SUMMARY RECORD
Vice-Foreign Minister Kyu Hah Choi was given audience by His Excellency the President at Kyung Mu Dai for about 80 minutes from 10:30 a.m., December 11, 1959. At this meeting, Secretary Chan Il Park, Minister of Home Affairs In Kyu Choi, Minister of Justice Jin Ki Hong and Dr. Glenn were also present.
I. At this meeting, Vice-Foreign Minister Choi reported on the result of our Delegation's negotiation with the Japanese side for the settlement of the immediately pending issues on the basis of the "Negotiation Strategy." According to the Vice-Foreign Minister, a) the Japanese side may make an oral assurance for the payment of compensation, but the definite amount of that compensation has not yet been decided while the formality of such assurance is also yet to be decided; a) as for the property to be taken away by the Korean repatriates, the Japanese side vaguely said it would "respect" such property rights without touching on the substantial matter; c) there is no actual settlement of the long-Pending deportation question; and d) Japan does not yet take any positive action concerning the problems of facilities and convenience to be given Korean repatriates, ROK readiness to receive Koreans in Japan regardless of their political affiliations and so on, ROK readiness to take necessary steps for the resettlement of Korean repatriates, and rice import question, etc.
Vice-Minister Choi reported to His Excellency that the Ministry, therefore, had already instructed our Delegation in Tokyo to further negotiate with the Japanese side to gain more.
His Excellency took note of this report, stating that it was very good.
II. 1. The Vice-Foreign Minister reported to His Excellency that today the Foreign Ministry would instruct the Tokyo Mission to present a formal note to the Japanese Foreign Office to renew our condemnation of their deportation scheme (KPO/614), and was Planning to release the full contents of the note in Korean as well as English languages after its delivery.
His Excellency said it was all right.
2. Vice-Minister Choi further reported that, simultaneously with the presentation of the note, the Tokyo Delegation would be instructed to drive the Japanese into an embarrassing position in the eyes of the Free World public opinion by bringing up possible ICJ proceedings in relation to the deportation issue (KPO/607).
According to the Vice-Minister, firstly Japan may reject this proposal of ours; then, we will conduct a vigorous propaganda campaign to place Japan in the midst of world criticism. Secondly, Japan may accept it; then, we will request Japan to immediately suspend the implementation of the Japanese deportation scheme, since no party would go to a court for adjudication over a fait accompli. Thirdly, Japan may accept all these proposals of ours, but in this case their acceptance of our proposal does not ipso facto bring our Government before the ICJ, and the possibility is almost nil.
His Excellency said that these tactics were good, adding that, however, we must bear in mind the history of patriot Lee Joon and that we should be extremely cautious in this approach.
3. Vice-Minister Choi reported further that all of our Mission Chiefs abroad would be instructed to stage vigorous propaganda to denounce the Japanese.
His Excellency said that it was very good.
III. His Excellency instructed the conferees to compose a small committee, including the Defense Minister, to work out the possibility of waging a small war, stating that we could not wait idly.
His Excellency also instructed the Vice-Foreign Minister to send immediately a cable to Ambassador Yang in Washington to make a strong representation to the U.S. State Department. (In this regard, the Vice-Minister was provided with the data prepared by the Office of the President.) All other Mission Chiefs should also be simultaneously informed of the same contents.
Minister of Home Affairs In Kyu Choi observed that the Japanese deportation scheme would not be carried out smoothly because we had sent into Japan a number of our people to obstruct its Implementation and that we would also continue at home our firm opposition movement against the deportation scheme.