April 5, 1956

To: Minister Yong Shik Kim
From: The President
Re your cable of April 1st :
You need not remind me of the understanding I had with you at our last conference in Seoul. Your discreet and statesmanlike dealing with the Jap government proved that you are competent and I have trust in you. You have the authority and the privilege of advancing new ideas to them as long as you act within the bounds of your authorization. You must feel free to use your own judgment. If necessary you may consult with Mr. Yiu whenever you are doubtful about anything.
The main thing is that whatever you do, you must be successful and there will be no difficulties or complaints from any side. I want you to feel free from unnecessary worry or timidity. I have that much confidence in your ability.
Please let me remind you again that whilethe Japs will leave no stone unturned until they have saved their masked face, we must always keep in mind to save our own true face. They must comply with the two points we claimed as the basis for resuming the conference:- 1) Withdrawal of the Kubota statement and 2) Property claim. If they agree to this we may open the conference although we would like to find out, either directly or indirectly, whether or not they are sincere in regarding our original terms as reasonable.
Cable of April 3rd:
Koreans who illegally entered Japan after 1945 will be accepted. But the list must include all criminal suspects as already mentioned. The Japs intend to retain the authority to decide who should remain in Japan and who should return to Korea. We must insist on the deportation of Koreans in Japan as we have our authorities to decide who should be deported to Korea. If we force them to return some of these criminal suspects and trouble-making Koreans, it will have a tremendous effect in our favor. I know you will realize the importance of this point.
For the purpose of bringing our two countries to a feeling of mutual friendliness Japan must agree to the Peace Line. Of course the Japs will think this is a new demand but whenever we show them our conciliatory attitude we should try to convince them that the trouble lies in the fact that Japan demonstrated no sign of establishing friendly and peaceful relations with ROK. I will leave with you to decide whether or not to use this point at present. I think it will not hurt any.
There is another thing I wish to point out to you. The Japs still insist that the release of the ROK detainees will depend on the decision made by both sides. This shows they are not promising to release them unconditionally. You are right in saying that they must first release those detainees who entered Japan before 1945. Since the Japs stated that they will consider the matter of Korean refugees in Japan, it seems time for us to stress our demand to include the return of these Koreans.
If the Jap government will agree to the Peace Line as requested by us, this Government will release all the Japs who are serving their sentences or are detained, and, in future, if the Japs recognize the Peace Line we will not arrest and try them but will return than to Japan.
We must make clear to the public that the Koreans are illegally detained at the Omura Camp and have been waiting for many years to be released whereas the fishermen have to serve out their sentences.
The fact that some have finished their sentences but are not released is due to the Jap government's refusal to release our people detained illegally at the Omura Camp.