895.00/10–2047: Telegram
The Political Adviser in Korea (Jacobs) to the Secretary of State
433. Cite Pol 9519. Following is text of General Hodge’s memorandum reply, dated October 20th to General Shtikov’s protest against Police Chief Chang, which is being handed to General Shtikov and released to press that date:
“The protest made by you in a personal interview with General Hodge on the morning of October 17th, has been carefully studied and all pertinent facts available regarding a recent statement made by Chief Chang of the metropolitan police have been checked.
An investigation reveals that Chief Chang’s statement was an informative report submitted by a reliable Korean Government official, giving the facts available to him and the logical conclusions based on those facts. These conclusions follow an exhaustive and prolonged investigation by the law enforcement agencies in the zone of American responsibility, of several ringleaders of seditious planning and activity aimed at destruction of orderly government and fomenting extensive and violent disturbances in South Korea. His statement was presented to the free press of South Korea in response to continuous public demand for a report to the people of the zone concerning activities inimical to their best interest and general welfare.
It is permissible in the American occupied zone of Korea for responsible Korean Government officials to make such reports to the people on their own initiative, without interference or direction from American officials. It is also permissible for the press to make its own interpretation and comment. No words or indication in Mister Chang’s [Page 842] report appear to bear out your accusation that he made ‘inimical attacks’ or advanced any ‘ludicrous and slanderous accusations’ against the Soviet delegation to the US–USSR Joint Commission. The only references found concerning the Soviet delegation, or anyone connected therewith, are statements pertaining to political activities beyond the nature of work of the Joint Commission, at times and places when the Commission was not in session, on the part of one Soviet citizen attached to the Soviet delegation. The character of these activities is nothing new to the American command. Other than that, Chief Chang’s report presents the activities of the South Korea Labor Party and its members, together with its established relationships with allied North Korean organizations and personalities.
Much of the information he reported as having gained through the investigations is borne out by facts long since established by American investigators. His entire report is based upon evidence supplied by a large number of competent witnesses whose statements are recorded. The close tie-in of the North Korea Labor Party and of the North Korean People’s Committees with the leadership and activities of the South Korean Labor Party and its satellites in continuing efforts to disturb the peace in South Korea is so well established as to no longer require surmise on the part of South Koreans or the American command.
In view of the continuing and recently greatly increased flood of vitriolic propaganda and vicious perversions of fact released through radio Pyongyang (including party line propaganda directives) directed against the United States command in Korea, against the American delegation to the Joint Commission, and against the United States Government, it is difficult to understand the extreme sensitiveness displayed by you and the head of the Soviet delegation, when a well founded report is made by a Korean official indicating Communist connections with past and planned subversive activities within the American occupied zone of Korea.
As a result of careful examination of the statement of Chief of Metropolitan Police Chang, and of full investigation of all information available in connection therewith, no action will be taken with respect to the removal of Mister Chang. On the contrary, the South Korean police will be requested to continue their vigilance against the subversive and terroristic activities on the part of any and all individuals and organizations directed against the interest of the Korean people and the peace and security of the American occupied zone.”