Tokyo, July 7, 1958

GIST OF TALKS SEVENTH SESSION SUB-COMMITTEE ON VESSELS, COMMITTEE ON KOREAN CLAIMS
1. Time and place: July 7, 1958, 03:30 p.m. - 05:15 p.m. at Room, 411, Ministry of Forign Affairs, Japanses Government
2. Conferees:
The Korean side:
Mr. LEE, Ho
Mr. CHOI, Kyu Hah
Mr. CHIN, Pil Shik
Mr. OHM, Young Dal
Mr. LIMB, To Kyoung
Mr. ROH, Jai Won
Mr. LEE, Won Ho
The Japanese side:
Mr. Katsuo AWASAWA
Mr. Tokichi TAKANO
Mr. Masanobu YABE
Mr. Go HANDA
Mr. Minao TSUCHIYA
Mr. Chiro KATSUDA
3. Gist of talks:
MR. LEE:
To begin, I would like to hear the view of the Japanese side toward the proposal made by the Korean side at the last session to attach a phrase, as of November 6. 1951. to the end of the agenda 'item (d).'
MR. AWASAWA:
Though I have boned upon it ever since, I still find it difficult to accept the proviso.
MR. LEE:
Then, do you have any other idea to suggest in this regard ?
MR. AWASAWA:
My suggestion in that connection is that the agenda items that were adopted at previous Korea-Japan Conference be adopted at this Sub-Committee as well without adding any wording whatsoever thereto.
MR. LEE:
The proposal made by the Korean side does not carry any new implication. It is simply purported to clarify the fact as it is. Consequently. it Is pretty hard for me to understand why the Japanese side cannot accept the proposal.
MR. AWASAWA:
I, too, can hardly underatand why the Korean side persistently maintain to put the proviso to the agenda 'item (d)'.
MR. LEE:
As the Japanese side brought out the problem of the so-called '141 fishing vessels' which had nothing to do with the Sub-committee on Vessels and delayed the proceeding of our discussions for quite a while, the Korean side has found it necessary to attach the proviso, as of November 6. 1951, to the agenda 'item (d)'.
MR. AWASAWA:
It is agreed upon that the Japanese side would report the matter of '141 fishing vessels' to the high level of the Japanese side for its decision thereon, and that the question might be taken up at this Sub-committee should the high level of the both sides decide and instruct us to do so. Notwithstanding, it a proviso be ever added to the end of the agenda 'item (d)' with the wording you have brought forth, it will result in an automatic exclusion of the problem of '141 fishing vessels' from the agenda item (d).
MR. LEE:
The Japanese side had come out, all of a sudden, with the problem of the so-called '141 fishing vessels' and balked at the proceeding of our discussions. To this, the Korean side pointed out that the problem was not related to this Sub-committee in any way end, therefore, that the matter could not be dealt with at this Sub-committee. Then, as a result of spending quite a few sessions. the Japanese side stated that it would report the matter to the high level of its side and, also. that the Japanese side would not take up the issue at this Sub-committee unless otherwise decided and instructed by the high levels of the both sides. In view of the above. I would like to reiterate that the wording, as of November 6, 1951, be attached at this mement to the agenda 'item (d)' as a proviso in the sense that the same problems that were discussed at previous conferences be made the subject of our discussions at this Sub-Committee under agenda item (d).
MR. AWASAWA:
I don't think that the discussions we have so far made on the problem of '141 fishing vessels' have been futile. The Japanese side, for its own part, presented the issue before the Sub-committee as it believed that the problem falls under the scope of the proposed agenda item (d) of this Sub-committee. However, being confronted with the uncompromising opposition by the Korean side, it proposed to report the problem to the high level of its side end to shelve the issue until such time as the high levels of the both sides decide and instruct us thereon. Therefore, before any thing is done by the high levels of the both sides. I cannot ▣ouience in ruling out the problem by accepting the proviso.
MR. LEE:
I would like to give my word that the proviso will never cover any now fact whatsoever in connection with agenda 'item (d).'
(Silence)
MR. LEE:
Let's turn back to the point at issue regarding the problem of attaching the proviso to the end of the agenda 'item (d)'.
MR. AWASAWA:
I have taken pains at the question. However, I still find it impossible for the Japanese side to accept the proviso.
MR. LEE:
I would like to remind you that the Korean side brought forward after a discrete deliberation the proposal to add the proviso. I hope, therefore, that the Japanese side make effort to make out with the problem more constructively and reasonably.
MR. AWASAWA:
I also desire that the both sides pull together to bring about a smooth proceeding of our discussion. A key to the smooth operation of this Sub-committee, I believe, is to take up the agenda items that were adopted at previous conference, and to lat them go at that without adding any proviso whatsoever, until when the high levels of the both side dacide and instruct us on the problem of '141 fishing vessels'.
