‘조국통일 민주전선’ 정강과 선언

THE FOREIGN SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA [illegible] Assigned to [illegible] [illegible] Token Noted--- REC'D JULY 21 ACTION No. 430 [illegible] ation [illegible] FE ENC [illegible] Symbol EE [illegible] American Embassy, INFO [illegible] officer [illegible] DCR UNCLASSIFIED Seoul, Korea, July [illegible], 19[illegible]. OLI ENC [illegible] to DC/S [illegible] POG ENC UNA ENC EURX SNC Subject: Platform and Manifesto Issued June 28, 1949 in Pyong- yang by the "Democratic Front for National Unification" m Cm. att. h [illegible] 7.147 The Ambassador refers to the Embassy's telegram No. 840 dated July 7, 1949 on the above-cited subject, and has the honor to transmit for the Department's information copies of a trans- lation of the platform and manifesto issued June 28, 1949 in Pyongyang by the "Democratic Front for National Unification". The translation was prepared in the Embassy from printed copies of the manifesto received in the open mails from North Korea. Other than indicating that the "Democratic Front for National Unification" intends to hold a nationwide election in September, which shall be under the control of the "Election Guidance Com- mission", there appears little in this document which varies sub- --- p352 --- stantially from the normal Communist propaganda line as it is applied to South Korea. Interpretation of the word "democratic" is the keystone of the entire operation. In Communist terminology, this means pro-Communist persons and parties as exemplified by the Russian interpretation of the term which broke up the negotiations of the Joint Commission. It is quite possible that this proposal to hold a nationwide election in September for the purpose of unifying the country may be an attempt to forestall a similar effort on the part of the United Nations Commission on Korea to unify the country. Since its so-called nationwide elections which were held on August 26, 1948, the so-called "Peoples Republic" has laid claim to being a body which is truly representative of the population of all Korea. Therefore, the calling for a new election in September 1949 would appear to be an admission that the "Peoples Republic" has not been a truly representative body. This attempt on the part of Pyengyang unquestionably is another move to confuse and crush anti-Communist elements in Korea. It may also possibly be an attempt to bolster the morale of the population of North Korea. It is understood that approximately 1,000 copies of this printed document were passed into South Korea during the mail exchange at the 38th parallel which took place on June 30, 1949. Envelopes containing the documents were postmarked Pyongyang, June 29, some of which were addressed to specific individuals in the United Nations Commission on Korea and to officers of the Embassy. It is understood that the South Korean postal authorities passed some 820 envelopes enclosing the document to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Distribution to the delegates and staff of UNCOK and to officers of the Embassy was effected by the Foreign Office. To date this document has been given little publicity by the local press. Enclosure: act- Platform and Manifesto, as stated JPGardiner:l·g UNITED STATES INFORMATION SERVICE AMERICAN EMBASSY Seoul, Korea MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD July 8, 1949 Subject: Letter addressed to Mr. James L. Stewart, USIS, from Pyangyang, North Korea, postmarked June 29, 1949. "Proclamation issued by the mass meeting for the establishment of a Democratic Front for National Unification. "TO ALL KOREAN PEOPLE AND DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL PARTIES AND SOCIETIES! "DEAR FELLOW COUNTRYMEN, COMRADES AND PARTISANS OF DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL PARTIES, ASSOCIATIONS: "DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS: "Nearly four years have elapsed since our country was liberated from the yoke of Japanese imperialism. Despite this liberation, our country still remains divided by an artifically-made border line at the 38° north latitude. "During the period of this four years time the southern and the northern parts of our fatherland have been running in respective directions absolutely opposing each other. In the northern part of our country there is a program for the construction of a democratic line which has been developed most effectively and is still being achieved toward realization of the century old hope of the true people. "In the southern part of our country the reactionary elements have established their own regime and are devising every possible measures to oppress the democratic force therein. Economically and politically south Korea is now being gradually subjugated to the United States of America. "Who is standing in the way of our national unification? "Is it for your benefit that the division of our country is still being continued? "It is the American imperialists who are preventing our national unification, and it is their henchmen, pro-Japanese and national traitors who are deceiving the people and betraying the good name of our fatherland and people for the benefit of the United States of America, and who, for their own political influence, are selling-out our fatherland and people. "The American imperialists who have for the past four years despised out nation, stating that we were ignorant and incapable of governing or developing ourselves, have been and are carrying out the policy of converting this country into their military and political base of operations and economic reservoir to the benefit of their capitalists in the Far East. "The collective diplomatic and administrative efforts of America in South Korea during the past four years time has been aimed at the implementation of their imperialistic program of exploitation. "As early as the end of 1945 when the Moscow Conference of the Big Three Foreign Minister was held, the representative of America proposed the establishment and administrative mechanism which would consist of those delegates from the United States of