740.0011 PW (Peace)/12–349: Telegram
The Ambassador in Korea (Muccio) to the Secretary of State
1455. Deptel 984, November 23. We are strongly of view ROK should be included in some capacity among nations participating in Japanese peace treaty. Koreans would like, of course, to be actual negotiating party, but we believe if Koreans can be given good reason why this impossible or impracticable they can be persuaded to participate in consultative capacity. Both official and non-official view is that Korea was a belligerent against Japan as evidenced by participation of Korean military units, fighting with Chinese armies, in war against Japan; fight waged in Manchuria by Korean guerrillas against Japanese over period of years; and existence in China of Korean Provisional Government which was apparently recognized by Korean military units there as their supreme authority. Department will be aware from public utterances President Rhee and other Korean officials that ROK definitely expects to participate in Japanese peace settlement. Should ROK be entirely excluded, prestige of government would be seriously impaired and such action could logically be regarded as backward step by US and UN in fostering ROK. Apart from foregoing considerations, it appears essential to have Japan committed by peace treaty, to which Korea is a party, to reaffirm relinquishment of all sovereign rights to Korea.
Although ROK has advanced unrealistic claims against Japan going back to 1905, we believe Koreans can be persuaded to accept existing allocation of Japanese property, public and private, situated in Korea as total Japanese reparations, provided that bona fide Korean property interests in Japan are treated in accordance with ordinary property laws. Accordingly, we do not anticipate Korean participation in negotiation of peace settlement would be serious source of embarrassment to other negotiating powers. Before extending any invitation to ROK to participate we could, if desired, privately inform ROK invitation contingent upon not presenting further reparations claim. In this connection we feel Korean eagerness to be signatory is such that ROK would agree to foregoing terms.
Another consideration persuading US toward Korean participation is our feeling Japanese-Korean problems can better be resolved through international forum than through bilateral negotiation.