Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947, The Far East, Volume VI

740.00119 Control (Korea)/1–2747

Memorandum by the Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Vincent) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Occupied Areas (Hilldring)

[Washington,] January 27, 1947.

Mr. Oliver, who I understand is a paid advisor to Syngman Rhee, called on me this afternoon and left the attached paper entitled “A Solution of the Korean Problem”.¹⁸ There ensued a half-hour’s conversation in which Mr. Oliver endeavored to explain to me what Dr. Rhee had in mind in the various points in the memorandum.

In conclusion, Oliver asked that I make the proposed solution available to you. I told him I would do so. He also said that he would be asking to call upon you next week when he returns to Washington. I gave Oliver no indication as to what I thought of the proposed solution beyond saying that I felt that the objectives of all of us were identical (that is, to bring into being at the earliest possible moment a united democratic Korea) and that where differences existed they were in regard to method. With this thought in mind I told him that the various points raised in the proposed solution seemed to me to be worthy of consideration.

Oliver, and Rhee, are anxious to obtain some kind of indication of the Department’s views on the proposed solution. I told him that I was quite sure that he would be unable to obtain any such indication and he seemed to take this in good grace.…

. . . . . . .

J[ohn] C[arter] V[incent]

[Annex]

A Solution of the Korean Problem

by Syngman Rhee

Russian and American forces now occupy Korea, according to a secret agreement, the nature of which has never been fully revealed. Since Korea lies in the heart of the vital strategic triangle of north Asia, bordered by the Siberian Maritime Province, China and Japan, Korea should not be controlled by any one or combination of them, or by any other outside power, without grave danger to the others and to the peace of the Orient. For this reason, as well as for justice to Korea, negotiations must be renewed between Russia and the United States to get their armies out of Korea and to live up to the Cairo Declaration promising Korean independence. We Koreans do not wish to do anything to impede these essential negotiations. We should like to speed them in every way possible.

At the same time there are inalienable and basic rights that we as a people must have. We present the following program for immediate implementation by the United States in southern Korea. This program represents the indispensible minimum steps by which we can commence the rehabilitation of our nation, and build a sound democratic basis for the future:

1. An interim government should be elected for southern Korea, to serve until the two halves of Korea can be re-united and a general election held immediately thereafter;

2. Without disturbing direct Russian-American consultations on Korea, this interim government should be allowed to negotiate directly with Russia and the United States concerning the occupation of Korea, and on other outstanding questions;

3. Korean claims for reparations from Japan should be given early consideration, to aid in the rehabilitation for Korean economy;

4. Full commercial rights should be granted to Korea, on a basis of equality with other nations, and with no favoritism extended to any nation;

5. Korean currency should be stabilized and established on the international exchange.

6. United States troops should remain in southern Korea until the two foreign armies of occupation simultaneously withdraw.

18. Dr. Rhee sent the same paper on February 19 to the Secretary of State and stated in part: “This program is, I believe, substantially in accord with the program already initiated by Major General Archer L. Lerch.” The Department acknowledged receipt of Dr. Rhee’s letter on March 4. (895.01/2–1947) Dr. Robert T. Oliver, on leave of absence from Syracuse University, was registered as Adviser and Representative of Dr. Syngman Rhee in the United States.