Koreans Ask for Recognition of Their Government-in-Exile
Rhee, Dr. Syngman
Koreans Ask for Recognition of Their Government-in-Exile By Dr. Syngman Rhee Korean Provisional Government Representative in Washington I BELIEVE it is time for our friends and fits alike to know...
...We also have our quota of Quislings snd Fifth Columnists...
...This would help to win the war and secure peace in the Pacific...
...We knew they would some day discover—too late—that they had been caught in the meshes of Japanese treachery...
...4—The last snd most often heard "reason" is that Koreans sre presumed to be divided among themselves...
...1 I'll r question arises, naturally, as to what can be the reason...
...To our minds, this is s most unconvincing reason...
...We know this, but did not complain because we knew it was not due to any intention on their part to be unfriendly toward us, but rather to their lack of knowledge and foresight in dealing with the Japanese...
...The only way to build a unified and strengthened Korean Nation vould be for the United Nations to recognize the only Government the Korean people have...
...However, we have not leceived the assistance which would enable us to put our plans into operation...
...We have been informed that it was President Chiang Kai-shek who proposed the pledge for Korean independence...
...There are several hypothetical reasons advanced by interested observers...
...The inevitable came—the bombing\f Pearl Harbor stunned the world...
...3—Chinese influence...
...We have appealed for admittance to thi Council of the United Nut ions...
...If complete^ unity among the people of a nation is a condition for recognition, there is not a single nation—except a totalitarian state —which could be recognized...
...The people of every conquered nation in Europe and Asia have been given this chance—but so far it has been denied to the Koreans...
...We want to do the lighting ourselves...
...2— Russian influence...
...While other powers have sufficient forces under their control to enforce law and order within their jurisdiction, we have no authority...
...It is sad bu* true, that humans must learn from bitter experience...
...The three words, "in due course," we have also been informed, were added by someone else...
...We have no mo er...
...When the Government of the United States was seeking recognition by the European powers in 1776, American diplomats were asked which of the thirteen States should be recognized...
...We explained fully to the proper United Stales anthorties that we seek recognition not because we expect any other power or powers to fight for our independence...
...They therefore tried to maintain friendly relation with her, and in their efforts to appease Japan they had to discriminate against Korea...
...The Koreans and their friends everywhere are puzzled by this discrimination...
...At any rate, China has spoken, and the United States and Crest Britain have responded with the result that these three great powers have irrevocably committed themselves to the understanding that Korea shall be free and independent...
...There is no democratic state which has no division among its people...
...Korea has parties and groups and classes among her people, just as have all other democratic nations...
...The sooner the Korean government-in-exile is given its rightful place among the United Nations, the "stronger will be the bond between thero and 30,000,000 Koreans...
...They believe that the United States is the only power that stands unequivocally for justice and liberty for all...
...At every international conference we have asked for s chance to present our case tc the representatives of the participating nations, but we hsve been persistently jarred out...
...Recognition would entitle as to lend-lease aid, and thin aid, in turn, enable us to fight the Jsps more effectively...
...All that the Koreans have been asking foi—and still are asking for—is an equal chance to do their share of fighting against the common enemy, Japan...
...therefore, they should not be recognized...
...Now that the Cairo Conference has opened the way, we hope the proper authorities in the United States Government will extend a helping hand to the Korean Provisional Government...
...We have reason to believe that President Roosevelt and Secretary Hull, Secretary Stimson and Secretary Knox are deeply in sympathy with our cause...
...However, the recent Cairo declaration apparently absolve* Great Britain from that implication...
...We had faith that American statesmen would reverse tiie former policy of appeasement toward Japun and help the Koreans to defeat Japan...
...Next we prtsenled our military program, the nature of which cannot he revealed at this time...
...Hut China is not opposed to Korean independence...
...The Korean people want to fight on the side of freedom, democracy and world peace...
...The powers which • now comprise the United Nations did not want to hear the truth about th, Jap and his treachery, because they bed been led (or misled) to believe that the peace of the Pacific and of the world hinged on their friendship with Japan...
...The President of the Koresn Provisional Government in Chungking has denounced thst phrnse s* "absurd...
...The War Department was 100 percent in favor of using Korean manpower against Japan...
...This theory, also, has been disproved by the tint Cairo proclamation, because the three powers could hardly have pledged Korean independence without first consulting Moscow...
...In answer to our requests all that we have received so far is advice to "be patient and wait...
...All the nations and peoples who are righting, or who are willing to fight, against the Axis, are members if the United Nations...
...Syngman Rhee Korean Provisional Government Representative in Washington I BELIEVE it is time for our friends and fits alike to know what the Korean people want and what they propose to do if they get what they want A ilear understanding is always a short-cut to a satisfactory solution of difficult problems among individuals as well as among nations...
...Again we explained that the reason why we asked for inclusion among the United Nations was because we wanted an equal opportunity to fight for our own freedom, as well as for the freedom of all nations struggling against Nazi domination...
...For the last forty years Korea has been discriminated against, while Japan has been given every aid and encouragement...
...They are as follows: 1—British influence...
...More then two years elapsed since that fateful December 7, 1941, yet we are still waiting for the opportunity to fight the Japs...
...QO0N after December 7, 1941, we presented our formal request to the UniteJ States Government for recognition of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea—the oldest government-in-exile...
...We tried to warn the United States and Britain that they were playing right into the hands of their potential enemies, the Japs...
Vol. 27 • February 1944 • No. 7
