The period just after World War 2 has always been fascinating, not only to see the wave of emerging nations from former colonial rule, but also the shaping of the Cold War atmosphere that would be such a part of life for decades after. A pivotal period of time, to be sure.

While the ink on the Surrender documents was still drying, a Conference was held in Moscow by the former Allies to start hammering out a plan for the post-war world. Needless to say, it wasn't terribly successful, but Secretary of State James F. Byrnes did come back with some interesting proposals, which of course never saw fruition, including one for Korea.

Sec. of State James F. Byrnes: “The Administration of Korea has been a trying problem since the surrender of Japan. For purposes of Military operations the occupation of Korea was divided North and South of latitude 38 into Soviet and American areas. The continuation of this division after the surrender has been very unsatisfactory. The movement of persons and goods and the functioning of public services on a nationwide scale has been greatly hampered. Under our agreement at Moscow the two military commands are to form a joint Soviet-American Commission to solve immediate economic and administrative problems. They will make recommendations to the governments of The United States, The Soviet Union, Great Britain and China for the formation of a Korean Provisional Democratic government. They will also make proposals to these governments regarding a four power trusteeship to prepare Korea for its independence within five years.”

Nice words but . . .it didn't happen. In fact the shooting war got started just around the time the proposed Independence time frame was supposed to have taken place.

There's something about looking at history from the viewpoint of "what could've happened, what should've happened and what did happen" that makes it interesting and frustrating at the same time.

And then there's that hindsight thing. . . .

Here is Secretary of State James F. Byrnes' address on the outcome of the Moscow Conference which he delivered on December 30, 1945.

(Sec. of State James F. Byrnes at The Paris Peace Conference of 1946 - not at all that much different from herding cats.)

A voice probably not heard very much the past fifty or so years. James F. Byrnes was Secretary of State at the end of World War 2 and had the somewhat onerous task of rebuilding the peace in a war shattered world. The initial Peace Conferences, held in Paris were not successful. The world was undergoing changes not encountered at the end of World War 1. Former colonies were seeking independence and the Soviet Union was actively engaged in a land grab. Only a few months earlier, in March former Prime Minister Winston Churchill warned of an impending "iron curtain" which would fall over Easter Europe and the prospects of a Cold War loomed dangerously close in the future.

But Byrnes was optimistic.

Sec. of State James Byrnes: “Building the foundations of a people’s peace in a war shattered world is a long, hard process. A People’s peace cannot be won by flashing diplomatic triumphs. It requires patience and firmness, tolerance and understanding. We must not try to impose our will on others, but we must make sure that others do not get the impression they can impose their will on us.”

Byrnes would resign by the end of 1946 and be replaced by George C. Marshall. And a whole new era would begin.