MR. LEE:
In the begining of our talks, the Korean side stated that those problems falling within the scope of the agenda 'item (c) and (d)' should not be included in the agenda of this sub-committee, in view of the possibility that no notable result would be attained even if we were to deal with them. Despite this view of the Korean side, the Japanese side moved one step backward and unexpectedly came out with the problem of the so-called '141 fishing vessels'. thus causing an unnecessary delay of the proceeding of our meetings, and creating a confusion in our talks. Finally, When it found a difficulty of getting a consent from the Korean side to the proposal, the Japanese side stated that it would report the matter to the high level of its sids. Thence, the Korean sids made concession in the course of discussing, with a view to expediting the prceeeding of this Sub-committee. And, later, in the course of the discussions on the adoption of agenda, the Korean side layed a proposal before the Sub-committee to attach a proviso to the agenda item (d) in order to clarify the fact as it is and, in consequence, to forestall any mis-leading that might possibly come out of the agenda item (d). However, the illogical opposition on the part of the Japanese side in this regard makes me embarrassed. I must tali you frankly that I am at lest on how to pressed our discussions at this sub-committee.
(Silence for approximately tea minutes)
MR. AWASAWA:
I am afraid that the proviso might result in erasing off the problem of '141 fishing vessels' forever.
MR. LEE:
Do you find any unsatisfactory point in the wording, 'as of November 6, 1951.'?
MR. AWASAWA:
We may be hit upon better wording if we study it more.
MR. LEE:
If there is any wording in your mind in this regard, Please spell it out.
MR. AWASAWA:
As far as the Japanese side is concerned, the best way is to attach no phrase to the agenda, item (d).
MR. LEE:
Thus far, the Korean side has compromised on many points in the course of our discussions at this Sub-committee. On the other hand, the Jepanese side goes so far as to turn down ever the reasonable idea suggested by the korean side. I do not know how to proceed our further discussions at this Sub-committee. Would you, please, sound off your suggestion, if any, in this regard?
MR, AWASAWA:
I have an alternative in mind, that is "the agenda of the Sub-committee on vessels are the following four items which were adopted on November 6, 1951: ... ... ..."
MR. LEE:
I am aganist the alternative. it will as the matter of course bring the proceeding of our discussions back to the very beginning and make thing from bad to worse and more complicated. so, why not think up more constructive and simplified wording, if any, for the agenda item (d), on the basis of the proposal made by the Korean side?
MR. AWASAWA:
Please do not press forward with one sided view.
MR. LEE:
Though you call it 'one sided,' I take it for granted that the proviso which I overtured previsouly is a natural outcome of our discussion in the course of previous sessions.
MR. CHOI:
The Korean side has not so much favoured, from the very beginning, the adoption of agenda items (c) and (d). considering that, even though the problems which were discussed at previous Coaferences unnder agenda 'item (c) and (d)' be taken up as the agenda items of this Sub-committee, no notable result will come out therefrom. However, the Korean side went so far as to suggest that it'll not oppose to adopt agenda items (c) and (d) if the Japanese side agrees. to attach in the proviso, as of November 6. 1951, to the end of the agenda item (d).
MR. AWASAWA:
I thought that the problem on the adoption of agenda items (c) and (d) was already solved, and that we were discussing on the wording of the agenda item (d). However, your remarks gave me an impression that the question of adopting agenda items (c) and (d) is still undecided and it will have to be ruled out if the proviso cannot be acceptable by the Japansese side.
MR. CHOI:
That is what the Korean acting chief member implied at last meeting.
MR. TAKANO:
Under the Agreed Minutes of December 31, 1957, it was agreed upon that the same matters that were discussed at previous talks would be discussed at the Korea-Japan Overall Talks, if resumed.
MR. CHOI:
As I have repeatedly told you, the Korean side did not intend, from the inception of our meeting, to add the proviso. However, the reason why the Korean side has been obliged to propose the proviso was that the Japanese side unexpectedly brought out the problem of the so-called '141 fishing vessels'. Anyhow, we have taken pains to be well up with the problem of adopting agenda item (d). Let us not turn back to the staring point and not do our discussions all over again. I am of the opinion that there is an smple room for the ironning out difference of pinions only if we appeal to our good senses.
MR. CHIN:
When we made it repeatedly clear to the Japanese side that the matter regarding the so-called '141 fishing vessels' had no relevancy at all to the problems to be discussed at this Sub-committee and, consequently, that the Sub-committee had no competence to deal with the matter, the Japanese side stated that the problem of the so-called '141 fishing vessels' be reported to its high level and that the matter would not be taken up at this Sub-committee unless otherwise decided and instructed by the high levels of both sides. Therefore, it is the demand of reason that such a proviso should be added to the proposed agenda item (d) to clarify the fact as it is.
MR. TAKANO:
I oppose to the proviso. Let us not make any alteration pending the decision on the matter by the high levels.
MR. LEE:
Would you like to continue the meeting of today?
MR. AWASAWA:
I hops both sides study the other's proposal with more sincerity.
MR. LEE:
When do you suggest for the date of next meeting? Will Friday be all right with you?
MR. AWASAWA:
Can the Korean side be ready to present a better proposal by that date?
MR. LEE:
I hope the Japanese side will work out a reasonable one in line with the Korean Proposal.
MR. LEE:
Time?
MR. AWASAWA:
08:00 p.m.
MR. LEE:
That will be all right. Any thing to suggest regarding press release?
MR. AWASAWA:
Let us do the same way as we did before. I will name Mr. Tsuchiya to take care of the press release as the representative of the Japanese side.
MR. LEE:
I will designate Mr. Chin as his counterpart.

-The end-