Tokyo, July 14, 1958

GIST OF TALKS EIGHTH SESSION SUB-COMMITTEE ON VESSELS, COMMITTEE ON KOREAN CLAIMS
1. Time and Place: July 11, 1958, 03:30 p.m. - 04:45 p.m. at Room 411, Ministry at Foreign Affairs, Japanese Government
2. Conferees:
Korean side:
Mr. LEE, Ho
Mr. CHOI. Kyu Hah
Mr. CHIN, Pil Shik
Mr. OHM, Young Dal
Mr. LIMB, Do Kyong
Mr. ROH, Jae Won
Mr. LEE, Won Ho
Japanese side:
Mr. Katsuo AWASAWA
Mr. Tokichi TAKANO
Mr. Masanobu YABE
Mr. Go HANDA
Mr. Kiyoshi SUGANUMA
Mr. Minao TSUCHIYA
Mr. Chiro KATSUDA
3, Gist of Talks:
Mr. Lee:
At the seventh session of the Sub-committee on Vessels. we continued our discussions on the proposal submitted by the Korean side at previous sessions to attach the proviso reading "as of November 6, 1951" to the proposed agenda item (d). However, we would not come to tern on the proposal. The Japanese side, then, suggested that it would further study on the proposal. Now, therefore, if the Japanese sids has reached any conclusion is this regard, please let us have it here.
Mr. Awasawa:
Though the Japanese side examined the proposal from every possible angle, it would not reach any other conclusion than what had been expreseed at previous meetings. The proposal on the part of the Korean side to add the wording, as of November 6, 1951, to the proposed agenda item (d) may result in burying in oblivion the fact that the problem of "141 fshing vessels" has been reported to the high level og the Japanese side for its decision thereon in consultation with that of the Korean side and, consequently, that the problem is now still pending. This being the case, the Japanese side maintains the view that the beat way for a smooth operation of this Sub-committee is either not to add to the proposed agenda item (d) such a wording "as of November 6, 1951," or to employ the wording, "adopted on November 6, 1951," for all the four agenda items. My understanding is a that we are at one with each other in substance regarding agenda item (d), except the question of placing the wording, as of November 6, 1951.
Mr. Lee:
I am afraid that you got the Korean position wrong. To clarify the difference of views and stands between the two sides in connection with the problem linked with agenda item (d), I would like to sum up our talks and proceeding of the meetings at this Sub-committee.
As you know, during the early stage of our discussions at this Sub-committee, the Korean side proposed agenda items (a) and (b), and these were adopted without many arguments. However, with reference to the proposed agenda item (c) and (d) submitted by the Japanese side, objection was raised by the Korean side, from the very beginning of the proposal, and a series of discussions have taken place in order to iron out difference of opinions. Meanwhile, when we were talking about the proposed agenda item (d), the Japanese side all of a sudden brought out the problem of the so-called "141 fishing vessels", which had nothing to do with this Sub-committee. This was naturally confronted with a determined refutation on the part of the Korean side. Later, the Japanese side proposed to refer the problem of the so-called "141 fishing vessels" to the high levels of the both sides only to be flatly rejected by the Korean side. Then, the Japanese side stated that it would report the problem to its high level and would not bring out the issue unless otherwise decided and instructed by the high levels of the both sides. In this regard. the Korean side kept silence as to the statement and just took note of it. Under these circumstances, the Korean side promoted a proposal to add the proviso, as of November 6, 1951, to the end of the proposed agenda item (d) to nip in the bud possible misunderstandings which might come out of the proposed item. It is the natural and reasonable outcome of the discussions in this regard to add the wording, as of November 6, 1951, to the end of the proposed agenda item (d).
In this connection, the Japanese alternative gives me an impression that it tries to seek for the bringding back our discussions to the very starting point. Up to agenda items (a) and (b) which have already been adopted. Therefore, I would like to ask the Japanese side not to refer to the agenda items (a) and (b) any more, because they have already been adopted. Let us talk about on the question of adopting the proposed agenda items (c) and (d) with the proviso, as of November 6, 1951, attached to the end of the agenda item (d).
