Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, The Geneva Conference, Volume XVI

FE files, lot 60 D 330, “Position Papers”

Position Paper Prepared for the Korean Phase of the Geneva Conference¹

confidential
GK D–4b

[Washington,] March 27, 1954.

Draft United States Proposal for Reunification of Korea

preamble

The Korean people, who for centuries lived together as one nation, sharing common interests, culture and traditions, desire to be reunited under one government, representative of the people and dedicated to the principles of freedom and independence.

In accordance with the objective of the UN, and in express recognition of the wishes of the Korea people, we make the following proposal designed to achieve peacefully and permanently through free elections in Korea the objective of a united, sovereign, and fully independent government representative of the wishes of the Korean people.

method of reunification of korea

The reunification of Korea should be brought about on the following basis:

1. Establishment of a Korea Reunification Supervisory Commission (KRSC);

2. Establishment of conditions for free elections;

3. Free elections throughout Korea for Constituent Body;

4. Convocation of Constituent Body;

5. Adoption of Constitution, formation of reunified government, and transfer of power from predecessor states;

6. International security for a reunified Korea;

7. Completion of withdrawal of foreign military forces from Korea;

8. Dissolution of KRSC;

9. Termination of the Armistice Agreement.

1. Establishment of a Korea Reunification Supervisory Commission (KRSC)

The Reunification of Korea and the withdrawal of foreign forces from that area shall be supervised by an impartial commission. The Commission shall be called the Korea Reunification Supervisory Commission (KRSC), and shall be designated by the Korean Political Conference. The Republic of Korea and the PDROK shall have associate but non-voting status. Decisions by the KRSC shall require approval by a majority of its membership. The parties to this agreement shall facilitate the work of the Commission throughout Korea and comply with recommendations made by the Commission within its terms of reference.^*

The terms of reference for the Korean Reunification Supervisory Commission (KRSC) shall be as follows:

The KRSC shall be responsible for (a) assuring the existence of conditions which would make possible the holding of free elections; (b) supervising the implementation of the plan for the reunification of Korea set forth herein and (c) observing and certifying the withdrawal of foreign forces in accordance with the procedures outlined herein. The specific terms of reference of the KRSC shall include the following:

(1) Investigating conditions throughout North and South Korea, proposing to the parties the measures necessary to bring about conditions which would ensure free elections throughout Korea, and assuring that these measures are put into effect: these shall include freedom of movement, freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention, freedom of association and assembly, freedom of speech, press, and broadcasting, and freedom of political parties to organize and carry out their activities.

(2) Preparation of uniform electoral laws in consultation with the ROK and the PDROK.

(3) Determination, in consultation with the ROK and the PDROK, of the number of delegates to be elected and the number of election districts which shall be in direct proportion to population distribution in Korea.

(4) Supervision over the implementation of the electoral laws, registration of qualified voters, and observance of the elections at national and local levels.

(5) Observation of steps leading to the establishment of a reunified government. During the period between the end of the elections and the full assumption of control by the all-Korean Government, the KRSC will remain in operation in order to prevent action after the elections which would impair the conditions of genuine freedom under which they will have been held.

(6) Observation of the withdrawal of foreign military forces.

(7) Certification of results of elections and troop withdrawals.

The details of these terms of reference shall be worked out subsequently within this framework by the signatories to this agreement and shall come into effect at the same time as this agreement. The KRSC shall have the power to adopt measures not specifically described and which are necessary to carry out their task herein, in so far as they are consistent with this agreement.

The KRSC shall have its primary headquarters in the demilitarized zone and shall report and make recommendations at its discretion to the parties to this agreement.

2. Establishment of Conditions for Free Elections

Preparatory to the holding of free elections throughout Korea for a National Constituent Assembly the KRSC shall, pursuant to its terms of reference, observe political conditions throughout Korea and shall, where it deems appropriate, propose to the parties concerned the measures necessary to insure free elections and in particular these measures shall include the following:

• Freedom of movement throughout Korea.
• Freedom of presentation of candidates.
• Immunity of candidates.
• Freedom from arbitrary arrest or victimization.
• Freedom of association and political meetings.
• Freedom of expression for all.
• Freedom of press, radio, and free circulation of newspapers, periodicals, etc.
• Secrecy of the vote.
• Security of polling stations and ballot boxes.

