Prerequisites to the resumption of Korea-Japan Talks
Some clean-cut statement along the line of the following is to be issued by the Japanese Government prior to the resumption of the talks, not as a part of the intended Japanese opening statement for the conference when it is convened: -
The Japanese Government hereby repudiates as, in no manner whatsoever, representing its official views the remarks of Mr. Kuboda, the former Japanese chief delegate to the Korea-Japan conference, construed to have implied:
That the part of the Cairo Declaration describing the plight of the Korean people under the Japanese rule was an expression of wartime hysteria:
That the Japanese rule in Korea was beneficent to the Korean people, and, therefore, the Japanese occupation of Korea was justified:
That the independence of Korea before the Japanese Peace Treaty going into effect was in violation of international law:
That the repatriation of the Japanese residents in Korea after the end of the Pacific War was in violation of international law:
That Japanese still have full claims to their former holdings in Korea.

 

**********

 

If the Japanese government finds it undesirable, however, to make a public statement like the above-suggested one, it should, at least, give the Republic of Korea a written pledge compromising the following points, simultaneously notifying the same to the United States:
That Japan recognizes that all the unfair treaties between Korea and Japan such as the Protectorate Treaty and the Annexation Treaty are null and void:
That Japan recognizes the validity of the dispensation of its and its nationals’ former properties in Korea as carried out by the United States Military Government in Korea and will never revive the claims to them:
That Japan will respect the Korean fishery line and refrain from infringing it, regarding it as essential for the maintenance of peace between the two nations:
That Japanese Premier Yoshida will retract his recent statement implying that force will be used in solving the “Rhee Line” question and refrain from making similar statements in future.
(Note: Following his arrival at Kagoshima on January 18, 1954. Mr. Yoshida, the Premier of Japan, said in a press conference that Japan was not in a position to recognize any legality of the Rhee Line which had been delineated in violation of international law. He further said that, however, the solution of this problem was dependent upon the national wealth and power and, therefore, Japan had to increase her national strength first of all. This is a clear indication that japan means to again impose its will upon Korea when it can)