298. Telegram From the Embassy in Korea to the Department of State0
877. Very large demonstrations led by students Seoul National University are now surging through Seoul.1 Some high school students joining in and large crowds closely following march organized groups students. Difficult estimate total numbers involved since demonstrations have occurred in several places throughout city and masses [Page 619] students are moving at rapid jog trot from one objective to another, but appears that not less that 50,000 and possibly as many as 100,000 have converged close by presidential residence. Police have attempted halt march by use of fire hoses, tear gas and warning shots. Another crowd, of not less that 2,000, has attacked fire truck used block their progress and now gathered before Speaker Yi Ki-pung’s residence. Large numbers Yonsei University students reported marching toward center city at noon presumably to join in demonstrations and just now Korea University students have come out in force.
Observers near capitol grounds just now have reported that they saw police or MP’s fire into crowds, after having failed stop crowds from attempting enter road to presidential palace.
Service Attachés request this message be passed their respective Departments.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 795B.00/4–1960. Unclassified. Repeated to CINCPAC for POLAD. No time of transmission is given, but a note on the source text indicates that it was received in the Department on April 19 at 1:45 a.m. and Lane was informed at 2:40 a.m. The message was also passed to the Departments of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and OSD.↩
- On April 18 the Embassy reported student demonstrations in Inchon, Chinju, Chonju, as well as in Seoul. These were dispersed by police, but the Embassy noted that they were the first in which university students had taken the lead. (Telegram 873 from Seoul; ibid., 795B.00/4–1860) See Supplement.↩