원안 : 723. IJA 재1955-60 v.2(4511)

Tokyo, August 27, 1959

Memorandum: Regarding the Recent Development Korea-Japan Relations
I. At the end of the last working committee meeting (August 20) for handling the mutual repatriation of Korean and Japanese detainees, it was tentatively decided that the following committee meeting would be held on August 26, Wednesday. However, in view of the fact that the Japanese were obviously trying to obtain a sort of commitment from our side on the release of Japanese fishermen in Pusan prior to expressing its view on our overture, our delegation thought it proper that the working committee meeting should be held later than the 14th plenary session of the overall talks where the Japanese reply was to be given to our side in one way or other in regard to our proposal made at the 13th plenary session held on August 18. Our proposal which was made at the 13th plenary session in according with Government instrictions was that the legal status committee meeting should be held as soon as possible and the three problems should be taken up for settlement at the legal status committee. (The three problems are (1) on those Koreans who would remain continuously in Japan,(2) those Koreans who wish to return to the Republic of Korea, and (3) those Koreans who would neither wish to remain in Japan nor wish to return to the Republic of Korea.) In the beginning the Japanese attempted to hold the above two meeting on the same day(August 26, Wednesday). Under this circumstance, on August 25, our side requested that the 14th plenary session be held at 3:00 p. m. on August 26, Wednesday while the working committee meeting, at 10:30 a. m. on August 29. We strongly demamded that the Japanese should show sincerity if they were really interested in creating a favorable atmosphere for the smooth proceeding of the resumed overall talks.
On the evening of August 25, the Japanese side agreed to our request on the schedule for above two meetings. Thus, the 14th plenary session was held at 3:00p. m. on August 26, Wednesday.
At this meeting, Japanese chief delegate Sawada stated that his delegation would agree to accept as agenda items of the legal status committee the three problems as proposed by the Korean delegation at the previous plenary session held on August 18. The Japanese further agreed to hold the legal status committee meeting on August 31, Monday, in response to our strong committee meeting.
Today, the so-called Cho-Chong Ryun(Korean communist organization in Japan)Lodged a so-called strong protest against the Japanese acceptance of our proposal to convene the committee on legal status of Korean residents in Japan to take up the three problems proposed by our side.
Members of our delegation are now busily mapping out our strategy at the forthcoming meeting of the legal status committee, while awaiting Government instructions in this regard. On the other hand, it is also obvious that the Japanese are closely watching how our side will act at the working committee meeting which is slated to be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, regarding the question on the mutual repatriation of both Korean and Japanese detained.
In connection with the proceedings of the legal status committee meeting, I think that it would be advisable for us to expedite discussion in view of time element involved.
II. Dr. Narcel Junod, ICRC vice president, arrived in Tokyo on the morning of August 23, Sunday, when about 2,500 Korean residents who are loyal to our Government staged demonstration at the Tokyo International Airport. While refaining from resorting to any sort of violence, the demonstrators strongly requested Dr. Junod to take a fair and impartial attitude toward such a very delicate problem of extreme-political nature as the so-called repatriation issue. It is said that Mr. Insuk Chung, head of our Mindan, met Dr. Junod at the airport on behalf of the 2,500 demonstrators and presented to him a message of request for not siding with the Japanese and the communists.
On August 24 morning, Dr. Junod paid a courtesy call on JRC president while visiting the Japanese Foreign Minister at the latter's office in the afternoon. After the meeting between Fujiyama and Junod, Fujiyama said to the press in an effect that although Dr. Junod was invited by the Republic of Korea Government to visit Seoul, Dr. Junod was appearently not prepared to accept the invitation,etc. The above was widely reported in the Japanese newspaper in an attempt to discredit our side. On the other hand, Japanese local papers also reported as if Dr. Junod had stated that he would see the conditions near our Peace Line abroad a Japanese fishing vessel. Dr. Junod was quite shocked at such groundless press reports and it is said that he maces representation with the Japanese Foreign Office against the false propaganda on the part of the Japanese side.
On August 26, Dr. Junod himself made it clear that he had been invited not by the REPUBLIC OF KOREA Government but by the Republic of Korea Red Cross and already accepted the invitation and would proceed to Seoul as soon as his work in Japan permitted it. According to our finding, Dr. Junod is proceeding to Seoul within two weeks from August 26. It is now obvious that the Japanese are quite unhappy about Dr. Junod's visit to Seoul.
According to American Ambassy source, the Japanese will carry out the so-called repatriation of Koreans to communist north as planned, while Japs indicating to the press its readiness to carry it out. Dr. Junod and JRC officials are having contracts very frequently. Today, Dr. Junod, accompanied by JRC official, went to Niigata port to make a survey of the so-called embarkation facilities.
Such being the case, the situation surrounding the so-called repatriation issue is very serious although the Japs agreed to discuss the problem at the legal status committee of the overall talks.

K. H. C