Tokyo, June. 4. 1958

THE GIST OF TALKS
FIRST SESSION
MEETING OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS
1. Date, time and place : June 4. 1958 (Wednesday) 3.00 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. Room 411 of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Japanese Government
2. Conferees:
Korean Side :
Mr. Tai Ha Yiu (Chief Member)
Mr. Kyu Hah Choi
Mr. Pil Shik Chin
Mr. Soo Young Whang
Mr. Ki Bong Han
Mr. Won Ho Lee
Japanese side:
Mr. Osamu Itagaki (Chief Member)
Mr. Tokichi Takano
Mr. Kiyoshi Suganuma
Mr. Minao Tsuchiya
3. Gist of Talks
MR. ITAGAKI:
Now we would like to open the first meeting of this Sub-Committee, As both of us are aware, today we are scheduled to talk about "cultural properties". As to the matter of "cultural properties" there were discussions to a certain degree at the Overall Talks and at the Preliminary Talks at the end of last year. What we would like to tell you is that, since our side has not been able to get new instructions from the Goverment, we wish only to listen to your side's opinion, today.
MR. YIU:
As Japanese chief Member Itagaki has just mentioned, I understand that, in the past, discussions were made on this subject. Needless to say, as well as other claims, the problem of Art Objects is also the most important claims in view of the fact that art objects are indispensable for a nation's cultural development. It is more so for the newly-independent nation whose remaining art objects were, to a great degree, either destroyed or taken away in the course of the war with communists. There will be no need for any further explanation in this connection regarding the significance of the return of art objects to Korea and to the Korean people. Therefore, we hope that you will endeavor to settle this problem conscientiously at the earliest possible date.
MR. YIU:
May we present our proposal on the proceeding of the first meeting of this Sub-Committee?
MR. ITAGAKI:
No objection.
MR.YIU.
The Korean side wishes to settle at this Sub-Committee the problem regarding the return or Art Objects. In this connection.
a. The "Korean Art Objects" shall cover all classical. books, art objects in narrow sense, curios, other cultural treasures and map negatives.
b. Though there are different opinions in our country, with a view to expediting the settlement of this problem, we will limit our request to the return of those Art Objects taken away from Korea to Japan sines 1905.
We, therefore, request you that a complete list of all the items of Korean Art Objects which your side is ready to turn over to us be submitted to us at the earliest date. I would like to add that as for 1905, there are opinions in my country supporting the idea that art objects taken away before the year 1905 should be also returned to Korea. However, we decided it as '1905' with a view to bringing about an early and smooth settlement of the matter.
MR. ITAGAKI:
I wonder whether the year of 1905 has a boaring on the year in which the defunct Resident-General was established.
MR. YIU:
Though it may be related to the date of the setting-up of the so-called "Tong-Kam-Bu", we will inform you the exact date at the next Sub-Committee meeting.
MR. ITAGAIKI:
We, the Japanese side, have fully understood what Chief Member Mr. Yiu mentioned at the beginning. When it comes to an actual Implementation of your terms, there will inevitably arise such fundamental problems as matters of legislation and forms of turn-over, I believe. However, I will not go into further discussion on this at today's meeting.
We are also sympathetic toward what you have mentioned, and we think that your terms are considerably clear to us excepting a few points.
But because we have not been given so far any instructions from our Government, we will not make any questions on them.
We will tell you our opinion after we have studied them.
MR. YIU:
If that is so, when shall we hold the next meeting. Would it be suitable to you to hold it in the morning or In the afternoon of coming Tuesday?
MR. ITAGAKI:
We have no objection to holding the meeting in principle. But as I say to you a short while ago, we cannot tell anything substantial until a new Cabinet is formed and thereafter new instructions are given to us. And I think it will not be by next Tuesday. Anyway I am pretty positive that our discussion cannot go into any substantial point until a new Cabinet of Japan is formed and new instructions are available for the Japanese delegation.
MR. YIU:
We understood you well. Then, how is it that Chief Member Director
Itagaki and I separately talk and decide the date and time for next meeting
MR. ITAGAKI:
All right.
MR. YIU:
What shall we do about press release?
MR. ITAGAKI:
How about reporting to the effect that the Sub-Committee made discussions On the matter of the Art objects after introducing both sides' Sub-Committee members?
MR. YIU:
All right.

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