특별감찰보고서 - 증거C: 부관 사무엘 스티븐슨 대위 진술

HEADQUARTERS 59th MILITARY GOVERNMENT HQ & HQ COMPANY APO 712 21 November 1947 SUBJECT: Opinion of Political Situation in Cheju Do as of 15 November 1947 I estimate that approximately two thirds of the populace are now moderate leftist in their own opinion. This in contrast to about fifty percent of leftist sympathy one year ago. The number of extreme leftist on the island is unknown to me and I cannot make any estimate. There are some, but are kept strictly underground. The Provincial Governor has adapted the slogan of the ultra rightist in that all people who disagree even on minor points with the Han Kock or the Acceleration of Independence party are automatically leftists. He also despises and will not work with coalition plans or personnel. Since the 1st of April, to the best of my knowledge he has not permitted any meeting by any party except those he definitely approves. This is acting to drive moderate leftist parties underground. I have no doubt that these moderate leftists are holding meetings without permission. Sooner or later the police will be informed of a meeting and requested to break it up and arrest the leader. This will lead to violence and will create much sympathy for the leftist parties and act to drive moderate leftist and some coalitionists further left. The police are also responsible for a good deal of leftist sympathy and feeling. Mainland police are in the great majority of responsible portions and donot use discretion and judgement in dealing with political arrests. Intermittent beatings take place by the police and most members are hostile to American personnel and directives. Beatings of CIC employees, American houseboys and Military Government Interpreters have occurred and the main reason was that it was considered by the police to be unpatriotic to work for Americans. This tends to have these employees lose confidence in our prestige and ability to protect them in performing their daily duties. Beating by Ultra Rightist party terrorists take place. They are usually made as warnings to a leftist to resign from a job that he holds and the rightist want, or a preliminary to extort money, or even a warning to leave the area. The police make no investigation of these occurences or only a formal one. This is in my opinion driving people of no previous declaration of political thought to take sides with the leftists. In conclusion, while the surface of the political picture is fairly calm at present, I believe that continued repression of the center and moderate parties will result in a drift to the extreme left and subversive action by that group. CERTIFIED TRUE COPY: [illegible] a Nelson LAWRENCE A. NELSON Lt. Col., TC /s/ Samuel J. Stevenson 1T/ SAMUEL J. STEVENSON Captain TC Adjutant DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 745070 EXHIBIT "C"