396.1 GE/4–2954: Telegram

Fourth Plenary Session on Korea, Geneva, April 29, 3:05 p.m.: The United States Delegation to the Department of State1

Secto 41. Repeated information Seoul 18, Tokyo 13, Paris 147, London 93, Bonn 41, Vienna 12, Oslo 1, pouched Moscow. Bonn and Vienna for PAO; Tokyo for CINCFE. Department pass Defense, CINCPAC, COMSAC. April 29 plenary session opened at 1505 with Prince Wan in chair. There were only two speakers: Casey of Australia2 and Molotov, each of whom spoke about 30 minutes.

Casey said Australia approached conference in spirit restrained optimism. While fully cognizant of difficulties in reaching solution of Korean problem, solution nevertheless must be found. This is no time for recriminations about the past. Efforts should be directed toward finding solution. Basis for achieving one already present in UN Charter and UN Resolutions. Specifically, following should be elements of solution:

1.
Solution must be achieved by peaceful means.
2.
Principle of self-determination calls for free elections. While strong case can be made for holding such elections in North Korea only, since UN-supervised elections have already been held in South Korea, Australia hopes ROK will, if necessary, agree to elections throughout Korea as gesture of helpfulness in achieving agreement. [Page 158] Government to be set up by elections should be based on principle of representation proportionate to population. Free atmosphere both before and during elections should be assured by appropriate guarantees and UN supervision. UNCURK is body already in Korea for express purpose of observing, helping and advising in conduct elections.

Needs of Korean people call for great rehabilitation efforts. Such have been made in past and no doubt will continue to be made. But only stability and security in Korea can assure real progress. To assure these is task of conference.

While North Korean proposals made by Nam Il are inadequate from Australia’s point of view in a number of important points, proposal deserves careful examination. Clarification, however, should be furnished regarding following points:

1.
Is membership in Joint Commission mentioned by Nam Il to be made proportionate to populations in North and South Korea? Australia thinks it should be.
2.
How can free elections be assured without international supervision? Australia thinks Communist proposal that matter should be handled by Koreans themselves without interference is unrealistic in view bitterness which has grown up between two parts of country.
3.
How can long delays in work of Joint Commission be avoided? How can deadlocks be broken? Will time limit be established within which Commission must complete preparatory work for holding elections?

North Korean proposal regarding withdrawal of troops deceptively simple. As Dulles pointed out, Chinese Communists would have much shorter distance to withdraw and could return in much shorter time than UN forces. While all desire early withdrawal, dangers over-hasty withdrawal have been demonstrated. Formula might be found so that withdrawal could begin at early date. Australia believes, however, that some units should stay until elections carried out. Provision could be made to assure that there would be no interference by troops in conduct of elections.

Chou En-lai, in effort to obscure facts of case, repeated charges that aggression in Korean war had been committed by South Korea and US. UN Commission observers on June 24, 1950 made field trip inspecting ROK dispositions along 38th parallel and reported that South Korean forces were not in position to launch wide-scale attack. While Commission unable to observe conditions in North Korea, subsequently captured Communist documents show that preparations for offensive had been made in North prior to attack.

Conference has two tasks before it: Solution of Korean and Indo-chinese problems. When war in Korea broke out, Communist aggression was already under way in Indochina although at that time of [Page 159] different sort and on different scale. Hope that Korean war which provided first example in history of enforcement collective security will provide lesson for Communist World.

Molotov then took floor,3 said: Geneva Conference can be said to be devoted to question of Asia. Both Korean question and that of Indochina are among most essential questions relating to Asia. Cannot help feeling conference hurt by fact that such Asiatic states as India, Indonesia, Burma, Pakistan, and other Asiatic countries not taking part in conference. At same time, shouldn’t underestimate fact that for first time in recent years all great powers, France, Great Britain, US, Chinese People’s Republic and Soviet Union are taking part in conference. Particular emphasis should be laid on fact that great power of Asia, Chinese People’s Republic will be able to contribute.

First problem is to establish by peaceful means united and independent Korea. Stands to reason that solution of Korean problem primarily matter for Korean people themselves. No solution imposed upon Korean people by other countries can satisfy Korean people or contribute to lasting settlement Korean problem.

Korean people’s struggle for independence went on for many years. Japanese imperialists seized Korea and turned peninsula into their principal stronghold for aggression against China and sought spread rule over whole of China and Southeast Asia. Under pretext of struggle against Communism they concluded anti-Comintern pact with Hitlerite Germany and schemed to divide world. Everyone remembers outcome.

