N0.25

March 16, 1957

 

Excellency:

 

Last Saturday at 9:45 a.m. 1 called on Prime and Foreign Minister Kishi for the first time after his assumption of premiership and talked with him for about 20 minutes, Mr. Nakarawa, ◆irector of the Asian Bureau, who ◆eted as his representative in our informal talks, was present.

 

The purpose . my visit was to 1) get Mr. Kishi's confirmation in his capacity as Foreign minister of What his representative was so far committed and 2) request expeditious implementation of such commitments and 3) insure Japan's commitment on the return of our art objects. (Mr. Nakamura previously stated that the Committee for Custody of Cultural articles and schools concerned have jurisdiction over such art objects and if they get an impression that the Japanese Government has agreed to return them in connection with the settlement of the detainee issue, the Government will be placed in difficulty.)

 

In the first place, I asked Mr. Kishi if he had received reports on the progress of our informal talks. He replied that he had been fully informed of them in detail and he personally endorses every point committed by his representative.

 

Referring to the delay in respect of the detailed agenda, I said that the Japanese side is making an issue of mere wording, therefore, agreement has not been reached in this regard. I particularly stressed that, from my past experience, it would greatly facilitate the smooth proceeding of the conference, if detailed agenda are agreed in advance.

Mr. Kishi told me that he openly advocated an early settlement of the Korea-Japan problems, when he was Foreign Minister under Premier Ishibashi and he remained of the same opinion, saying that Japan was as anxious to settle the problems as Korea.

 

Concerning ◆…◆ Ministry is faced with in elation to ◆…◆ views held by other Ministries concerned, I told Mr. Kishi to press the Ministries concerned so that an early agreement ◆…◆ about.

 

Upon my leaving the mettin, it over-heard Mr. Nakagawa discussing the matter concerning pressrelease with Mr. Kishi. Later in the afternoon, Nakagawa informed me that Japan accepted the return of our art objects notification would follow shortly.

 

In the same evening the Asahi, the Nainichi and the Yomiuri reported that I called on Prime and Foreign Minister Kishi and talked about the Korea- Japan problems. Some other duilies, on the other hand, reported inaccurately that I called on Mr. Kishi to tender my congratulations upon his assumption of premiership, etc.

 

It is believed that the Japanese Government is so fearful of the press detecting that concession is being made to the Korean side in reaching an agreement on the detainee issue and apparently leaked a story to forestall such eventuality.

 

Mr. Kishi today received a courtesy call from US Ambassador Douglas Kacartthur, II. On that occasion Kishi reportedly conveyed to the Ambassador his desire to visit the US some time in way.

 

With sentiments of loyalty and esteem, I remain,

 

Most respectfully,

 

/S/
Yong Shik Kim