Tokyo, July 31, 1958

No.89
Excellency:
1. Foreign Minister Cho's instructions addressed to Ambassador Limb have duly been received via last pouch and this office has carefully studied the policy of the Government toward the issue concerning the Japanese decision to parole Korean detainees who allegedly desire to go to the north. In accordance with the Government instructions Ambassador Limb is scheduled to meet Japanese Foreign Minister Fujiyama at 4:50 this afternoon. I assure Your Excellency that the results of the meeting would be reported to the Government promptly.
2. The Japanese Foreign Office protested in its note verbale to this office some time ago against our seizure of the Hoshi Maru No.2. This office, after receiving instructions from the Foreign Ministry, replied to the Japanese side in this regard, as previously reported.
In addition, this week the Japanese Government sent to this office a counter-protest to our reply, details of which are being reported to the Foreign Minister under separate cover. I am herewith enclosing a copy of the note dated July 28 for Your Excellency's reference.
As Your Excellency will note in it, it appears that the tone of the Japanese note is somewhat different from than in the past, in that it not only called our seizure "unlawful", but went so far as to say that it is regretted that "such anduntoward incident occurred at this juncture when the Japan-Korea Overall Talks are being held..."
In view of the adamant nature of the Japanese note verbale it is deemed necessary for our side to reply to it with more accurate and factual data regarding the circumstances of the seizure. I would, therefore, highly appreciate receiving any additional information in this relation from the Government to enable this office to make an effective counter-protest to the Japanese Foreign Office.
With sentiments of loyalty and esteem, I remain,

Most respectfully,

Enclosure: Copy of note