Mr. Awasawa:
(Silence )
Mr. Lee:
The proviso aims at clarifying the fact as it is and does not carry any new fact.
Mr. Awasawa:
For all your explanations, I am not convinced that the proviso does not envisage any other fact. Moreover, the proviso which you proposed does not cover all the facts; it merely deals with one sided fact which has so for been maintained by the Korean side.
Mr. Lee:
On the contrary, I am of the opinion that, by inserting the proviso, as of November 6, 1951, in the proposed agenda item (d), we will be able to cover all the problems we have so far discussed here in connection with the adoption of agenda item (d).
Mr. Awasawa:
I would like to reiterate that we adopt as the agenda items of this Subcommittee the same four agenda items that were adopted at the previous Korea-Japan Conference in 1951, and go right on with substantial discussions regarding agenda. item (a). And, concerning the problem of "141 fishing vessels," we will act upon the decision taken by the high levele of the both sides.
Mr. Lee:
As I have repeatedly made it clear that the proviso to the proposed agenda item (d) does not cover any other new fact, let's dispose of the problem on the proposed agenda item (d) with the proviso attached thereto and enter into the discussions of substantial matters of agenda item (a).
Mr. Awasawa:
The Japanese side cannot acquiesce in your proposal as long as the proviso defines just one fact which the Korean side has upheld, erasing out the other fact maintained by the Japanese side.
Mr. Lee:
Inasmuch as the Japanese side stated that it would report the problem of the so-called "141 fishing vessels" to its high level and it would not bring out the matter unless otherwise decided and instructed by the high levels of the both sides, and since the Korean side did not say anything in this regard, we will be able to maks clear the proposed agenda item (d) by adding the proviso thereto.
Mr. Takano:
Though the Koreas side said that it "did not say anything in this regard," as far as I saw and understand, the Korean sids had not always kept silence from the beginning of our discussions on the problem of "141 fishing vessels." Morevover, to my understanding, Minister Yiu said that be exchanged his views with Mr. Sawada on the problem, too
Mr. Choi:
My understanding is that minister Yiu only exchanged his views with Mr. Sawada on the problem and had never agreed to Japanese views;▣▣ they did not touch on substantial point of the problem. What is more, Minister Yiu made it clear at that meeting that the problem of the so-called "141 fishing vessels" had been brought out by the Japanese side, and not by the Korean side.
Mr. Awasawa:
(Silence )
Mr. Lee:
I ask you to consider the Korean proposal with sincerity and constructive idea.
Mr. Awasawa:
Of course, the Japanese side is quite ready to reconsider the proposal with sincerity; however...
Mr. Takano:
If the proviso, as of November 6, 1951, does not carry any new fact, and if the content of the problem is left untouched, it seems to me that it is all the more unnecessary to add the proviso to the proposed agenda item (d).
As the both sides agreed to refer the problem of "141 fishing vessels" to the high levels of the both sides, and as the problem is consequently pending. we might as well drop the proviso from the proposed agenda item (d).
Mr. Lee:
I think I have to make it clear here once more that the Korean side only took note of the Japanese side's remarks when the Japanese side stated that it would report the problem of the so-called "141 fishing vessels" to its high level and would not bring out the issue unless otherwise decided and instructed by the high levels. But the Korean side has never given agreement to the Japanese side to refer the problem of the so-called "141 fishing vessels" to the high levels of the both sides.
Mr. Awasawa:
(Silence )
Mr. Lee:
When shall we have next meeting ?
Mr. Awasawa:
I suggest next Thursday.
Mr. Lee:
How about next Friday (18th July) ?
Mr. Awasawa:
No objection. And time ?
Mr. Lee:
10:30 a.m. ?
Mr. Awasawa:
That will do. And regarding press release, let us do the same way as we did before.
Mr. Lee:
No objection.

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