JAPAN-KOREA CONFERENCE
Summary Record of the First Session of the Basic Relations Committee
1. Date, time and place:
February 22nd (Friday), 1952 10:15-12:00
At Room, No. 419, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2. Conferees:
Japanese Delegates Mr. Katsumi OHNO
Mr. Kenta HIRAGA
Mr. Mitsuo TANAKA
Mr. Koh CHIBA
Mr. Shigeru HIROTA
Mr. Masao OHSATO
Mr. Toshio MITSUDO
Korean Delegates Mr. YU Chin O
Mr. LIMB Song Bon
Mr. YIU Tai Ha
Mr. KIM Dong Jo
Mr. CHOI Kyu Hah
Mr. CHANG Yoon Kul
3. Addresses by Chief Delegates:
Chief Delegates, Mr. OHNO and Mr. YU, of both Delegations exchanged addresses as per ANNEX (1) and (2).
4. Proceedings:
(1) Agreements were made on the following procedural matters:
a. This sub-committee should be called the “Basic Relations Committee” for convenience’ sake.
b. Both Delegations could advance proposals either to this committee or to the Plenary Session.
c. Japanese, Korean and English languages would be used as official languages at this committee, under the principles set forth by the First Plenary Session.
d. Summary records of every session of this committee should be prepared in English by the respective Delegations alternately and Mr. Kenichiro NISHIZAWA, Secretary of the Asian Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mr. CHANG Yoon Kul, Third Secretary of the Korean Mission were appointed the responsible officials for the above task.
e. With regard to the press release on this Committee, only the matters which are mutually agreed to be announced would be released, Press Officers would be Mr. Shigeru HIROTA, Section Chief of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mr. CHANG Yoon Kul.
(2) With regard to the Draft Treaty of Amity presented by the Japanese Delegation, Mr. OHNO gave explanations on the reasons for submitting the proposal and on the outline of every article. with the following corrections to the words used in the draft presented:
Article IV (1st Paragraph, 3rd line of the delivered draft) For “those Koreans” read “all Koreans including those”.
Article V (the last line of the same draft) For “mentioned in the said paragraph.” read “who have resided continuously in Japan since any time prior to September 2, 1945.”
(3) It was decided that the next (second) session of the committee would be convened from 10:00, February 27th (Wednesday), 1952 at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

END

 

ANNEX I

Opening address by Mr. YU Chin O, the Chief of the Korean members of the Committee on the Basic Relationship between Korea and Japan at its first session convened on 22 February, 1952
It is a great honor for me to make a short speech, today, at the opening of the first session of the subcommittee on the establishment of the basic relationship between Korea and Japan which has been appointed by the plenary session of the very significant Korea-Japan Conference, that has been convened with a view to set forth normal diplomatic relations by solving fundamentally all pending problems between the two countries.
Looking back to our past history, we know that, indeed, forty-seven years have passed since the last normal diplomatic negotiation was made between Korea and Japan. As Korea was compulsorily deprived of her diplomatic sovereignty by force, based on the so-called Second Korea-Japan Treaty in 1905, Korean people have had no ways to get in contact, at their will, with the Government of Japan and Japanese people, However, the everchanging history has let the Korean and Japanese peoples face, again as sovereign neighbors, with the opportunity to regain friendly relations and to provide and promote the common welfare against the agression of international Communism.
At this historical moment, we are of no idea to recall the unpleasant past to our mind, but one thing which I want to emphasize is that the friendly relations between Korea and Japan in the true sense of the word can be attained only on the basis of true and mutual understanding and respect and the true understanding and respect can be proved not by superficial words and Phrases, but only through putting the words and phrases into practice. It can not be anticipated that there will be no difficulties in the proceedings of the talks, but the basic relationship between Korea and Japan may be re-established and adjusted if and when these difficulties be over come through action.
If the two countries are well aware of the historical significance of this Conference and have in mind the strong determination to solve all the pending problems by action, this meeting will surely be successful and the normal relations between the two countries may be smoothly established.
We Korean members of this Committee will do our best and also very earnestly hope that you, Japanese members also would give us the enthusiastic cooperation,
Thank you.

 

ANNEX II

Gist of the opening address by Mrs OHNO Katsumi, the Chief of the Japanese members of the Basic Relations Committee at its first session convened on 22 February 1952
I am very glad to have the occasion to state briefly our views on Japanese-Korean relations in reply to the address given by Mr. YU, Korean Chief Delegate.
Prior to entering into discussions at sessions of our sub-committee which handles the basic matters between Japan and the Republic of Korea, I think it very adequate for both Delegations to recall some parts of our Chief Delegate Mr. MATSUMOTO’s address for the opening of the Conference. Mr. MATSUMOTO stated; “I think that the time is now opportune to clear out the differences of the past, to take full cognizance of the fact of our permanent interdependent relationship and to establish good neighborly relations upon the basic principles of mutual respect and trust.” “The Japanese Government places the greatest importance upon the normalizing of relations with the Republic of Korea and hopes to be able to establish stable relations with your country first before all Asiatic nations. Japan firmly believes that the future relations between the two countries should be those of close friendly cooperation between two sovereign nations on equal basis for the promotion of our common welfare and for the maintenance of international peace and security.” These words, I think, be recalled by all of us here.
I myself think it clear in history that Japan and the Republic of Korea are in geographical vicinity with only a narrow strait and the latter has played a role of the bridge of land between the Asian continent and Japan. Here lies the reason of the growth of cultural, political and economic proximity between both countries. I cannot but feel sympathetic with the Republic of Korea which has such close relationship with our country and is suffering from hardship inflicted by the international communism, and I hope that peace be restored to the land of the Republic of Korea at the earliest possible date.
The good neighborly relations of both countries shall be put into practice, not remained in our ideas only, but as a real existence, and we, the delegates of this committee, are all eager to accomplish the task, I believe.