TRANSITION PERIOD IN KOREA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 11 September 1945, Page 5

TRANSITION PERIOD IN KOREA

AMERICANS IN CONTROL Tokio, Sept. 10. General Hodge, interviewed, said Japanese officials will not be permitted to exercise independent action m Korea. "In effect, I am the Korean Government during the transition period. Governor-General Abe simply will take my orders. I am making use of Japanese governmental machinery because it is the most efficient way of operating now.” He added that it was necessary to retain officials from Abe down to prevent chaos. Korea’s desire for immediate dependence could not be granted. The situation was difficult because there were three political tactions claiming .» place in forming a government. General Hodge stressed that the Korean policy must be determined by united nations consultation. It was likely the Japanese would be replaced with Americans as they fulfilled their purpose. Meantime, all Japanese regulations affecting Koreans would be reviewed immediately and those deemed unfair removed. PROTEST TO PRESIDENT TRUMAN A representative of the Korean National Revolutionary Party sent a protest to President Truman pointing out that obviously American action was a matter of expediency. “We are forced to look on this act as highly ill-advised, to say the least, and we fear it will have a far-reaching psychological repercussions unfavourable to the United States.”