Evening star., 1947-05-03
Given
u. !. Terms for
Korea Talks
Conference Boycott
Seen if Reds Reject
Full Representation
BY The Assoeiotsd Press

Secretary of State Marshall
advised Russia today the United
States will insist that all Korean
political elements be consulted
in the formation of a new gov
ernment.
Unless Russia specifically agrees,
he limited in letter to Foreign Min
lister Molotov, this country may boy
colt scheduled May 20 meeting OF
a joint United States Russian COM
mission at Seoul.
The commission, charged with set
ting up provisional government for
Korea, has been idle since last May
8, when members failed to agree on
just what political democracy"
means.
Korea since has been split along
the 38th parallel of latitude into
tight American and Russian occu-.
patton zones.
u. S. Stand Is Firm.
In his new letter to Mr.. Molotov
Gen. Marshall noted, "to avoid any
future misunderstanding" that the
United States holds firmly to its
contention that no representatives
OF Korean democratic parties and
social organizations should be
barred from consultation by the
commission because of any expressed
opinions concerning their country's
future government.
Russia insisted last year on .ex-
cluding all parties critical of the
four power Moscow agreement in
1945 by which Korea was to be run
for not more than five years under
a trusteeship. The effect of the
Russian move was to bar virtually
all but the pro- Communist parties.
Replying to a letter from Mr..
Molotov dated April 20, Gen. Mar
shall emphasized that the United
States favors establishment of a
self lf-governing sovereign Korea. in
dependent OF foreign control and
eligible for membership in the
United Nations"
Free Elections Stressed.
MIR. Molotov had said Russia
favors setting up Democratic au-
thority agencies throughout Korea.
Gen. Marshall in his reply said he
interpreted this to mean 'local, pro-
vincfal and national government
agencies chosen, as you state. by
means of free elections on the basis
OF 9 general and equal electoral
right.
He asked for confirmation Of his
understanding before directing lat.
Gen. John r. Hodge, the American
occupation commander, "to make
preparations for opening the ses-
siors" Of the joint commission.
His reply went also to China and
Britain, other signers OF the 1S45
treaty on Korea.
Text Of Letter.
The text of Gen. Marshall's letter
to Mr.. Molotoy follows:
Dear Mr.. Molotoy:
II have considered your letter of
April 10, 1947, in which you accept
our proposal to reconvene the U. s.
u. S. S. R. joint commission and
suggest that the commission re-
sun1e its work on May 20 of this
year. have also noted your state
ment that resumption of the COM
missions work shall be ON the basis
of an exact execution of the Mos
COW agreement on Korea
I'm order to avoid any future mis-
understanding with respect to the
phrase exact execution I wish to
make clear my Interpretation of the
phrase. In my letter to you of April
8 / stated that the joint commission
should be charged with expediting
its work under the terms of the
Moscow agreement on basis of
respect for the democratic right of
freedom of opinion
I'm making this statement I had
and have in mind the well-known
position of the government of the
United States that Korean repre-
sentatives of democratic parties and
social organizations shall not be ex-
cluded from consultations with the
commission on the formation of a
provisional Korean government be-
cause of opinions they might hold or
may have expressed in the past con-
cerning the future government of
their country, provided they are
prepared to cooperate with the
commission.
Three Points Mentioned.
"You mentioned three points
which the Soviet government be-
lieves to be of primary Importance
in its policy toward Korea. Your
statement concerning the impor-
tsnce of establishing provisional
Democratic Korean government on
the basis Of wide-scale participat ton
of Korean democratic parties and
social organizations has from the
begin.1ing been accepted by the
United States Government as basic
to ITS policy of assisting in the
establishment Of self-governing
sovereign Korea. independent Ct