CONFIDENTIAL
Classification
Charge:
SENT TO: SECSTATE WASHINGTON 1277 Routine
RPT INFO: CINCPAC 274 Routine
TOKYO 415 Routine
Control:
Date: June 2, 1960 10:00PM
Factional dispute within Liberal Party, which increasingly sharp during past week, culminated June 1 with withdrawal 105 Assemblymen, led by Deputy Floor leaders HA Tae-hwan and YI Hyung-mo, from LP Assembly negotiating group. While withdrawing Assemblymen announced that they would temporarily retain individual memberships in LP, Floor Leader CHO Kyong-kyu accused them of virtually quitting party and this seems accurate assessment.
As result this withdrawal and decision these members LP to act as independents, Assembly standings now as follow: 115 Independents, 70 Democrats, 33 Liberals.
Of remaining Liberals nine are former Democrats who defected in period prior March 15 elections, and three others are now in jail charged with election law violations.
COMMENT: This split within LP has been foreshadowed since shortly after March 15 elections when “reformist” group called for measures designed rehabilitate party in public estimation. At that time “reformists” were harshly disciplined by party leaders under late YI Ki-pung and their divisionist plans were temporarily scotched. With collapse of Rhee Administration and arrest of generally recognized party leaders last week (Embtel 1220) Assemblymen with hopes of future political career had good reasons to sever party connection which only further compromised them in eyes public. Some Assemblymen remaining with party may actually believe that it can be salvaged but most are probably sticking simply because association provides a measure of protection and political leverage, and because they have no other haven.
Leaders both factions have pledged support constitutional amendment. Accordingly withdrawal should not delay Assembly action, and, by isolating in small minority those most likely be tempted stall amendment as bargaining tactic, may even help passage amendment.
McCONAUGHY
POL: DLRanard DCM: MGreen
EHulen/cd
