740.00119 Control (Korea)/5–2347
The Secretary of State to the Secretary of War (Patterson)
Dear Patterson: I know that you will agree with me that it is important for the War and State Departments to concert plans and arrangements for the transfer from the War Department to the State Department of administrative responsibility for the non-military aspects of the occupation of Korea, Japan and Germany. In the case of Korea, it is, I think, particularly important that we develop as soon as possible a mutually satisfactory plan for administrative transfer in the light of our agreement that the Department of State would assume administrative responsibility at the time the civil Commissioner takes office.
For the purpose of expediting planning and in order to reach an agreement on procedures as soon as possible, I should like to suggest that we each designate an official responsible to carry this project forward and to make recommendations to us. I have instructed Assistant Secretary of State Hilldring to act in this capacity on my behalf and I should appreciate advice from you concerning the War Department representative with whom General Hilldring should deal on this matter.80
Faithfully yours,
- On May 26 the Assistant Secretary of War (Petersen) was designated by Secretary Patterson to represent him.↩