Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-08-29
The tert of az, American note
to Russian Foreign Minister
Molotou urging a four po1Der con-
ference on Korean independence:

MolotoD urging four polDer con-
ference on Korean independence:
In your letter of August %, 1947,
to Secretary Marshall the position
of the Soviet Delegation to the Joint
Commission has been set forth in
terms which corroborate a recent
report received by this Government
from the United States delegation
to the Joint Commission. The re-
port of the United States delega-
ton was in compliance with the de-
sire of Secretary Marshall as set
forth in his letter to you of August
IL that a report from the Joint
Commission should be submitted by
August 81 in order that our gov
ernments might Immediately con-
slider what further steps may be
useful to achieve the long-delayed
unification and independence of
Korea.
The report of the United States
delegation makes it clear that the
Joint Commission has been unable
to reach agreement regarding the
basis on which representatives of
democratic Korean parties and So
cial organizations shall be con-
suited by the Joint Commission.
The United States delegation also
reports that it has been unable to
obtain the agreement of the Soviet
delegation to any alternative meth
Cd OF completing the task Of the
Joint Commission.
AS pointed out in your letter it
was agreed in the interchange of
correspondence in May of this year
that the Joint Commission should
consult with those democratic par
ties and social organizations which
fully support the Moscow decision
on Korea" You will, however, re-
call that in your letter of May 7
you expressly agreed to the inter-
probation of the above phrase as
proposed by the United States COM
mander in Korea that signing the
declaration in communique No. S
will be accepted as declaration of
good faith with respect to uphold
ing fully the Moscow decision and
will make the signatory party or
organization eligible for initial con-
sultation."
Efforts to Obtain Agreement.
The parties and organizations
mentioned by you as belonging to
the Antitrusteeship Committee did
sign Communique No. S and are,
in the opinion of the United States
Government, eligible for initial con-
sultation. Your letter of May 7
also provided that any decision ex-
Guiding individuals, parties and So
clal organizations for active opposi-
ton to the work of the Joint Com
mission shall be by agreement of
the Joint Commission"
Accordingly, the United States
delegation has repeatedly, but with
out success, attempted to obtain
from the Soviet delegation agree
ment to criteria for consultat ton
with Korean parties and social Or
CARNATIONS applying for such con-
sultation in accordance with the
terms embodied in your letter.
The Soviet delegation has insisted
on the unilateral right to exclude
parties which have expressed dis
taste for "trusteeship," even though
such parties have declared and re-
iterated their intention fully to
support the Joint Commission and
have in fact, since signing the
declaration not instigated active OPP
position to the work of the COM
mission.
The Soviet position is not only
contrary to the specific terms of
the agreement between you and
Secretary Marshall, it is also con-
trary to the democratic principle Of
freedom Of opinion.
Difficulties Over List.
In Secretary Marshall's letter to
you Of August II, 1947, reference
was made to the fact that the Unit
ed States delegation has several
times offered to limit oral consul
tation to parties and organizations
with membership in excess of 1000,
or any other reasonable figure pro-
posed by the Soviet delegation. The
United States delegation reports,
however. that when the Soviet dele
cation proposed limiting consulta-
ton to parties OF 10000 or more, the
Soviet delegation submitted a list
which omitted "a such parties which
claimed total membership of 15,200,-
900 and refused to consider any 9TH
er list of alternative proposal.
The United States Government
denies categorically that there has
been oppression or persecution of
Korean parties or individuals in the
United States zone as charged in
your letter. The arrests which you
mention have been necessary to con-
troll subversive activities aimed at
the destruction Of constituted gov
eminent and law and order in the
American zone. United States
forces are charged with the respon-
sibility for maintaining law and
order in South Korea without inter-
ference with democratic rights. That