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Communist forces quickly captured, with almost no fighting, the South Korean capital of Seoul and Kimpo Airport (1). They swept southward to take Inchon (2), one of South Korea's major ports. South Korean forces set up temporary military headquarters around Suwon (3), where fighting continued at the week-end. American troops were concentrated in the neighborhood of Taejon (4). Their main point of entry, by air and sea, is the city of Pusan (5). Communist attackers consolidated a number of beachheads in the area of Kangnung and Samchak (6) and struck inland. U. S. aircraft, including heavy bombers, attacked the North Korean capital of Pyongyang (7).

VI

FOREWORD

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS,

July 11, 1950.

Contained herein are analyses, excerpts from relevant documents, texts of important statements, and a full chronology relative to the situation in Korea. This compilation has been prepared by Mr. George Lee Millikan and Mr. Sheldon Z. Kaplan, consultants on the staff of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. The inclusion of any item or statement cited does not necessarily imply endorsement or approval by the Committee on Foreign Affairs of such item or statement. It is hoped that these statements and factual material will serve as background data on Korea.

JOHN KEE, Chairman.

VII

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JULY 11, 1950.-Committee to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. KEE, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, submitted the

following

REPORT

[Pursuant to H. Res. 206, a resolution authorizing the Committee on Foreign Affairs to conduct thorough studies and investigations of all matters coming within the jurisdiction of such committee]

I. POLITICAL EVOLUTION OF KOREAN PROBLEM

A. WARTIME AGREEMENTS ON STATUS OF KOREA

1. Cairo Conference, 1943

Statement by President Roosevelt, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, and Prime Minister Churchill, December 1, 1943 (excerpt):

* * * The Three Great Allies are fighting this war to restrain and punish the aggression of Japan. * * * Japan will also be expelled from all other territories which she has taken by violence and greed. The aforesaid three great powers, mindful of the enslavement of the people of Korea, are determined that in due course Korea shall become free and independent.

With these objects in view the three Allies, in harmony with those of the United Nations at war with Japan, will continue to persevere in the serious and prolonged operations necessary to procure the unconditional surrender of Japan.

2. Potsdam Conference

Declaration of July 26, 1945, reaffirming the principles of the Cairo declaration (excerpt):

(1) We-the President of the United States, the President of the National Government of the Republic of China, and the Prime Minister of Great Britain representing the hundreds of millions of our countrymen, have conferred and agree that Japan shall be given an opportunity to end this war.

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(8) The terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out

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3. Soviet adherence to the Potsdam Declaration

Contained in its declaration of war against Japan:

True to its obligation as an Ally, the Soviet Government has accepted the proposal of the Allies and has joined in the declaration of the Allied Powers of July 26.

B. DIVISION OF KOREA AT THE THIRTY-EIGHTH PARALLEL; OCCUPATION OF KOREA

1. Military decision for surrender purposes

The thirty-eighth parallel was established as the line of division between what is now known as North Korea and South Korea through a military decision and for the sole and only purpose of taking the surrender of the Japanese armies, then occupying the entire country. The decision was carried out through General Order No. 1, issued by General MacArthur on September 2, 1945.

How, when, and where the decision was made was indicated in the testimony of various witnesses before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs during its consideration of H. R. 5330 (81st Cong.), from the hearings on which the following excerpts are taken:

STATEMENT BY UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE WEBB

The circumstances surrounding the establishment of the thirty-eighth degree parallel line in Korea were as follows: Japan's first offer of surrender was made on August 10, 1945. On the following day, August 11, the Secretary of War submitted to the Secretary of State a draft of General Order No. 1 which General MacArthur, as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, was to cause the Japanese Government to issue to all of its armed forces; this order directed Japanese commanders to surrender to various designated Allied commanders as indicated in paragraph 1 thereof. As regards Korea, paragraph 1 provided that Japanese forces north of 38° north latitude were to surrender to the Soviet commander, while those south of that line were to surrender to the American commander.

The War Department's draft of General Order No. 1 was discussed by the State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee at its meetings on August 11 and 12, 1945. At the latter meeting the Committee agreed to defer consideration of General Order No. 1 "until it has been reviewed and revised as deemed necessary" by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The review of General Order No. 1 by the Joint Chiefs of Staff was concluded on August 14, following which it was approved by the State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee and submitted to the President for his approval.

Following approval of the President, General Order No. 1 was telegraphed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to General MacArthur in Manila on August 15, 1945. At the same time General Order No. 1 was sent to General Deane, commanding general, United States Military Mission to the U. S. S. R., in Moscow for his information.

The text of General Order No. 1 was thereupon communicated to Generalissimo Stalin as well as to the British Government. In his reply of August 16 Generalissimo Stalin, while suggesting certain amendments which were subsequently accepted by the United States Government, made no reference to those provisions of the order having to do with the 38° parallel line.

It is worthy of note that Soviet military forces entered north Korea on August 12, 1945, while General Order No. 1 was still under discussion.

General Order No. 1, including the provision concerning the 38° parallel line, was issued by General MacArthur on September 2, 1945.

FROM TESTIMONY OF JOHN M. ALLISON, DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Mr. ALLISON (reading):

"Subsequent to the declaration of war upon Japan by the U. S. S. R. and in preparation for the surrender of Japanese forces throughout the Far East, the State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee and the Joint Chiefs of Staff approved

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