Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, The Far East and Australasia, Volume VI

740.00119 Control (Korea)/9–1948: Telegram

The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kohler) to the Secretary of State ¹

restricted
us urgent

Moscow, September 19, 1948—7 p. m.

2044. Embassy received September 19 at 17:00 Moscow time third person note dated September 18 from Foreign Office. Text of which after customary salutation and request to inform US Government reads as follows:

“Supreme National Assembly of Korea on September 10, 1948 addressed itself to Government of the USSR and to Government of USA with a request for the simultaneous and immediate withdrawal of Soviet and American troops from Korea.

“Presidium of Supreme Soviet of USSR, having considered this appeal of Supreme National Assembly of Korea, have recognized as possible meeting the wish expressed in this appeal and have given appropriate instructions to the Council of Ministers of USSR concerning evacuation of Soviet troops from Northern Korea so that the evacuation would be concluded at end of December, 1948.

“At same time Presidium of Supreme Soviet expressed hope that Government USA will also agree to evacuate American troops from Southern Korea within this period.

“Presidium of Supreme Soviet USSR on September 18 informed President of Presidium of Supreme National Assembly of Korea, Mister Kim Doo Bong, of above decision.”

Sent Department 2044; Department pass Paris as 357 for GADel, Seoul as 29.²

Kohler

1. Repeated in telegram 36, September 21, 6 p. m., to Seoul; relayed to both Paris and Seoul, September 24, 4:30 p. m.
2. Telegram 1173, September 27, 8 p. m., to Moscow, suggested a reply to the Soviet Foreign Office. The final sentence stated: “Emb further instructed state its govt regards question troop withdrawal as part of larger question Korean unity and independence, concerning which its views will be presented appropriate time by USDel GA.” Repeated to Seoul as 49 and to Paris as 72 for GADel. (740.00119 Control (Korea)/9–1948) The reply was delivered at Moscow on September 28. Texts of the exchange are printed in Department of State Bulletin, October 10, 1948, p. 456. The Soviet press printed summaries of the exchange.