Dear Mr. Oldenbroek

Your cable addressed to President Rhee has been referred to me for reply. Your interest in the Korean nationals detained at Omura and the Japanese fishermen at Pusan is greatly appreciated. As we have informed you before, Korea has been earnestly striving to solve this problem in accordance with considerations of humanitarianism and mutuality
However, and as you Know, this is a political and not a private or personal matter. It involves the Governments of the Republic of Korea and Japan, and attempts to intervene at other levels may only complicate the issues and their solution.
Furthermore, negotiations are now under way between the two Governments, and we sincerely hope that they will be successful. From what we know, we can assure you that there is the utmost goodwill and earnestness on the Korean side. These negotiations are obviously of a delicate nature, and it seems to us that the less the interference from outside sources, the greater the chances of liberating these unfortunate detainees.
We hope that you will do your best to clear up one point about which considerable confusion seems to exist.
Korea did not instigate these detentions. Only after the Japanese had incarcerated hundreds of Koreans at Omura -- almost all of them without charge, without trial, and without formal conviction or sentence - did Korea halt the repatriation of Japanese fishermen who had been apprehended for violation of the fisheries Peace Line. Incidentally, all of these fishermen enjoyed full rights of the due process of law - charge, trial, verdict, and sentence.
Detention of the fishermen was the only way in which the Korean Governmant could bring the plight of the Omura prisoners - who include women and children - to the attention of the civilized world and persuade the Japanese Government to consider their case. It is unfortunate the fishermen that this should be so, and we have the deepest sympathy lor them; but the Japanese Government could have obtained their release at any time by keeping the twice-given promise of its foreign minister to free these at Omura and Pusan on a basis of mutuality.
Humanitarianism has always embued the attitude of the Korean Government in those case, and we are certain that it always will.
As soon as the Japanese Government responds with similar sentiments - and we are deeply hopeful that it will - those at Omura and Pusan will be restored to freedom, as they should have been long ago.
We hope that you will help to make these facts known, and that an absence of outside pressures and propagandas will make the present Governmental discussions successful.

Sincerely yours,

Chung W. Cho

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. J. R. Oldenbroek
International Confederation or Free Trade Unions
24 Rue du Lombard
Brussels,
Belgium