April 5, 1956

KOREA-JAPAN ▣...▣TIONS

STROM: I noticed from the press reports that Minister Kim and Japanese authorities reached an agreement to release respectively the Japanese and Korean detainees presently held by both sides. Are the reports true?
CHO: Yes, they are practically true.
STROM: That's fine. It seems that a new atmosphere has been created in regard to Korea-Japan relationship. We would be glad to see the difficulties settled between Korea and Japan.
CHO: If Japan has changed her attitude toward us at all, it is due to your good offices. But we have to wait and see whether she has really changed her attitude toward us. The solution to our difficulty with Japan will depend entirely upon their sincerity. The Japanese are a shrewd and cunning people and always changeable to suit their interests. The U.S. should watch out for the Japanese dual policy they are practicing in their international activities. Anyhow, we hope that the U.S. government will continuously use its good offices.
STROM: Our earnest hope is that the difficulties between Korea and Japan will be settled.