WA-2575 of September 28 † from Washington reports that Dr. [Pyung-ok] Chough, Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Korea, would like to visit Ottawa on October 6 en route to Paris to discuss the Korean question,⁹preferably with you and the Acting Prime Minister. The State Department has endorsed Dr. Chough.

Three reasons occur to me for your agreeing to see members of this Mission:

A. It would give evidence that Canada is a genuine, if perhaps somewhat cautious, supporter of Korean aspirations for independence. Refusal to receive the Mission would probably be taken by the Koreans to confirm the suspicions of Canadian policy which some newspapermen have spread.

B. We might learn something of what the Koreans are going to ask the General Assembly to do for them. So far we have not been able to learn anything from the State Department concerning the terms of the resolution they will introduce. By October 6 United States-Korean plans should be coordinated. We need not give any specific commitments on the attitude our delegation will adopt.

C. We may be able to give the Koreans a little friendly advice to be moderate in their claims and requests. For instance, if these South Korean delegates claim to represent the Government of all Korea - a national government - they will be inviting a rebuff. However, if they claim to represent the only Government in Korea with a right to be heard by the General Assembly because it has complied with the General Assembly Resolutions of November 14, 1947, then they will be on much safer ground. The Koreans might also be well advised to canvass delegations informally in advance to secure as wide a measure of support for their resolutions as possible.

The Korean Mission would appreciate, if at all possible, some indication by Thursday, September 30, when they leave for New York, as to whether this visit could be arranged.

Would you let me know if you can see Dr. Chough on October 6 and, if so, whether you think a small luncheon should be arranged for the four members of the Mission?

E[SCOTT] R[EID]