005

Tokyo, October 10, 1959

TO : His Excellency the President
FROM : HUH Chung, Chief Delegate to the Fourth Korea-Japan Overall Talks
SUBJECT : Report on Informal Talks Exchanged With Japanese Deleaotes
An informal meeting was held at the Japanese Foreign Ministry Club (Kaiyukaikan) from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on October 14, 1959, particularly concerning the problem of mass repatriation to the Republic of Korea of the Korean residents in Japan.
Ambassador Yiu, Dr. Yu Chin O, and myself attended the meeting, while the Japanese side was represented by Chief Delegate Dr. Sawada, Asian Affairs Bureau Director Iseki, and Japanese Chief Member at THE COMMITTEE ON Problem of the Korean Residents in Japan Katsuno.
1. BACKGROUND OF THE MEETING
At the informal talks held between Mr. Yu Chin O and Counsellor Chin, from the Korean side, and Mr. Katsuno and Mr. Hiraga, from the Japanese side, in the afternoon of October 10, 1959, the Japanese side maintained that, due to the present political climate in Japan, the problem of paying compensations to the Korean residents wishing to repatriate to the Republic of Korea should be avoided of being openly discussed at THE COMMITTEE ON the Problem of Korean Residents in Japan. Rather, according to the Japanese side, it should informally be taken up at the higher levels of the both sides.
Thus this meeting took place today (October 14) on the basis or the Japanese stand as above.
2. THE GIST OF TALKS
Korean side:
It is somehow a matter of joy that the both of us now see, through the informal talks of several times, a rough picture of the other's stand, though we have not been able to hold formal meetings many a time since the resumption of the Korea-Japan Overall Talks.
The Korean Government has set a policy to repatriate to the Republic of Korea as many Korean residents in Japan as possible. To expedite their repatriation, I should say, the Japanese Government is required to pay them due compensations. According to the investigation conducted by our side, about 150,000 or 200,000 Korean residents will return to the Republic of Korea, should the condition for their repatriation is good Most of those Koreans who are aliegealy desirous of going to communist-occupied north are paupers. I am sure they will change their minds and go Back to the Republic of Korea if the 'condition' is bettered.
We have discussed before the problems on the repatriation of Korean residents. But that was chiefly concerned with the problem of affording facility and rendering assistance to voluntary and individual repatriates to the Republic of Korea ; however, this time, the problem la different from the previous one It is desired now that the both Government make positive effort in stimulating the Korean residents to have desire to repatriate to the Republic of Korea.
I (Mr. Sawada) hope the both Governments fully cooperate, with the assistance given by the United States, in making the Korean residents repatriate to the Republic of Korea.
In the meantime, the Japanese side would like to know about how much money does the Korean side want us to pay to repatriating Koreans us assistance fund ?
Korean side:
The Japaneae side is requested to show first the possible amount. The more Japanese offers forcompensation, the more Korean residents will desire toreturn to the Republic of Korea.
Japanese side:
Suppose the figure of the Korean residents who want to repatriate to the Republic of Korea reaches, let's say, 50,000 or 100,000, it is surely a big problem. I wonder what kind of measures and policies the Korean Goverment has taken to accept the repatriating Koreans. I think it would be a good idea if the both sides make public the policies and the measures which were jointly worked out for the furtherance of the repatriation of the Korean residents to the Republic or Korea.
Korean side
(Mr. Huh ) I have once been Minister of the Social Affairs and Mayor or Seoul City; I have had quits a few experiences in helping the distressed. The number of the Koreans who fled from communist-occupied north to the southern part of Korea reaches five million. I don't mean that all of them are very well off now. But they have settled down without causing much troubles. Therefore, it is not a serious problem for the Korean Government to take care of 200,000 or 300,000 Koreans repatriated from Japan.
Japanese side:
The Japanese Government annually grants to between 70,000 and 80,000 Korean residents in Japan allowances for the support or their livelihood. The total sum of the allowances amounts to 1,800,000,000yen This figure might be used as a good reference when the 'problem of paying compensation ' is brought before other Ministries concerned or the Diet.
It seems to me (Iseki) that a large number of those who go back to the Republic of Korea would settle down in Big cities when they return, though there may be small number of them who will go to rural areas.
Our Side:
That will likely be so.
