257. Telegram From the Embassy in Korea to the Department of State0
274. Assembly Guards reinforced by police forcibly ejected opposition assemblymen from Assembly Hall this morning and confined them to Assembly restaurant and tea house facilities. Reports indicate that three democratic assemblymen were injured in morning fracas and are hospitalized.
Liberal Party members then assembled in hall and passed National Security Law 128–0. Local autonomy law amendment providing for appointment of mayors and town chiefs which had been rejected in the Home Affairs Committee yesterday by opposition joined by five Liberals was reintroduced on floor of Assembly and also passed 128–0. Press permitted to attend session but Embassy observers including Embassy officer denied admission on grounds “proceedings were secret.”1
Assembly after brief respite resumed session and is considering budget. Opposition still confined.2
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 795B.21/12–2458. Unclassified; Priority. There is no time of transmission on the source text but the telegram was received at 1:09 a.m.↩
- In telegram 242 to Seoul, December 24, Ambassador Dowling was authorized to protest the refusal to permit an Embassy observer to attend the National Assembly proceedings on December 24. (Ibid.) See Supplement. Dowling responded in telegram 280 from Seoul, December 26, that he would make such a protest and asked that the Department of State also call in Ambassador Yang and make a similar protest. (Department of State, Central Files, 795B.21/12–2658) See Supplement.↩
- While the opposition was confined, the Liberal members of the Assembly also adopted an amendment to the law requiring the establishment of an upper House of Councilors that delayed the establishment of the upper house indefinitely. (Despatch 345 from Seoul, December 31; Department of State, Central Files, 795B.21/12–3158) See Supplement.↩