320/10–1750: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the United States Mission at the United Nations
Gadel 51. Re Delga 123, Oct. 13. Chilean reps specific questions both relate to field where observation, study and recommendation by UNCURK is sought in order to furnish guidance for UN decisions on these matters. Dept agrees your suggestion that with establishment UNCURK imminent, Interim Committee on Korea shld avoid formulation any fixed attitude toward these matters. Chilean question re size Korean army and possible guarantee Korean frontiers by UN will be subject separate message in near future. Dept current thinking on question elections south of 38th parallel may be communicated informally to individual members Interim Committee. It is as follows:
Dept believes UN shld recognize continuing validity mandate ROK Natl Assembly members on grounds (a) ROK is sovereign state and in last analysis is clearly entitled to insist on unobstructed exercise sovereign will within territory where GA has recognized its effective jurisdiction and control; (b) these reps were chosen in free elections democratic character of which has already been attested by UNCOK.
Individual members Interim Committee may be interested in fol additional circumstances:
- (a)
- While composition surviving body Natl Assembly reps not yet clear, there is no occasion to assume that they are by any means mere puppets of Rhee administration.
- (b)
- Competent American observers recently returned from Korea report prestige ROK govt among people markedly enhanced through reoccupation Seoul. Precipitate action by IC before thorough study by UNCURK might adversely affect UN prestige in eyes these Koreans.
On other hand if friendly persuasion by UNCURK were to lead ROK to agree re desirability new national elections over entire territory, Dept wld not object to such ROK decision. ROK might itself derive from this course advantage that present surviving National Assembly members shld be able face electorate with confidence in view excellent records during dark days. Seizing favorable opportunity, they wld in most cases renew and extend mandates.
Dept considers that it will be up to UNCURK, if after due study it finds complete national elections greatly preferable, to win ROK acquiescence this course.