1949년 1월 정치요약

THE FOREIGN SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Despatch No. 58 CONFIDENTIAL American Mission in Korea Seoul, February 9, 1949 Subject: Political Summary for January 1949 The Honorable The Secretary of State, Washington. Sir: In continuation of Despatch No./16, January 10, 1949, reporting on political developments in Korea/for the month of December 1948, I have the honor to submit herein a review of political events for the month of January 1949. I Summary The short history of the Republic of Korea, born into a difficult and somewhat unreceptive world on August 15, 1948, has been a record of tests and crises posing the question of ultimate survival of the Government. Despite a sharp setback in October 1948 with the eight day revolt of Communist-led Korean soldiers and civilians in South Chulla Province, there has been written a story of progressive improvement and greater intrinsic strength month by month. The successes are, it is true, largely negative. The large revolt has been crushed. The Communist guerrillas are kept in reasonable check. The Government maintains its most essential functions and services to the people. It is through these ways that some day, perhaps not too distant, the question will be changed from, "Will the Government survive?" to "Granted that the Government will survive, how much more can it be positively improved to do good for the Korean people?" V. Communism in South Korea Although disruption of tranquillity in South Korea still remained serious, total disturbances, especially outside of the South Chulla Province October revolt area, seemed on the decline. This was partially due to the [illegible] running effect when cold winter weather had on guerrilla [illegible]. [illegible], it w- [illegible] certainly d[illegible] in part to intensified and more a[illegible] d[illegible] [illegible] anti-guerrilla [illegible]erations of police and Army in all [illegible]. [illegible] re were even [illegible]ports that a promise of amnesty by the Army [illegible] [illegible] the [illegible]tion of a considerable number of rebels who were [illegible] [illegible]-[illegible] [illegible]. [illegible]re-education." . Chajoo Island [illegible] [illegible] to [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] re, despite the burning down of the Provin[illegible] [illegible].[illegible], [illegible] [illegible] could [illegible] lifted. The same seemed in store for South [illegible] Province, [illegible] as the National Assembly demanded. In the [illegible]er place, it was noteworthy that numerous official reports attributed almost all attacks to guerrilla leader and former Korean Army Lieutenant KIM Oni Hoe. Two reports often seemed to place him in widely separated localities at the same time. Although the Army had once announced his capture in December 1948, it seemed as if he might almost be coming a legendary figure. Respectfully yours, Everett F. Drumright Counselor of Mission