Draft Resolution on Korea
| Participants: | Dr. John Myun Chang, Ambassador of Korea to the United States |
| Mr. John C. Ross, United States Delegation |
Dr. Chang and one of his associates buttonholed me for about a half hour at Flushing to express their great concern on the paragraph in the United Kingdom draft resolution concerning elections. Chang said in his conversation with Mr. Rusk the day previously Mr. Rusk had suggested that Chang draft the sort of language he would like to see on this point. Chang handed me the following text which I telephoned to Mr. Allison:
“(c) Election be held in the area where the United Nations Commission was prevented to enter, thus completing the national election and, there of [sic], a full jurisdiction of the Republic of Korea be extended over the said area, thereby constituting a unified, independent and democratic government in a sovereign state of Korea.”
I told Chang that if any effort were made to introduce language along the lines of his suggested draft, this in turn would invite the introduction of amendments in the directly contrary sense, namely, that general elections should be held throughout all of Korea. I said I was certain that there were a number of Delegations that would insist on this formulation of the matter rather than the one which he and his government desired. I said if an effort were made to be specific in the General Assembly resolution as to where elections were to be held and where they were not to be held, a debate would be precipitated which, in fact, would be a debate not on the language of a resolution but on the status of his government. I said I thought this would be most unfortunate from every point of view. I then urged Chang to consider whether the language in the United Kingdom draft, which in effect would leave to the Commission to work out, in consultation with the Government of the Republic, the matter of elections, would not be the best course.
I am afraid that I did not convince Chang that there were in fact a number of Delegations, in addition to the Russians, who would have no hesitation in questioning the status of his government. It was quite apparent that other Delegations, and Chang apparently consulted many, are merely giving him double talk.