Due to circumstances of military nature at end World War II Korea found itself divided into two parts. Problem of creating united, independent and democratic state not solved in immediate postwar years. ROK, however, succeeded in carrying out democratic reforms of paramount importance. This activity interrupted by war imposed from outside and brutal US military intervention under UN flag.

All countries seeking to reduce international tension are interested in peaceful solution Korean question. Cannot fail to notice, however, fact that under pressure exerted upon UN on part some states it adopted one-sided attitude and proved inability to settle Korean problem. False story of Korean events reiterated here by US representative has been repeatedly refuted and its falsity exposed by Soviet representative in UN.

When considering Korean question we cannot fail to take into account recent basic changes in political development Asiatic countries especially those taking place after World War II. For many years Asiatic countries were dominated by non-Asiatic states and other [Page 160] peoples were deprived of possibility of being masters of own fates. At present failure of attempts to apply old policy of colonialization becomes more and more obvious. 1917 Revolution in Russia and formation of USSR which broke with imperialist policy of Tsarism could not fail to encourage other peoples struggling for freedom and independence.

People with old-fashioned views are unable to grasp historical changes which have taken place in Asiatic countries and sometimes regard these developments in entirely false light. They are constantly on outlook for intrigues of Communists, agents of Kremlin, etc.; they attribute to Communism every movement of oppressed people toward freedom and national independence. As for views Soviet people, we make no secret of our sympathies and warm feelings for national liberation movement of peoples including those of Asia. Fundamental changes in Asia have their supreme example in China where democratic regime has been founded and economic, social, and political changes are taking place. Not to take this into account means not to reckon with events of greatest historical importance. Furthermore, who can deny that such country as India …4 has entered historical arena. Importance of countries such as Indonesia, Burma, and others constantly being enhanced although process of establishing real independence not without struggles or difficulties in relations with some states.

No secret that firm and friendly relations have been established between USSR and CPR. Many other countries have also established relations with Chinese People’s Republic. Britain is known to attach great importance to development of its relations with Chinese People’s Republic. Also known that number of other countries have not established normal relations with Chinese People’s Republic for sole reason that they are being prevented from doing so from without.

Open aggressive policy of US in regard to Chinese People’s Republic is affecting whole situation in Asia. After establishment CPR one aggressive act after another has been taken against it. US ruling circles seized Taiwan and remnants Chiang clique masters of the island. They prevent CPR from taking legitimate place in UN, made UN pass resolution imposing embargo on trade with China, are making preparations for establishment Japanese armed forces thereby creating threat to China, charged China with aggression in Korea, are constantly threatening China’s borders with invasion, etc. Under pretext of defending puppet regimes in Indochina, they have recently made plans to form military alliance in Southeast Asia although not one self-respecting Asian state proposes to participate.

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Secretary Dulles’ April 16 statement5 calling loss of China mainland grave disaster and warning that loss of Southeast Asia and Pacific islands would compound this disaster shows how strong is desire follow old outworn colonial policy in some circles. His statement does not contain one word about international interest and rights of peoples of China, Southeast Asia, and Pacific islands.

Geneva Conference affords possibility of examining thoroughly those problems of Asia which have been recognized as the most urgent ones at present moment. Conference will be successful if it proceeds from principle that peoples of Asia have full right to settle their affairs themselves. Other states should assist Asian peoples by their friendly efforts.

Chou En-lai spoke about desirability of uniting efforts of Asian countries in securing peace in Asia. Soviet delegation fully in accord with that view. Delegation believes that North Korean proposals can serve as basis adoption [of adequate decision]6 on Korean question.

Dulles
  1. A set of minutes (US Verb Min/4) is in Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 267. The minutes indicate that the meeting convened at 3:05 p.m. and adjourned at 4:50 p.m.
  2. Extracts from Casey’s statement are printed in The Korean Problem at the Geneva Conference, pp. 53–58.
  3. The text of Molotov’s statement is printed in Cmd. 9186, pp. 24–29.
  4. Ellipsis in the source text.
  5. Reference is to a statement made by Dulles on Apr. 15 in Syracuse, N.Y., on his return from London and Paris; the text is in the Department of State Bulletin, Apr. 26, 1954, p. 623.
  6. The words inserted in brackets are taken from the minutes of the meeting.