3. Free Elections throughout Korea for a Constituent Body

The KRSC shall also draft electoral laws and procedures in consultation with the authorities in both South and North Korea, who shall promulgate these laws and procedures simultaneously. In particular, election procedures approved by the KESC shall ensure that candidates reflecting varying viewpoints will be permitted to campaign freely; that the electorate will be able to express its choice of candidates freely and without duress or intimidation; and that the election procedures shall be uniform throughout Korea.

Within six months after concluding this agreement, elections shall be held throughout Korea for a National Constituent Assembly on the basis of adult suffrage and by secret ballot. Representation of the Constituent Assembly shall be apportioned on the basis of the population of each election district. The total number of Korean nationals in the ROK and in the PDROK is deemed to be respectively, 22 million and 5 million. In the event that the KRSC shall fail to certify the election of a representative he shall not be seated in the constituent body and new local-by-elections shall be held as soon as possible under KRSC supervision. The vote of a majority of the members of the KRSC shall be required to rule that the election of any candidate is not valid. If two-thirds of the representatives should be certified and seated the Constituent Assembly shall be considered to have been established; otherwise, it shall not be considered established.

4. Convocation of Constituent Assembly

The elected representatives shall meet as a Constituent Assembly in Seoul within 30 days after the KRSC has certified the free election of two-thirds of the designated number of representatives.^†

5. Adoption of a Constitution, Formation of a Reunified Government and Transfer of Powers from Predecessor States

The Constituent Assembly shall draft and adopt a Constitution for a reunified government as soon as possible. Meanwhile, it may form a provisional all-Korean authority charged with assisting the Assembly in drafting the constitution and with preparing the nucleus of the future all-Korean ministries. As soon as the all-Korean Government has been formed, the Assembly will determine how the powers of the ROK Government and the Korean authorities in north Korea shall be transferred to the all-Korean Government and how the former shall be brought to an end.

These and other acts taken by the membership of the Constituent Assembly in accordance with the Constitution shall be accepted and complied with by the ROK and the PDROK.

6. International Security for a Reunified Korea

On the establishment of the reunified Government of Korea, the signatories to the agreement shall pledge their respect for the territorial and political integrity of Korea in conjunction with a declaration by the reunified Government of Korea to undertake not to use force against any other country except in self-defense in protection of its peace and safety. The reunited Korea shall have the authority to assume the international rights and obligations of the ROK and the PDROK and to conclude such other international agreements as it may wish.

7. Completion of Withdrawal of Foreign Military Forces from Korea

The withdrawal of all foreign forces shall be completed within 12 months after the completion of elections and the establishment of a reunified government. The KRSC shall observe and verify the withdrawal of all foreign forces at all times. The KRSC may submit a report to the General Assembly of the UN that foreign forces have withdrawn from Korea and Korea has been unified.

8. Dissolution of KRSC

Following reunification of Korea under a sovereign and independent government as outlined above and following the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Korea, the KRSC shall declare itself dissolved.

9. Termination of the Armistice Agreement

Immediately following the declaration by the KRSC that it is dissolved, the Armistice Agreement shall be considered terminated.

1. A cover sheet indicated that this was a revision of an earlier version and that it would be forwarded to Secretary Dulles and to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Subsequently, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs informed Dulles that document GK D–4b, which had been prepared by the Defense and State Departments in consultation, was considered acceptable from a military point of view by both the Defense Department and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (396.1–GE/4–754)

   See telegram 1034, Apr. 19, from Seoul, p. 116, for reference to this document.

2. It is assumed that the U.N. will be informed of and possibly will be asked to approve this proposal, and that the UNGA would consequently dissolve UNCURK. [Footnote in the source text.]
3. The Communists have indicated in earlier proposals for joint north-south legislative sessions that Seoul is the appropriate site for reunification talks. If they now demur, Panmunjom could be suggested as an alternative site. [Footnote in the source text.]