REPUBLIC OF KOREA KOREAN MISSION IN JAPAN
No.45

Tokyo, August 21, 1957

To: His Excellency The President
From: Tai Ha Yiu
Subject: Clash between Korean detainees and Japanese camp authorities
The clash between Japanese authorities at Hamamatsu detention camp and the Korean detainees occurred on the 15th when the latter group of 230 demonstrated for better treatment. All of the 230 detainees at the camp are illegal entrants who entered Japan after 1945. About 30 Chinese are also detained at the camp.
The incident occurred when the detainees requested and was given permission to play baseball. However, this was used to carry our a demonstration. The Jap authorities ordered them to return to their quarters but they refused and came to clash with the Japs. About ten Koreans were injured with four of them confined to the camp jail for breaking into the chief's room and smashing the furnishings. One Japanese was injured in the brawl.
As soon as I received this report, I sent a member of the Mission to the camp to investigate the riot and at the same time issued a press release protesting against the action taken by the Japanese camp authorities.
One thing which tied us from taking any stronger action was the fact that all the 230 detainees at the Hamamatsu were illegal entrants.
I would like to bring another matter to His Excellency's attention. Some two months ago, certain organizations in Japan requested and obtained permits to go to Korea, all with pious and worthwhile objectives. However, once they landed in Korea, they undertook all kinds of undesirable activities. Before returning to Japan some of them (including Minda members) visited the Pusan detention camp for Jap fishermen and brought them medicine and foodstuffs. After their return to Japan, they condemned the conditions at the Pusan camp as deplorable and this was published in the Japanese language paper run by Koreans for all the Japs to read.
We cannot condone such actions on the part of Koreans and
I am at a loss to understand why those people visited the camp and why such a request was grantted by the camp authorities in the first place. I would like to strongly suggest that an investigation be carried out as to the identity of the Koreans who visited the camp and the authorities who allowed the visit. We fight the Japs on one hand while on the other there are Kareans who say such treacherous things of their own government and people.
The Korean residents in Japan who visit Korea go there for no other purpose than to smuggle in goods and cause confusion. During my stay in Seoul I told the Foreign Minister several times that travel between the two countries must be restricted. This Mission is forced to accent the applications and send them to the Foreign Ministry in order to avoid any unpleasant situation as that which arose last summer before the very eyes of the Japs, but it is up to our Ministry whether to issue the permits or not. If the Ministry does not take strong action in restricting travel of Koreans there will be incessant smuggling and flow of spies. I have talked to Secretary Park with evidence documents and I am anxious to know if anything has been done.
The visit of the Koreans to the Pusan detention camp must be investigated at all cost. It is also recommended that travel of Koreans between the two countries should be restricted as early as possible. We must not be deceived when they try to give their reason as going to Korea to attend the Liberal Party training center.