December 16, 1959

1. About three hours before the scheduled setsailing of the Russian deportation ships Ambassador Yiu made representation to the Japanese Foreign Office, leaving an Aide Memoire in which the Ambassador stated,
...the Korean side would be obliged to consider that the Japanese Government has no intention whatsoever to settle judicially the issue should Japanese carry out the so-called repatriation of Korean residents in Japan to the northern part of Korea..."
2. As of December 14, 1959, the Japanese Foreign Office said that the Japanese Government was still studying our proposal. On December 15, 1959, Japanese Foreign Minister Fujiyama told the press that Japan might not accept the Korean proposal.
3. On December 15, Mr. Fujiyama referred to the problem of compensation, meaningfully stating that Japan might give some consideration if the Korea-Japan talks go smoothly, but now has no intention to make any commitment in this connection.
4. A Japanese newspaper of the December 15 issue carried an article which said that opinion is gaining strength among the Japanese Foreign Office that the Government should take a stronger attitude toward the Republic of Korea, to the extent of closing the Korean Mission, suspending trade relations, etc. According to Ambassador Yiu's report, this story is unfounded.
5. No official contact was made between two sides after December 14. Japan is anxious to repatriate Japanese fishermen in Pusan within this year. In this connection, they are likely to watch what move our side will make in the coming two or three days.