America, China, Great Britain and the U.S.S.R. and planned to control these administrative mechanisms through its high commission and to carry out her plan to control Korea. When this proposal was made the United States of America did not foresee the establishment of a Korean government. According to the draft, which was prepared by America, this program for virtual mandatory administration of Korea was scheduled to last for ten years. To accomplish such a proposal meant that Korea, without her Peoples' sovereign government will, without realizing, be placed under the control of foreign powers for many years to come and, therefore, this proposal was rejected. According to a Russian proposal the Moscow Conference of Three Foreign Ministers had adopted a decision that would help liquidate all effects of Japanese imperialism and establish those conditions that would serve to build up a democratic country and government and restore an independent nation and develop a democratic foundation in Korea. This decision was consistent with numerous interests of Korean people in various circles. But this decision was not in conformity with the interests of American imperialists and national traitors who aimed to seize power and to keep the general public from participating in governmental affairs and to prevent the emergence of the democratic element. But it should be remembered that the interests of American imperialists and that of national reactionary elements in South Korea was in complete accord. Dear fellow countrymen and brothers and sisters! "The Democratic Front for National Unification appeals to all democratic political parties and societies and people to carry out a peaceful program of unification. With this purpose in mind we are presenting the proposals fof peaceful unification which read as follows: "1. We Korean people will undertake the advantage of peaceful unification and will carry it out among our services. "2. We Korean people request the immediate withdrawal of American occupying forces, who are impairing our peaceful unification. "3. We Korean people request the immediate withdrawal of the so-called U.N. Commission on Korea, which is an illegal organization. "4. We Korean people propose to have an election for a unified legislative assembly throughout Korea. "5. This election will be held under the guidance of the Commission and will consist of those representatives of democratic political parties and societies who want the peaceful unification of our country. "6. In e·ier to discuss the plan of peaceful unification let us call representatives of all political parties and societies in south and north Korea for a discussion council and from this discussion council will be constituted an Election Guidance Commission. "7. The election of a representative body will be held in September, 1949, and it will be carried out along the plan of the general ordinary secret ballot. In this election the pro-Japanese will be deprived of their balloting rights. "8. In order to guarantee the freedom of election, the following measures will be taken: a. The discontinuance of suppression of democratic political parties and societies and other enthusiastic workers. b. Democratic Political Parties and Associations will be legitimate and their free actions will be guaranteed. c. Repeal the closing-up instructions to democratic political parties, publications, and organizations. The rights of publication will be guaranteed to democratic political parties and associations. d. The right of freedom-of-speech;-press, public meetings, mass meetings, and demonstrations will be guaranteed. e. Political prisoners will immediately be released. "9. The Election Guidance Commission will be given the following powers: a. Issue to existing governments and agencies in south and north Korea necessary directives with regard to preparation and execution of this election. b. Review the execution of its decisions and directives. c. Supervise through an appropriate commission assigned by the Election Guidance Commission the withdrawal of foreign troops from Korea. "10. Simultaneously, with the formation of this General Election Guidance Commission, existing police and constabulary organizations in south and north Korea will be placed under the direct jurisdiction of the Election Guidance Commission. The Election Guidance Commission will eliminate from the police organization the pro-Japanese and those who worked with Japanese police and gendarmes, and the police group which participated in the oppression of the guerrilla movement in Cheju Island people's resistance will be disbanded. "11. The supreme representative body will be set up as the result of the general election will adopt the constitution of the Republic of Korea. Based upon this constitution a government will be erected. This government will take over political rights from the existing government in south and north Korea, dissolving the latter. "12. The existing military forces in south and north Korea will, based on the democratic line, be combined by the Government of the Republic of Korea. The troops of the national defense army of south Korea who participated in the oppression of the peoples' resistance and partisan movements in Cheju Island and other regions will be disbanded. To those who participated in the oppression of these peoples resistance and partisan movement, the right to join the Army will be prohibited. And those who encouraged and organized oppressions will be punished. "The above is our program for peaceful unification which is presented to all democratic political parties, associations and all Korean people in Korea. We are convinced that the Korean people will most zealously support this proposal. If reactionary elements continue to prevent this peaceful " [illegible] unification program, they will be subjected to punishment by the Korean people. We Korean people will be able to liquidate those fellows who stand in our way for national unification and democratic independence. "Long live the United Democratic Independent Korea! "And long live eternally the united Korean people!"