POLICY KOREA

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 62, 11 September 1945, Page 7

POLICY KOREA

_IN INDEPENDENCE AIM

TEMPORARY USE OF JAP OFFICIALS

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

LONDON, September 9,

Korea, whose population of some 20,000,000 was included in the Japanese Empire in 1910 and which China and Russia repently agreed is to be made an independent State, is now under American occupation in the south as well as the Red Army occupation in the north.

Lieut-General Hodge said in an interview that Japanese officials would not be permitted to exercise independent action in Korea. "In effect I am the Korean Government during the transition period," he said. "General Abe (former Governor-General of Korea) will simply take my orders. I am making use of the Japanese governmental machinery because it is the most efficient way of operating now."

He added, that it was necessary to retain the officials from General Abe down to prevent chaos. Korea's desire for immediate independence could not be granted. The situation was difficult because there were three political factions which were claiming a place in the forming of a Government.

General Hodge stressed that the policy in Korea' must be. determined by United Nations consultation. It was likely that the Japanese would be replaced with Americans as they fulfilled their purpose. In the meantime, all Japanese regulations affecting Koreans would be reviewed immediately and those that were deemed unfair would be removed.

Allied representatives, including British, would arrive shortly, General Hodge said. American army officers would train Koreans for administrative posts. Korean newspapers would not be censored.

This morning the United States flag was raised over the capital, Seoul, in the central zone of Korea. The city's broad streets were lined from early morning with thousands of joyful Koreans, and as more and more Americans ariyed from the port of Jinsen the celebrations intensified. Koreans who lined the entire 40-mile route were so enthusiastic that the Americans were compelled to duck to avoid showering baskets of flowers and waving flagpoles.

When the first American troops landed at Jinsen they found the streets of that city deserted, save for Japanese military police; says a "New York Times" correspondent. There was an eerie silence broken only by the thump of the soldiers' boots while the round, immobile faces of Koreans peered out of windows.

The correspondent found the reason for the lack of enthusiasm in a little side street. A Korean wearing a white surgeon's gown beckoned him into a house. There wounded were lying on the floors and beds, several of them writhing in pain. In spite of their wounds, they clutched at the correspondent's legs and grabbed his arms, crying with happiness at the arrival of the liberators.

The doctor said it would be well if all the Japanese military were quickly removed from the city. The Vigilance Association, of which the doctor is president, had instructed the people to remain in their homes in view of the Japanese treachery and await a formal day of welcome for the troops.