895.00/10–1847
The Political Adviser in Korea (Jacobs) to the Secretary of State
No. 121
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith the text of a message broadcast in Korean from Pyongyang, North Korea, on October 9, 1947, 7 a.m. EST,53 which it is alleged that the Central Committee of the North Korea Democratic People’s Coalition Front resolved to send to President Truman and Premier Stalin and which is said to have been actually forwarded on September 22, 1947.
The letter is essentially a protest against the alleged suppression of leftist activities in South Korea and against terroristic activities on the part of South Korean police and reactionary rightist groups. The letter also goes on to criticize the American Commanding General, Lieutenant-General John R. Hodge, for approving mass arrests and for stating that such arrests were justified because of the seditious plans of the South Korean Democratic People’s Front, which the broadcast denies.
Some comment is required on the six demands found at the end of this letter.
- 1.
- With regard to the demand that arrests of patriots fighting for the freedom of the Korean people be discontinued, it may be stated that the general arrest of leftist leaders suspected of seditious activity, which took place during the week preceding August 15, ceased on or about that date. Our military authorities are aware of the fact that the Korean police, who conducted the arrests and who are largely [Page 840] rightists, were overly zealous in arresting the leftists and that, as a result, there may have been some arrests after that date but all such arrests have long since been discontinued. The only arrests now being made are, as indicated in the daily and weekly G–2 reports, those of both rightists and leftists who continue to carry on terroristic activities against each other. In view of the hatred between the rightists and leftists and the exuberance of the rightist youth groups in South Korea, it is very difficult to control all terroristic activities.
- 2.
- With regard to the demand that the suppression of the South Korean democratic political parties and social organizations be discontinued, there never was any suppression of these parties as such. During the general arrests prior to August 15 some leaders of these parties were arrested but no ban on the parties themselves was issued.
- 3.
- With regard to the demand that all democratic leaders be released from prison, many of these so-called leaders have already been released for lack of evidence upon which to prosecute them. A few such leaders are still under arrest and their trials will begin shortly. What the leftists are really talking about are some of their high-ranking leaders, such as Ho Hun, who remain in hiding, afraid to come forth even though no warrant exists for his arrest.
- 4.
- With regard to the demand that buildings and properties seized from democratic organizations be returned, there never was any seizure of such properties except possibly in some isolated cases in the provinces where proper supervision could not be exercised over the zealousness of the police and youth organizations. What happened was that during the arrests all leftists became frightened and deserted their properties to which they are now gradually returning.
- 5.
- With regard to the demand for free publication of leftist newspapers, none was banned during the arrests prior to August 15 or since. The failure of these papers to resume publication is due largely to the fear of their publishers to return to their premises, while some have discontinued publication voluntarily, probably through fear and some for financial reasons.
- 6.
- With regard to the demand that reactionary elements and terrorists, who have committed massacres and atrocities, be severely punished, the Commanding General has taken steps to instruct the police to put a stop to terroristic activities among all groups including the rightists and the police have taken steps to curb these activities, although it is most difficult to get the rightist police, especially in the provinces, to exercise to the fullest extent their obvious duties in this respect. It can also be denied that there have been any “massacres” and “atrocities” either by police or rightist groups. The latter may have badly beaten up some leftists in some instances but such instances cannot be classified as “massacres” or “atrocities”, and as an offset the leftist group has similarly beaten up rightists.
In a situation such as exists in South Korea where it is the policy of the United States Government to give all parties and organizations freedom to carry on their activities as long as they are not subversive, it is obvious that the leftists, who are Communist-dominated, will from time to time reach a point in their activities where the Commanding [Page 841] General and the police must take a hand to prevent disorders against the peace and order of the area. It is the avowed purpose of the Communist leaders of these leftists to stir up trouble in South Korea and the inevitable result is that from time to time there must be certain steps taken to suppress their evergrowing boldness. If the American authorities are to remain for a long time in South Korea, it will eventually become necessary to place a ban on activity by these leftist groups in order adequately to maintain law and order. As has already been indicated in other despatches and telegrams, the removal of these leftists from the employ of the tramway and railway companies immediately resulted in much greater efficiency of the operation of these transportation systems. It has also been necessary to eliminate some of the more objectionable leftist characters from among the school teachers.
It is not known here whether the enclosed letter ever reached President Truman and, if so, through what channels.
Respectfully yours,
- Not printed.↩