320/9–2850: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Acting Secretary of State
confidential
priority
priority
New York, September 28,
1950—7:04 p. m.
[Received September 28—8:37 p. m.]
[Received September 28—8:37 p. m.]
Delga 43. For Merchant (FE) from Allison (USDel). There is given below essential elements of Korean solution1 as views [viewed?] [Page 818] by US Government and referred to in immediately preceding telegram:2
- 1.
- Korea should be free, independent and united country.
- 2.
- Method of unification must be in accord with principles of UN Charter and a UN commission should be in Korea to consult with Koreans and Unified Command and make recommendations as to method of unification and part which can be played by members of UN.
- 3.
- Korean people to be consulted should be chosen by free elections, with secret ballot, on basis of universal adult suffrage, such elections to be held under auspices of UN.
- 4.
- In that part of Korea south of 38th degree parallel ROK is duly elected representative of Korean people, recognized as such by UN, and it should be consulted in all matters pertaining to future of Korea.
- 5.
- Just as Korea has been a symbol of resistance to aggression any UN solution should hope to make Korea “vibrant symbol of life” in words of Secretary Acheson.
- 6.
- This cannot be done by mere return to status quo ante bellum but only by carrying out of will of UN as expressed in previous GA resolutions of 1947, 1948, and 1949, and;
- 7.
- By marshalling of UN resources under UN guidance, to carry out great tasks of relief and rehabilitation in country devastated by war.
- 8.
- Aggressors must lay down their arms and submit to UN settlement which should not be settlement dictated by any single nation but only by UN in cooperation with Korean people.
- 9.
- It must be made clear in any settlement that free, united and truly independent Korea will pose no threat to its neighbors but will live in peace and harmony with them.
- 10.
- To this end Korea should be admitted to UN and thus assume obligations of Charter as well as its benefits.
- 11.
- In all this we must remember that Korea is in very special sense responsibility of UN and that in all it does UN is engaged in attempting to give small nation right to live in liberty and independence free from political domination by anyone.
[Allison]
Acheson