407.00119 Control (Korea)/10–2047: Telegram
The Political Adviser in Korea (Jacobs) to the Secretary of State
434. Cite Pol 9525. Following is text of General Shtikov’s reply dated October 20, 1947, to American proposal for recess of Joint Commission:54
[Page 843]‘Dear General Brown: In regard to your proposal at the meeting of the Joint Commission on 18 October 1947 I have the honor to communicate to you the following:
“During the period of the work of the Joint Soviet-American Commission, the Soviet delegation has exerted all its efforts toward the speediest fulfillment of the Moscow agreement on Korea and, on the basis of that decision, toward the creation of a united independent Korea under the guidance of a provisional Korean democratic government.
In view of the position of American delegation, which made impossible the realization of the Moscow decision of a united Independent Korea, on 26 September 1947 [the Soviet delegation] introduced, at the direction of its Government, a proposal to withdraw simultaneously the American and Soviet troops from Korea during the beginning of 1948 and to afford Koreans themselves the opportunity of forming the government of Korea.
The American delegation refused to discuss this proposal and at the Joint Commission meeting of 18 October 1947, referring to the direction of its Government, proposed to interrupt the work of the Joint Commission.
In connection with the above stated, the Soviet delegation has received from its government, a direction to depart for Pyong Yang.’55
Colonel General Shtikov, chief of the Soviet delegation in the Joint-So-Ko-American Commission”.
Shtikov has released text foregoing letter to press stating in substance that it was answer to American delegation proposal of October 18.