40.00119 Control (Korea)/10–1747: Telegram
The Political Adviser in Korea (Jacobs) to the Secretary of State
429. Zpol 9431. General Shtikov called on General Hodge this morning by appointment and after brief conversation read protest of which following is our translation:
“On 14 October, 1947, the Seoul newspapers published a declaration by the Chief of Seoul City Police of 13 October, 1947 in which the latter permitted himself to engage in inimical attacks against the Soviet delegation to the Joint Soviet-American Commission, and attempted to advance ludicrous and slanderous accusations regarding one of the collaborators of the Soviet delegation. Such a declaration by the Chief of Seoul Police, whose actions are controlled by the American military authorities, could have taken place only with the permission of the latter, because of which I place full responsibility for the declaration upon the American military command in South Korea.
I register a protest regarding the matter, and demand immediate removal of the Chief of Seoul Police from his duties, and that measures be taken which would guarantee the impossibility of repetition in the future of slanderous and provoking attacks against the Soviet delegation in Seoul and against its collaborators.”
General Hodge replied that he would read statement of Chief of Police Chang and give consideration to the matter. He has released text of protest to press along with brief factual statement as follows: [Page 836]
“General Shtikov, Chief Commissioner of the Soviet delegation of the US-USSR, Joint Commission, called upon General Hodge this morning by appointment and read the following statement (already quoted above).
General Hodge replied that he would study Police Chief Chang’s statement complained of and give consideration to the matter.”
Some comment will follow in separate telegram44 on Police Chief Chang’s statement which was based upon statements of leftists arrested during week prior to August 15, some of whom have already been tried and others of whom are now on trial.