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OCR Page 1 of 12KOREA - Synopsis A: Developments Prior to Mid-1950
(Page 1)
S.
1. Political and Diplomatic Developments
U.S AND
State Department Publication 4266 gives the following summary of major
political-diplomatic developments in or with respect to Korea through
1949:
Korean Indepen-
The question of independence for Korea was taken up at the Cairo
dence a Goal
Conference of December 1943, where it was declared that the United
of Allies in
States, the United Kingdom, and China, "mindful of the enslavement of
World War II
the people of Korea, are determined that in due course Korea shall
become free and independent. "
The Allies' intention was reaffirmed at the Potsdam Conference, where
it was agreed that "the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be
carried out."
When the U.S.S.R. declared war on Japan on August 8, 1945, the
declaration said in part: "True to its obligations 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 28 (the
Potsdam Declaration). 11 This declaration in effect committed the
Soviet Government to support the independence of Korea.
The 38th
When the offer of Japanese surrender came on August 10, 1945, it was
Parallel
necessary that prompt arrangements be made for the United States and
its Allies to take the surrender of Japanese forces in the Pacific
and Asiatic theaters, including Korea.
Proposals for the surrender arrangements were embodied in an order
(later known as General Order No.1) submitted by the Secretary of
War to the Secretary of State for the consideration of the State-War-
Navy Coordinating Committee. As regards Korea the order provided
that Japanese forces north of 38 degrees north latitude were to
surrender to the Soviet Commanders, while those south of that line were
to surrender to the American commanders.
At the time this order was under consideration by the State-War-Navy
Coordinating Committee, Soviet forces were already well into Manchuria
and other Soviet forces were near the border between Korea and other
Soviet maritime provinces. The first Soviet forces entered Korea
on August 12, at which time the nearest American forces available
for movement into Korea were on Okinawa, 600 miles away, and in the
Philippines ,1,500 to 2,000 miles away.
In light of these facts the State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee,
after review by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, accepted the 38th parallel
as the dividing line for the acceptance of the surrender, since it
would include the Korean capital of Seoul, with its ports and commu-
nications area. In addition, under the existing circunstances, the
United States could not send forces to Korea in sufficient numbers
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