Tokyo, January 10, 1957

No.4
Excellency:
I called on foreign Minister Kishi at his office at 10:55 this morning and talked for about 25 minutes. This was originally one of the new Foreign Minister's series of routine meetings with members of the diplomatic corps to get officially acquainted with each other.
In addition to formal greetings which were exchanged at the beginning of the meeting, the following conversation took place:
Foreign Minister Kishi first expressed his hopes for an early settlement of the pending problems between the two countries, as is usually the case. He said he regretted the problems are still pending, despite geographical and cultural proximity of the two nations. He also told me that he was from Yamaguchi Prefecture which is close to Korea and where many of our countrymen now reside.
Reciprocating his hopes for an early settlement of the pending problems, I told Mr. Kishi that the Korean side is as much anxious to settle the pending problems as Japan, pointing out that I have been stationed in this country for more than five years for the purpose of reaching a just settlement of the pending problems.
I continued, my efforts during the past years proved futile, however. I said that when the talk started in 1951, we had not expected it would be prolonged and that it was due to groundless property claim and the insulting remark by Mr. Kubota that the conference was His Excellency
President Syngman Rhee broken off in the middle and they are still barring the resumption of the talks.
I continued, when the new Cabinet took office last December, Prime Minister Ishibashi publicly stated that Japan would withdraw the Kubota statement and make concession on the property claim. I was looking forward to these being translated into action.
Foreign Minister Kishi at this pointestated that he can assure us that the Japanese Government would retract the Kubota statement and make concession regarding the property claim issue, without regard to Japan's stand in the past.
Mr. Kishi then tole me that the Japanese Government and public are deeply concerned about the return of the fishermen now in Pusan. Therefore, Mr. Nakagawa (Asian Bureau director) was sent to me to convey the decision of the Japanese Government on the detainee issue to the Korean side, he said.
Mr. Kishi further told me that Japan can now formally assure the Korean side that no Korean residents would be detained hereafter, if simultaneous release of the detainees at Omura and Pusan is carried out. He said, unless this issue is settled first, the Japanese public will not permit settlement of the other pending problems, as the Korean side desires, adding that he hopes for on early settlement of the detainee issue from humanitarian standpoint.
Countering his remark, I reminded the Foreign Minister that when the talks began in 1951, there was no such problem as the detainee issue. Nevertheless, Japan started detaining our residents after the first Conference was broken off and despite our strong protest Japan refused to release them from the detention camp. This, in turn, forced the Korean side to continue detention of the Japanese fishermen despite their terms were served.
I drew his attention to the fact that our side took initiative in settling this issue by seeking a talk with the then Justice Minister, Mr. Hanamura, who agreed to release our residents from the Omura camp, if we agree to return the fishermen who served their sentences. Then the Foreign Office objected to this arrangement and the release was not carried out. And later, last April, another talk was exchanged with former Foreign Minister Shigemitsu who committed himself in a similar manner
which, however, did not materialize due to objection raised by the Justice Ministry. I made it clear that if there was any delay in the settlement of this issue, it was the responsibility of the Japanese side which failed to adjust the difference of views of the two ministries concerned.
Reiterating our desire to settle the detainee issue at an early date, I told the Japanese Foreign Minister that the Korean side, at the same time, Wanted to know prospects of the settlement of the other pending issues. as well.
Mr. Kishi said that the Diet would be reconvened on the 20th of this month and the government as well as the opposition parties are expected to raise the detainee issue. In that event it would make it difficult for his Government to take up the other problems, Kishi said. He continued that the other problems could be taken up at the ensuing talks, either formal or informal, after mutural release of the detainees at Omura and Pusan is carried out. He repeated that Japan can as sure our side that Korean residents would not be detained hereafter besides withdrawing the Kubota statement and making concession on the property claim issue.
I repeated my insistence that our side wanted to know if there are clear-cut prospects for the settlement of the pending problem, if such mutual release were to be carried out.
The above is the general line of our conversation this morning. Though Mr. Kishi, in his statement to the press earlier, stated that the detainee issue would be taken up at a formal talk rather than informal, as heretofore, and the contents of the talk announced to the public, as each phase develops, he made no mention in this regard at this meeting.
I have information indicating that the Foreign Office called a staff meeting yesterday afternoon and decided to convey the decision of the Japanese Government formally at a Foreign Minister-to-Korean Minister level and wait for our reaction in this regard.
Under these circumstances Your Excellency's urgent guidance would be highly appreciated.
With sentiments of loyalty and esteem, I remain,
Most respectfully,