795B.00/5–2454: Telegram
The Ambassador in Korea (Briggs) to the Department of State
priority
1235. Repeated information Tokyo 731 priority Geneva 118. Tokyo pass CINCUNC and CAG. Re Embtel 1231.1
Complete election reports show results definitely favorable to President Rhee’s Liberal Party. In contrast to 1948 and 1950 elections when independents secured pluralities, Liberal Party “official” candidates now are only three short of absolute majority and can obtain voting majority in new Assembly by inviting non-official Liberals into fold and seeking cooperation of the few pro-government independents. While Liberal Party’s parliamentary negotiating group in last Assembly was notoriously undependable, particularly in secret ballots, the new members are likely at outset be more amenable to government wishes. Party appears likely show general unity and discipline which it maintained through campaign, particularly since defeat of Yi Kap-song and Pae Un-hi has left Yi Ki-p’ung in effective leadership.
The opposition has been weakened but not put out of action. DNP should have little difficulty mobilizing 20 members needed for negotiating group2 from its 15 official candidates and other adherents who ran without stated affiliation. Shinicky, Chough Pyong-ok, Kim Chun-yon and other DNP members will probably take forceful role in new Assembly. DNP will continue constitute hard-core of opposition around which most of the 67 “independents” will be likely group themselves.
Position of several doubtful groups not yet clarified. Chang T’aeksang will probably play prominent role in Assembly, particularly because [Page 1796] number his personal associates from north Kyongsang were reelected, some as Liberals and some as independents. The few Yi Pomsok adherents elected are listed as independents; Yun Chae-uk of Seoul and Kim Su-son of Ulsan A appear to be their only prominent leaders. Politically they will have little recourse other than to align with Liberals, perhaps by forming bloc with Yi Kap-song’s adherents.
Political organization of new Assembly probably will be effected more quickly than in 1948 and 1950 because of the stronger Liberal Party structure which has come out of this election and also because Assembly as whole seems somewhat more experienced and competent than its predecessors. Altogether 44 incumbent Assemblymen were reelected and many other newly elected members have served in first Assembly, local councils, or executive offices. Leadership at least initially will probably rest in hands of veteran political leaders.
Assembly will reconvene June 9 under chairmanship of oldest member and will then elect chairman and vice-chairman as first order business. Also, if 1952 constitutional amendments adhered to, reconfirmation or rejection of Prime Minister would be taken up at once, and President may also try to push through proposed constitutional amendments, to which official Liberal Party candidates have committed themselves. Action on these problems will be determined to large extent by negotiations among new members before Assembly convenes. Increased strength of Liberal Party in Assembly creates possibility for improved executive-legislative relations, especially if President uses conciliatory tactics.
- In telegram 1231, May 23, the Embassy reported on the results of the election for members of the National Assembly held on May 20, 1954. (795B.00/5–2354) Of the 203 constituencies, Rhee’s Liberal Party won 115 seats (with 36.8 percent of the total vote if unendorsed Liberals are included), the Democratic Nationalists won 15 seats (7.9 percent of the vote), and the Independents and minor parties won 67 and 6 seats, respectively (55.3 percent of the vote). For more information and an analysis of the election, see the UNCURK Report for 1954, UN document A/2711, pp. 7–10. For the analysis of the U.S. Embassy staff, see despatch 5 from Seoul, infra.↩
- A negotiating group consisted of 20 or more Assemblymen registered for the purpose of negotiating and reaching compromise solutions on matters discussed in the Assembly. (UN document A/2711, p. 7)↩