April 4, 1956

To: Minister Yong Shik Kin
From: The President
I am in receipt of your letter dated March 29 and your cable of the 1st of April.
I am sorry that I was unable to respond to your cable at once.
I felt I should read your letters first. As you know I am in Chinhae for a little rest and the pouch had to be sent down but the first thing I did in the morning was to read the mail.
After reading your mail I sent word to Seoul to wire you that
YOU MAY CONTINUE EXPLORATORY TALK BUT FORMAL CONFER ENCE SHOULD NOT BE RESUMED UNTIL KUBOTA STATEMENT AND PROPERTY CLAIMS ARE WITHDRAWN"
I underlined the word 'continue' because you had already begun the preliminary talks. This is an important point.
Mr. Strom, charge d'affaires of the American Embassy, called on Dr. Cho and talked with him about K-J issues. I am enclosing a copy of the Report of Conversation held between Dr. Cho and Mr. Strom.
It is the habit of Jap propagandists to make news based on their imagination and wishful thinking and often create such information with the hope of digging out news from the other side. Of course, you know that well enough.
I see that you have succeeded in getting the Jap and other press interested in knowing there would be more talks between Japan and Korea. Some Jap newspapers made it appear as if your informal talks would be a formal conference. We must be careful enough to mention each time that it is only an informal exchange of views because the Japanese government has not done its part in withdrawing the Kubota statement and 85% property claim. I smiled when reading your very appropriate remark that the cKubota statement and property claim should be withdrawn before such a formal conference. The Japs still think they are the only ones who are smart in dealing with other nations and that the Koreans would agree to their proposal to withdraw at the opening of the formal conference.
I am suggesting a few points which are more or less familiar to you:
1) The release of Korean detainees seemed agreeable to the Japanese when they began to believe that such a thing should be done. You have advanced our cause to that extent. You may recall that when we were holding conferences with them we agreed to accept those Koreans who entered Japan illegally. In fact we did accept shiploads of them a number of times until the Japs tried to cheat us by including with them some Koreans who entered Japan before 1945. We are more than willing to take those Koreans who by remaining in Japan serve no good purpose and only do a great deal of damage to the relations between our two countries.
Now the Japs are worrying what to do with the illegal entrants. We will accept them if they include a list of illegal entrants whom we insisted on being either deported by the Japs or returned with the rest of the illegal entrants. Please get together with Counselor Yiu and prepare the list. I do not have to tell you all the names but a few like Jong Won Sunwoo, Ke Jo Kim, Sam Kyu Kim, IL Kwon and 3 ROKA deserters including two pilots are causing a great deal of trouble which makes friendly relations between Korea and Japan impossible. Therefore we must insist on returning these people before we sit down with them. As most of these traitors are illegal entrants there will not be any trouble to include them.
2) If the Japanese government releases the Korean detainees in the Omura Camp it will create a more conciliatory feeling in Korea. But Japan must agree not to arrest or detain any Korean national without a legal charge. This is against international practices. Even when they arrest their own citizens with legal charge it is against the law and the principle of human rights which is a very serious issue.
The statement made by the Jap justice minister cannot be accepted. If any Korean who entered Japan before 1945 commits a crime he will deport him or her. That is unfeasible. These Koreans are residing in Japan and must be treated according to the existing Laws and the principle of human rights. It would be easy for the Japs to arrest and deport any one - particularly those who have wealth in Japan.
When they asked you if we would release their fishermen in Pusan who are still serving their sentences of course you said No.Whenever you have an opportunity you may show them that as far as Korea is concerned the capture of the Jap fishermen will no longer be a problem if the Jap government agrees to observe the Peace Line. If and when the Jap government signs such an agreement we will not try any of their fishermen who violate the Line but only arrest and send them back to Japan. We are arresting and trying them because we are determined to retain the Line for the good of both countries.
When they ask if there is active trade between the two countries, you can tell them that our position is to buy or sell whenever we find it profitable to us and whether there is a formal agreement regarding commercial relations or not. You may remind them of our trade agreement which they failed to live up to, etc.
I wish you would tell the Japs that good will cannot be created by a good will mission, not even by Shigemitsu's personal visit to Korea. Good will can be created by accepting our minimum terms. I could not help smiling at the suggestion of Shigemitsu to visit Korea. It seems like heaven to the Japs to return to Korea or even to get a glimpse of it.
In dealing with Shigemitsu you must try to pin him down on any of our terms - which would certainly be quite a step ahead. Just as the Philippines got some concrete commitment on their basis the Japs have to give in.
(Dictated by telephone from Chinhae)