the war, reduce the number of victims and facilitate the speedy restoration of international peace.

Loyal to its Allied duty, the Soviet Government has accepted the proposal of the Allies and has joined in the declaration of the Allied Powers of July 26.

The Soviet Government considers that this policy is the only means able to bring peace nearer, free the people from further sacrifice and suffering and give the Japanese people the possibility of avoiding the dangers and destruction suffered by Germany after her refusal to capitulate unconditionally.

In view of the above, the Soviet Government declares that from tomorrow, that is from August 9, the Soviet Government will consider itself to be at war with Japan.

Proclamation to the People of Korea Issued by General Douglas MacArthur, September 7, 19451

[Extracts]

To the People of Korea:

As Commander-in-Chief, United States Army Forces, Pacific, I do hereby proclaim as follows:

By the terms of the Instrument of Surrender, signed by command and in behalf of the Emperor of Japan and the Japanese Government and by command and in behalf of the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters, the victorious military forces of my command will today occupy the territory of Korea south of 38 degrees north latitude.2

'Text from Political Reorientation of Japan, September 1945 to September 1948, Report of Government Section, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, vol. 2, p. 453.

2

Concerning the establishment of the line at the 38th parallel, Under Secretary of State James C. Webb made the following statement to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on June 16, 1949:

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 fol lowing 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

Having in mind the long enslavement of the people of Korea and the determination that in due course Korea shall become free and independent, the Korean people are assured that the purpose of the Occupation is to enforce the Instrument of Surrender and to protect them in their personal and religious rights. In giving effect to these purposes, your active aid and compliance are required.

By virtue of the authority vested in me as Commander-in-Chief, United States Army Forces, Pacific, I hereby establish military control over Korea south of 38 degrees north latitude and the inhabitants thereof, and announce the following conditions of the occupation: ARTICLE I

All powers of Government over the territory of Korea south of 38 degrees north latitude and the people thereof will be for the present exercised under my authority.

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.

For the complete text of the Under Secretary's statement of June 16, as well as one made on June 8, see Hearings Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs on H.R. 5330 [Korean Aid Bill], House of Representatives, 81st Cong., 1st sess., pp. 111-118 and pp. 3-9. For the text of General Order No. 1, see Political Reorientation of Japan, September 1945 to September 1948, Report of Govern ment Section, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, vol. 2, pp. 442–444.

Given under my hand at Yokohama, this seventh day of September 1945.

DOUGLAS MACARTHUR,

General of the Army of the United States Commander-in-Chief, United States Army Forces, Pacific

Statement by President Truman Concerning the Liberation of Korea, September 18, 1945

1

The surrender of the Japanese forces in Seoul, ancient Korean capital, heralds the liberation of a freedom-loving and heroic people. Despite their long and cruel subjection under the warlords of Japan, the Koreans have kept alive their devotion to national liberty and to their proud cultural heritage. This subjection has now ended. The Japanese warlords are being removed. Such Japanese as may be temporarily retained are being utilized as servants of the Korean people and of our occupying forces only because they are deemed essential by reason of their technical qualifications.

In this moment of liberation we are mindful of the difficult tasks which lie ahead. The building of a great nation has now begun with the assistance of the United States, China, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union, who are agreed that Korea shall become free and independent.

The assumption by the Koreans themselves of the responsibilities and functions of a free and independent nation and the elimination of all vestiges of Japanese control over Korean economic and political life will of necessity require time and patience. The goal is in view, but its speedy attainment will require the joint efforts of the Korean people and of the Allies.

The American people rejoice in the liberation of Korea as the Taegook-kee, the ancient flag of Korea, waves again in the Land of the Morning Calm.

1Text from Department of State Bulletin, Sept. 23, 1945, p. 435.

Communiqué Issued at the Moscow Conference of the Foreign Ministers of the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and the United States, December 27, 19451

[Extracts]

The Foreign Ministers of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America met in Moscow from December 16 to December 26, 1945, in accordance with the decision of the Crimea Conference, confirmed at the Berlin Conference, that there should be periodic consultation between them. At the meeting of the three Foreign Ministers, discussions took place on an informal and exploratory basis and agreement was reached on the following questions:

III.
KOREA:

1. With a view to the re-establishment of Korea as an independent state, the creation of conditions for developing the country on democratic principles and the earliest possible liquidation of the disastrous results of the protracted Japanese domination in Korea, there shall be set up a provisional Korean democratic government which shall take all the necessary steps for developing the industry, transport and agriculture of Korea and the national culture of the Korean people.

2. In order to assist the formation of a provisional Korean government and with a view to the preliminary elaboration of the appropriate measures, there shall be established a Joint Commission consisting of representatives of the United States command in southern Korea and the Soviet command in northern Korea. In preparing their proposals the Commission shall consult with the Korean democratic parties and social organizations. The recommendations worked out by the Commission shall be presented for the consideration of the Governments of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, China, the United Kingdom and the United States prior to final decision by the two Governments represented on the the Joint Commission.

3. It shall be the task of the Joint Commission, with the participation of the provisional Korean democratic government and of the

1 1The Foreign Ministers were Ernest Bevin, United Kingdom; V. M. Molotov, Soviet Union; and James F. Byrnes, United States. Text from Treaties and Other International Acts Series 1555. For a report on the Moscow Conference by Secretary of State Byrnes, see Department of State Bulletin, Dec. 30, 1945, pp. 1033-1036, 1047.

Korean democratic organizations to work out measures also for helping and assisting (trusteeship) the political, economic and social progress of the Korean people, the development of democratic selfgovernment and the establishment of the national independence of Korea.

The proposals of the Joint Commission shall be submitted, following consultation with the provisional Korean Government for the joint consideration of the Governments of the United States, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom and China for the working out of an agreement concerning a four-power trusteeship of Korea. for a period of up to five years.

4. For the consideration of urgent problems affecting both southern and northern Korea and for the elaboration of measures establishing permanent coordination in administrative-economic matters be-tween the United States command in southern Korea and the Soviet command in northern Korea, a conference of the representatives of the United States and Soviet commands in Korea shall be convened within a period of two weeks.

Reports of the U.S. Delegation on Disagreements in the U.S.-Soviet Joint Commission for Korea, July 1947 1

Report on Discussions Through July 14, 1947

1

The US-Soviet Joint Commission held its forty-second meeting, 1330, 14 July 1947 Duk Soo Palace, Seoul, Korea. General Brown 2 was chairman.

The Joint Commission has continued the discussion of a disagreement, which arose in the thirty-seventh meeting and extended through to the forty-second meeting, on the list of parties and organizations to be invited for initial consultation. The basic issues involved in this disagreement are as follows:

I. Soviet Delegation's general position:

1. That parties and organizations falling within the following categories should not be included in the list for initial consultation, specifically:

A. Those not classified by them as social organizations, and

1Texts from telegraphic reports as printed in Department of State Bulletin, Aug. 10, 1947, pp. 294–297.

2 Major-General Albert E. Brown, Chief Commissioner of the American delegation.