Letter from HQ Far East Command to the US Embassy

by Doyle Overton Hickey

HEADQUARTERS
FAR EAST COMMAND
APO 500

CHIEF OF STAFF

27 November 1952

Dear Mr. Lightner:

General Clark has asked me to reply to your letter of 14 November 1952 which dealt with an allegation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea concerning a bombing incident at Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo Island).

I am sure you understand that the more than two months which have passed since the incident renders it well nigh impossible to determine which, if any, of our planes may have dropped bombs which are alleged to have frightened the Koreans who were at Liancourt Rocks on 15 September 1952. Further there is no record of any our units having requested use of the area during this period.

322 - LIANCOURT ROCKS - 1952

The alleged incident notwithstanding our staff is making preparations to dispense with the use of Liancourt Rocks as a bombing range and upon suspension, the Republic of Korea as well as other interested agencies will be notified. This matter is being expedited.

The question of international sovereignty is, of course, outside General Clark's authority. However, I should like to point out that in all instructions (SCAPINs) to the Japanese Government regarding authorization of areas for Japanese fishing and whaling which were established under SCAP, there appeared a statement reading essentially, "the present authorization is not an expression of allied policy relative to ultimate determination of national jurisdiction, international boundaries or fishing rights in area concerned or in any other area."

Sincerely yours,

DOYLE D. HICKEY
Lieutenant General, General Staff
Chief of Staff

Mr. E. Allan Lightner, Jr.
Charge d'Affaires, ad interim
American Embassy
Pusan, Korea