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RESTRICTED A/AC.19/58/Add.4 5 April 1948 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH UNITED NATIONS TEMPORARY COMMISSION ON KOREA POSTPONEMENT OF THE ELECTION DATE. LETTER FROM THE COMMANDING GENERAL UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES IN KOREA TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE UNITED NATIONS TEMPORARY COMMISSION ON KOREA HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES IN KOREA Office of the Commanding General Seoul, Korea 2 April 1948 Honorable Bahadur Singh Chairman, UN Temporary Commission on Korea Seoul, Korea My dear Mr. Singh: I acknowledge the receipt of letter, dated 30 March 1948, signed by M. Jean-Louis Paul-Boncour, as Chairman of the UN Temporary Commission on Korea, answering my letter of 29 March 1948, and note that it is the wish of the Commission that the Korean election be held "on the date of 9 May 1948 as adopted in its Resolution of 12 March 1948". I have informed all agencies concerned with election arrangements of the attitude of the Commission, and that, regardless of difficulties encountered, all plans and efforts on their part shall be directed at the completion of the election by the date previously announced. However, while noting the decision of the Commission in this matter, I feel that a one-day postponement of the election, i.e. to May 10, 1948, would not contravene the wishes of the Commission as expressed in its original formula that the election should be held "not later than 10 May 1948". Action to this end will avoid holding the election on a day when there will occur in this area during the middle of the day a total eclipse of the sun, which fact was not known to me at the time the date of 9 May was agreed upon. I am reliably informed that such an occurrence is considered an ill omen by many Koreans, particularly in the rural districts, which might operate to keep an appreciable number of voters from participation. Therefore, unless such action is subject to specific objection on the part of the UN Commission, I shall shortly announce May 10th as the new date for the election. Sincerely yours, (Signed) JOHN R. HODGE Lieutenant General, U. S. Army Commanding Inclosure No. 66 DECLASSIFIED Authority NND 826638