Tokyo, July 28 1958

No.87
Excellency:
I beg to acknowledge with appreciation the receipt of Your Excellency's letter No.42 of July 25.
1. On July 25 this office received a reply from the Japanese Foreign Office to our note verbale protesting against the reported Japanese decision to release on parole some Korean detainees at Omura Camp from among those who allegedly desired to go to north Korea.
This office has already reported on this Japanese reply to the Foreign Ministry by a special pouch last Saturday and believe Your Excellency has been informed in this regard by this time. The Japanese note verbale, among other things, stated:
a. That it is true that the Japanese Government hes reached a decision to parole 26 Korean illegal entrants out of humanitarian spirit of averting an imminent danger to human life."
b. That the Japanese decision is not a violation of the existing agreement between the two countries. The Japanese commitment not to send them to north Korea nor release them in Japan, made at the Working Committee, was so made with "due regard to the political stand of the Republic of Korea " and not Japan's obligation to Korea under the said agreement.
c. A new situation developed following the hunger strike staged by some Korean detainees, and in order to save these human lives, the Japanese Government was obliged to parole them "from the humanitarian standpoint." As the matter developed unexpectedly, it is "desirable for the two countries to act and solve the problem from an entirely new angle."
3. Ambassador Limb paid a call on Friday (July 25) morning on Prime Minister Kishi prior to his departure for Seoul on August 1. Foreign Minister Fujiyama was also present at the meeting. At this meeting the Japanese side urged us to send our representative to the Fishery Committee promptly and said that the recent parole decision was inevitable under the existing circumstances. The Japanese side thus sought our understanding Our side, without making any commitment in this regard, reiterated that the Japanese decision was a violation of the existing agreement.
Following the above meeting Asian Bureau Director Itagaki asked Minister Yiu to come Friday afternoon. Mr. Itagaki told him that the Japanese Government was going to release on parole the 26 persons, as soon as certain conditions for parole were met, thus seeking our understanding.
4. It appears to me that the Japanese Government is ready to carry out the contemplated parole of the 26 persons. However, as it is fearful of the issue having adverse effectes on smooth progress of the current overall talks in future. Under these circumstances the Japanese Government seems to be trying to find some way by which our side might understand its release decision. Attached translation of an Asahi article may be indicative of such trend of the Japanese Government.
Under such circumstances I would highly appreciate it, if Your Excellency could kindly give me a guidance as to our future policy on this matter.
With sentiments of loyalty and esteem, I remain,

Most respectfully,

M. T. K.