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WAR DEPARTMENT CLASSIFIED MESSAGE CENTER INCOMING CLASSIFIED MESSAGE TOT OPERATIONAL PRIORITY E.O. & SIGNATURE NARS May 3, 1972 OSD 3(E) and S(D) or letter, (E) From: Commander in Chief Army Forces Advance Tokyo Japan To: War Department Nr: CAX 52058 Macarthyr Manshul 18 September 1945 From CINCAFPAC Adv to WARCOS info CINCAFPAC Manila passed CAX 52058. TOP SECRET. Following is a summery to include 17th September of reports received in this headquarters from the Office of the Commanding Goneral XXIV Corps in Korea. 1. The genoral situation in southern Korea at present is compared to a powder keg ready to explode up- on application of a spark. The splitting of Korea into two paxts for occupation by force of nations operating under widely divergent policies and with no common command is an impossible situation, The occupation of Chemulpo and Seoul proceeded without significant incident. Receiving orders from Tokyo, Japanese in southern Korea have surrendered and appear thus far as cooperative. However, where they are to the south of United States Forces the Japanese are understood to be looting and intimidating the Koreans, who hate the Japanese with a bitterness unbelievable and would wreak dire vengeance on ell Japs, civilians and soldiers alike, were United States Forces not present. Since surrender was announced on 15th August, the Koreans have been on a prolonged holiday, not showing any interest in normal pursuits. 2. Removal of Japanese officials The problem of Government for Korea will be complicated and difficult for some period of time. Thirty years of a highly concentrated administration completely dominated by the Japanese throughout CM-IN-14876 (19 Sep 45) ARCHIVES AND RECORDS SERVICIS ROVERE to 24 COPY No. 24-75724 THE MAKING OF AN EXACT COPY OF THIS MESSAGE IS FORBIDDEN