1766 Hobart St.,N.W.
Washington D. C.
January 4f 1943
Dear "Compatriot:
You have heard by now how C. Ho Kim, »J. K, Dunn and their friends are attacking the Korean Commission, and in what manner thoy are trying to divide our people.
The reaction of all patriotic Koreans everywhere against these nan's behavior,
particularly at this critical stage of Korea's life-and-death fight, is intense.
After listening to one of the speeches Ho Kim made against the Korean Commission,
tho Korean people in Central California hold an indignation mass meeting at the
Dinuba Korean Church on December 30, 1942. This mass meeting has elected the following men as the People's Committee:- Ho-keun Park, Chairman; Chong-moon Cho,
Secretary; Sarum Lee, Tai-eun Song, Herbert Hyungsik Kim, Chong-ho Shin, Committeemen. According to reports, the People's mass Meeting asked He Kim and his friends
to attend, but they failed to cone to the meeting.
After the Mass Meeting, the People's Committee enumerated the points made by
Ho Kin in his recent speeches, and sent the list to tho Korean Commission for its -
comments thereon. The Commission responds as follows:
(1) The 4 Demands made by. Ho Kim:-
(al To discontinue the Korean Commission Circular and to use the New
Keren for the Commission's communications: At a conference held between Dr. Rhee,
Ho Kin and J. K. Dunn, it was agreed that Kim and Dunn would publish and make clear
the boundaries, jurisdictions and duties in the activities of the Korean Provisional
Government, the Korean Commission, and the United Korean Committee, respectively;
and that when they do carry out the publication of this important jurisdictional
announcement, then and only then the Korean Commission would discontinue its Circular.
Refer to the correspondence between Dr. Rhee and Ho Kim. After making the agreements
in conferencef Ho Kim has now backed down, saying that he does "not want to do it!"
-flic is responsible? (Note: At the close of 1942, the Korean-American Council wrote
a Report on its work during the year, sent a copy of it to THE NEW KOREA and asked
it to publish the Report for the Korean public to read. The paper refused to print
this Report, and Ho Kim has written an insulting letter to the President of the
Korean-American Council, in his refusal.)
(b) To enlarge the Korean Commission: Henry De Young has been already appointed as a member of the Korean Commission, and is so registered with the American
Government. Ho Kim said that he could net serve on account of other matters and recommended Chong-Ik Song. Dr. Rhee has at once accepted Song and has written him to
cone. Song's reply has not yet arrived.
(c) The separation of the Korean Commission and the Korean-American Council:
This was immediately granted also, and Dr. Rhee has resigned from the Korean-American
Council.
(d) The United Korean Committee wrote to Dr. Rhee and said that Dunn wanted
to gc tc Chungking for the purpose of serving and helping the Korean Provisional
Government. Dr. Rhee immediately contacted the proper authorities of tho U. S.
Government tc make that trip possible. In the "4 Demands", however, it is stated
that Ho Kim and J. K# Dunn want to go to Chungking as "Liaison" men between the
Korean Provisional Government, the Korean Commission, and the United Korean Committee.
This is obviously contrary to the original understanding of the trip, and creates an
entirely new status which directly affects the Government itself, and hence is beyond
the authority of the Commission to act alone. Therefore instructions were asked for,
and received from, our Provisional Government, which ordered that these men must not
c^me at thJLs time. The Commission therefore has done all it could for them.
The above facts show clearly1 that tho Korean Commission has met and granted
every point demanded by Ho Kim and his associates.
(2) Registration:-
The Korean Commission and Dr, Syngnan Rhee, Chairman of the Commission, were
registered long ago according to the legal forms of the U. S. Government, to represem
the Korean Provisional Government. Furthermore, officially executed-'formal Diplomatic
Credentials from the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, appointing Dr.
Syngman Rhee, Chairman of the Korean Commission, as the Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea have been officially
presented to the American Government. Dr. Henry De Young is also registered as a
member of the Korean Commission, and Mr. John W. Staggers as Legal Counsellor.
(3) Status of the Korean people in Hawaiian Islands:-
Immediately after Pearl Harbor, Dr. Rhee has negotiated with the U. S.
Government for the protection of the Koreans everywhere under United States jurisdiction, and has received fullest cooperation thereof, by which Koreans have been eajoyin
the status of Friendly Aliens ever since. Attorney General Biddle's letter dated