501.BB Korea/12–347: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Acting Political Adviser in Korea (Langdon)
us urgent
281. Jacobs’ conversations with Victor Hoo and other UN officials developed following info which reveals impossibility of obtaining UN approval of the proposals mentioned in Deptel 274, Dec 3:
- (1)
- Full meeting UN Commissioners cannot be expected before their arrival Seoul. Secretariat will leave for Korea first week Jan. Commissioners already appointed include Jean Paul-Boncour for France (now Minister in Bucharest), S. H. Jackson for Australia (now in Tokyo), Dr. Liu Yu Wan for China (now en route Seoul). Victor Hoo believes that other Commissioners (except Ukrainian and Syrian who probably will not participate) will be appointed soon and be able meet in Seoul soon after arrival Secretariat.92
- (2)
- While Hoo and others consulted appreciate problems arising from continued delay in arriving at decisions regarding election law and date for election thereunder (Reference Zgcg 1427, Dec 2), they are not Commissioners and therefore without authority to make decisions. In addition they expressed belief that precipitate action by either the Commission or Secretariat before arrival in Seoul would [Page 874] prejudice position of the Commission and its future usefulness by giving color to existing propaganda stories that the Commission is merely a tool of the US.
- (3)
- It is hoped (Dept now making efforts along this line) that within short time responsible UN official (possibly UN Sec Gen) will issue factual statement regarding organization Secretariat, Commissioners named and schedule probable arrivals Korea, and calling upon all Koreans to await arrival of Commission and give it their fullest cooperation and assistance. Such statement will be useful for publicity purposes in Korea.
- (4)
- In circumstances it is felt no action should be taken putting Skila law into effect prior arrival Commission. In the absence of any other law it is anticipated, however, that shortly following arrival Commission, it will raise no objection to the implementation of this law with amendments to overcome objectional features listed in Exhibit C of “Plan for National Elections in Korea”. Accordingly, USAFIK should continue with its informal preparations for an election thereunder stating, if it becomes necessary to make any statement, that such preparations are informal, undertaken solely in an effort to expedite matters and to be helpful to the UN Commission, and that they are subject to review and ratification by that Commission after its arrival.
- (5)
- Mr. Graham Lucas, one of the Asst. Secretaries of the Secretariat mentioned in Deptel 272, Dec 2,93 will be departing for Seoul by Northwest Airlines about Dec 29 as an advance representative to assist in preparations for housing, reception, etc. This fact may be given publicity in Seoul along with information concerning names of Commissioners mentioned in para 1 above.
The text of a note dated Nov 26[24] from SYG together with Dept’s reply is being transmitted separately.94 This exchange of notes should be given publicity in Seoul.
Dept will continue to keep you fully informed of all developments here in connection with the Commission for publicity purposes in Korea with the thought that the continual release of information about the Commission will, by keeping the Korean public posted, tend to ween [wean?] their thoughts from Rhee’s propaganda. If Rhee continues to agitate, his agitation should be counteracted by further statements similar to those made by Gen Hodge (urtel 482, Nov 19), Gen Dean (urtel 495, Nov 29), and Langdon to NY Times correspondent as published here under Seoul date line Dec 6.
While Dept recognizes difficult problem referred to Zgcg 1427, Dec 2, namely possible failure UN efforts if Soviets continue to refuse [Page 875] to cooperate, and agrees that resolution does not provide all answers to queries raised as result of that contingency, this difficulty cannot be resolved definitively until Commission arrives and makes necessary decisions “in the light of developments” as provided in paragraph 5 of the UN Resolution. However, Dept believes that full publicity of the fact that the UN Commission is actually coming to Seoul shortly should give considerable assurance to Koreans that Commission expects to carry out its assigned tasks even if restricted to south Korea. As it is manifestly impossible to anticipate developments upon arrival Commission, CG USAFIK should endeavor to concentrate efforts of Koreans on constructive measures which might be of assistance to Commission when it arrives and to discourage them from discussion or speculation concerning possibility elections resulting in the establishment of a south Korean government only.