Japanese side:
I (lseki) wish to auk you to keep in top secret the fact that we have today discussed this problem. should the story that the Japanese Government considers to pay compensations to the Koreans repatriating to the Republic of Korea ever leaks out, I am afraid we shall never be able to see the settlement of this problem, under the present political situation in Japan.
Korean side:
One thing we would like to hope on this occasion is that the Japanese side show not only its sincerity in settling this problem but take steps for the importation of rice from Korea, as we approved the export of Korean anthracite in response to your request. By doing so, I believe, the both sides will gradually be able to improve relations.
Japanese side:
It is very difficult for Japan to import rice From Korea. because she has to import rice from several countries of Asia. Nevertheless, taking into consideration the political circumstances lying between the two countries, Japan will make efforts to import rice from Korea. By the way, now I (Mr. Iseki) am in a difficult position, for a groundless rumor has spread out that I proposed the importation of Korean rice as a barter for the repatriation to Japan of Japanese fishermen in Pusan.
Korean side:
News papers carried a mistaken report. I feel sorry that you are in a difficult position just because of the groundless rumor.
Let me (Yu) say a word on press report. I would not raise particular objection to your suggestion that the things discussed here today be kept in secret because of reason on the part of the Japanese side. But, the Korean side, for its part, regards the problem of compensation as cardinally important ones Therefore, it will be unable tor the Korean side to release to press only minor things, keeping in secret the thing which is now under discussed between us in the behind the scene. So, with regard to the press release by the Korean side, without saying specific time and place of our talks, that the prospect of the settlement of the compensation problem is hopeful, I hope, the Japanese side will understand it.
As we absolutely oppose the deportation scheme, the so-called "guide book" issue does not deserve any series comment from us. However, I understand that some disputes are taking place between the JRC and the Red Cross of the poppets in the northern part of Korea. Would you please tell us what it is all about?
Japanese side:
The disputes arose from the following three points in the "repatriation guide book."
1. The problem of confirming free will of individuals concerned;
2. The problems using the flag, of the puppets in the north;
3. The problems whether the would-be repatriates be allowed to 'go out' from the place they assembled and whether or not they be prohibited to meet visitors.
Of the above three points. concerning the second question, Choryun (Red Federation of Korean Residents) does not demand any more. And as to the rest of the problems, Japan will absolutely not retreat a step from the present position on the problem of confirming free will of the would-be repatriates. With regard to the third question, Japan, under present circumstances, is unable to give in to the demands by the puppets.
When the problem of repatriation to the Republic of Korea is settled, I think, there will arise no problem even if those would-be repatriates to communist-occupied north be allowed to go out and meet their visitors.
Korean side:
It is deeply regretted that the JRC made concessions to the Korean communists in the part whenever the Korean communists demanded political concessions.
The puppets in the northern part of Korea are making disputes with political purposes. Should it surrender to their demands, the Japanese sids would doubtless be involved in the political machinations conspired by the puppets. Once the cloud of such an apprehension towards Japan is cleared out from the minds of the Korean people, toe atmosphere at the conference table of the Korea-Japan Overall Talks would become amiable.
3. OBSERVATIONS
1. It appears to be certain as a result of today's informal talks, that Japan has in mind consideration to pay certain amount of money to those Koreans who will return to the Republic of Korea. However, Japan's attitude is firm that they would never acquiesce in the idea to call it "compensation."
As to the amount of the money to be paid, there is no knowing at this stage what the Japanese intention would be.
2. It seems that Japan welcomes the mass repatriation of Korean residents to the Republic of Korea. Nevertheless, the Japanese side doubts as to whether a large number of Korean residents will actually repatriate to the Republic of Korea.
3. This delegation thinks that it is necesaary for our Government to take appropriate and necessary measures in advance for the acceptance of repatriates from Japan, Such measures are not only necessary to accept the repatriates and for their resettlement in Korea but will make Japan believe that we sincerely want to accept our people from Japan. This will also help us in sounding out Japan's real intention on the problem of compensation.
4. This delegation will make continuous efforts to sound out Japan's mind with respect to the compensation problem. At the same time, this delegation wishes to ask the Government to give us the scope of the amount we are going to claim to the Japanese side for the compensation, as this scope is needed strictly for use of this delegation in its negotiations with the Japanese side.