Evening star., 1947-03-30

tween two friendly powers" Maj.
Gen. John H. Hilldring, Assistant
Secretary Of State for Occupied
Areas, declared recently. "The line
Of demarcation was intended to be
temporary and only to fix RESPONSE
bility between the United States
and the q. s. s. R. for carrying out
the Japanese surrender. Neverthe-
less, now, nearly 18 months later,
this artificial and temporary line
still stands like a stone wall against
the unification of Korea"
i Big-power Policy.
Recalling the well-known Russian
ambitions for Northern Korea early
in the century, it is easy to see how
Koreans now suspect they have
been sold down the river" Gen.
Hodge pointed out.
Big-power policy for Korea was
laid down formally at meeting of
American, British and Russian For
eign Ministers In Moscow in De-
cember, 1945. China joined in the
agreement.
In brief, this agreement provided
for setting up four-power trustee
ship which, during the period of not
more than five years, would aid the
Korean people in developing a DEM
ocratic government, economy and
educational system, and prepare
them for membership in the United
Nations. The United States and
Soviet occupation commanders were
charged with setting up a Korean
provisional government with which
they would consult in formulating
plans for the trusteeship. The plans
so formulated then would be re-
ferred for final approval to the
American, British, Russian and
Chinese governments.
This trusteeship agreement hit
Korea like a bombshell.- The word
"trusteeship" was translated in their
language with the same connotation
as the long-hated Japanese protec-
torate. With no exceptions, the
Koreans went wild" Gen. Hodge re-
ported.
Moscow's Attitude.
In the beginning, even the Com
munists were against the trustee
ship plan. Gen. Hodge said the
Communists planned a big demon
stration against it on January 8,
1916. At the last minute "they got
their orders" and changed their plac-
ards and speeches to favor the plan.
The Soviet-American joint COM
mission met in the spring of 1916
to begin work on the provisional
government plans. 1--WE never got
beyond the matter of who should be
consulted" Gen. Hodge reported.
The Russians refused to consult
with any Koreans who had objected
to trusteeship since January 8.
They insisted" Gen. Hodge said
that the Moscow agreement was
reached by democratic nations;
therefore, it is democratic; there
fore, any one who objects to 1t is
undemocratic."
This would have meant in prac-
tice that only the minority Com
munist group could have been con-
suited. American representatives
naturally refused to agree to the
Soviet limitation. They saw it as
direct violation of the principle of
freedom of speech. They insisted
that all Korean political parties be
consulted.
1--WE stuck there" Gen. Hodge
remarked wryly.
Local Negotiations Futile.
He had hoped the meeting with
the Russians would result in removal
OF the Temporary" barrier at the
38th parallel and arrangements for
unlf1cation of Korea as an economic
and administrative whole, at least.
But now Gen. Hodge has given
up hope Of raising this iron cur
tain" through negotiations on "the
local level" The only hope ap-
parently is direct negotiations be-
tween Washington and Moscow.
Gen. Hilldring, one of those with
whom Gen. Hodge is consulting here,
says that I'VE are disappointed, but
we are not discouraged" AS for
the ultimate outcome, his attitude
is one of determined optimism.
In any event, Gen. Hilldring en-
phasizes, I'VE shall stay Gn Korea)
until our mission is accomplished. ."
While some impatient Koreans, sus-
picious Of the whole Soviet-Amer-
ican occupation, are demanding that
we leave them to settle their own
destiny, Gen. Hilldring is "by no
means convinced that they would
retain their freedom If we pulled
out now"
Wants Universal Suffrage.
The immediate job is to work out
a formula for American action dur
ing the period of waiting for agree
ment with Russia for unification of
the country. Both political and
economic problems are involved.
Already, Gen. Hodges administra-
tion is attempting to give the people
in South Korea all the experience
possible IN self-government.
He set up last December a pro-
visional legislature, with As men,
bers appointed by him and As
elected. He hopes the legislature
soon will agree on an election law
that will enable the Koreans to
elect a fully representative legisla-
tive body. The old head man"
Korean election system, Gen. Hodge
pointed out, does not give the mass
Of the. people a voice in the selec-