George Sutton Patterson
Encyclopedia
George Sutton Patterson was a Canadian missionary, diplomat and representative on UNTCOK
.
Born in 1887, Patterson was vice-president and later head of the Toronto YMCA.
Patterson later served as a Methodist missionary in Japan and diplomat in Japan prior to his posting in Korea.
Patterson briefly left Japan as Chargé d'Affaires at the Canadian embassy China in October 1946.
After the United Nations General Assembly
adopted the resolution on UNTCOK on 14 November, Canadian Secretary of State for External Affairs
, Lester B Pearson cabled
George Patterson, who at the time was posted in Tokyo
, to ask him to become Canada
's representative on UNTCOK. This was a heavy responsibility, particularly in light of Soviet intimation boycotting UNTCOK. Pearson was looking for a person 'who could give leadership in the work of the Commission.'
While representing Canada in Korea in 1948, the US authorities in Korea spied on Patterson. John Hodge
, head of US military forces in Korea, reported to Washington
that he considered Patterson a 'fellow traveler' of the communists: 'Patterson is the number one outspoken apologist for Soviet Russia
and for communism
that I have encountered in many months.' Given the anti-communist furver at the time, Patterson's role as arbitrator made him an easy target for Hodge, who often butted heads with Patterson.
UNTCOK
UNTCOK, the United Nations Temporary Commission on Korea, was a body which was supposed to oversee free and fair elections in Korea after World War II. In Soviet-controlled North Korea, the body was not even recognized with the Soviets arguing that the commission would break earlier agreements...
.
Born in 1887, Patterson was vice-president and later head of the Toronto YMCA.
Patterson later served as a Methodist missionary in Japan and diplomat in Japan prior to his posting in Korea.
Patterson briefly left Japan as Chargé d'Affaires at the Canadian embassy China in October 1946.
After the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
adopted the resolution on UNTCOK on 14 November, Canadian Secretary of State for External Affairs
Secretary of State for External Affairs (Canada)
Canada's Secretary of State for External Affairs was, from 1909 to 1993, the member of the Cabinet of Canada responsible for overseeing the federal government's international relations and the former Department of External Affairs...
, Lester B Pearson cabled
Telegraphy
Telegraphy is the long-distance transmission of messages via some form of signalling technology. Telegraphy requires messages to be converted to a code which is known to both sender and receiver...
George Patterson, who at the time was posted in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, to ask him to become Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's representative on UNTCOK. This was a heavy responsibility, particularly in light of Soviet intimation boycotting UNTCOK. Pearson was looking for a person 'who could give leadership in the work of the Commission.'
While representing Canada in Korea in 1948, the US authorities in Korea spied on Patterson. John Hodge
John R. Hodge
General John Reed Hodge was a general in the United States Army.-Early life and Career:Being born in Golconda, Illinois, Hodge attended Southern Illinois Teachers College and the University of Illinois. After completing U.S. Army Officer Candidate School at Fort Sheridan, he entered military...
, head of US military forces in Korea, reported to Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
that he considered Patterson a 'fellow traveler' of the communists: 'Patterson is the number one outspoken apologist for Soviet Russia
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and for communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
that I have encountered in many months.' Given the anti-communist furver at the time, Patterson's role as arbitrator made him an easy target for Hodge, who often butted heads with Patterson.