Target Plans of the Soviet Delegation at the Geneva Conference on the Issue of Korea

Top Secret

to Cde. V. M. Molotov

I submit to you drafts of the plans for directives on the Korean and Indochina issues for the Soviet delegation at the Geneva Conference. The materials were prepared on commission.

Kuznetsov

17 March 1954

Distributed to:

Cdes. Gromyko, Zorin, Fedorenko, Sobolev, Novikov, Soldatov, Lavrishchev, and to file

AVPRF F. 0100 Op. 47. D. 107. Papka 389 p. 1

TARGET PLANS [PLAN-DIREKTIVY]

OF THE SOVIET DELEGATION AT THE GENEVA CONFERENCE ON THE ISSUE OF KOREA

The directive of the Soviet delegation on the Korean issue should include an ultimate goal [programma-maksimum] which calls for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Korea and the unification of Korea, and a minimum goal which provides for measures to move from the armistice to actual peace in the event that agreement is not achieved on the main issues relating to the withdrawal of foreign troops and the unification of Korea.

The Soviet delegation ought to bear in mind that the initiative has come from the DPRK and PRC delegations when submitting issues for discussion.

Ultimate goal

A proposal for the withdrawal of foreign troops and the unification of Korea

1. Withdraw all foreign troops from Korea in six months and thereby provide the Korean people with the fulfillment of their inalienable right to freely decide domestic state affairs.

2. Recommend [the following] to the representatives of the Korean People's Democratic Republic and the Republic of Korea in order to create a government of a united independent democratic country:

a) hold nationwide elections to a National Assembly based on the free expression of will of the population of all Korea;

b) create an all-Korean Commission of representatives of North and South Korea elected respectively by the Supreme People's Assembly of the Korean People's Democratic Republic and the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea to prepare and hold free nationwide elections to a National Assembly.

Provide that one of the first tasks of this commission is the preparation of a draft nationwide election law which ensures the genuinely democratic nature of the elections, the participation of democratic organizations in them, and holding elections in conditions of real choice, precluding foreign interference and pressure on the voters from local authorities and terrorist groups.

The election law will be subject to the approval of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Korean People's Democratic Republic and the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea.

3. In the event that a proposal is submitted at the Conference about the creation of an international commission to observe the elections in Korea the Soviet delegation should proceed on the basis that it is the business of the Koreans themselves to hold the elections.

4. Promote the admission of Korea to the United Nations after the formation of a national Korean government.

Minimum goal

Proposals about measures ensuring a move from armistice to actual peace

1. In the event that agreement is not achieved on the main issues relating to the withdrawal of foreign troops and the unification of Korea proceed from the position that measures should be taken to maintain peace in Korea before achieving an agreement on this issue acceptable to all the interested parties. Submit a suitable proposal for discussion at the conference for this purpose which incorporates an obligation by the Korean People's Democratic Republic and the Republic of Korea not to renew military operations and the issue of achievement a peaceful settlement of the Korean [issue]. [Translator's note: the word "issue" was probably supposed to follow "Korean"].

2. Recommend a reduction in the number of foreign troops in Korea as a first step toward the withdrawal of foreign troops from Korea.

3. Recommend that the governments of the Korean People's Democratic Republic and the Republic of Korea reduce the strength of their armed forces.

4. Recommend the adoption of measures directed at closer relations between North and South Korea (the establishment of economic, cultural, and other ties) and submit corresponding proposals with this purpose.

5. In the event that agreements are not achieved on these proposals (the minimum goal) the Soviet delegation should submit a proposal to continue talks between the interested parties on the issue of a peace settlement in Korea after the Conference (in a commission specially created for this purpose or through ordinary diplomatic channels[)].

APRF, F. 0100, Op. 47, D. 107, Papka 389, pp. 1-4

Note

A. A. Gromyko - Deputy Minister

V. A. Zorin - Deputy Minister

N. T. Fedorenko - Chief of the MFA Far East Department

A. A. Sobolev - Chief of the MFA Department of [Latin] American Countries

K. V. Novikov - Chief of the MFA South and Southeast Asian Countries Department

A. A. Soldatov - Chief of the MFA UN Affairs Department

A. A. Lavrishchev - Chief of the MFA First European Department