재일한인 북송저지를 위한 활동 보고
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
Hotel Regina Geneve
Hotel Regina Geneve
July 10, 1959
President Syngman Rhee
Kyung Mu Dai
Seoul, Korea
Your Excellency, dear Mr. President :
On a sudden notice I rushed out of the country and came here to work on this national problem of ours. Because you were in Chinhae it was not possible to get your advice and counsel before leaving, for which I regret to this day.
Since coming here, with the indispensable help of Ministers Kim Yongshik and Choi Kyuha Kyuhah, I have made many contacts and interviewed individuals and groups connected with International Committee of Red Cross and several news agencies. With the background of these experiences, I hereby report to you the following observations and recommendations.
1. Found ICRC attitude toward us friendly and wishing to do something for us too. On the one hand ICRC is a "hard nut to crack" because of its rigid adherence to their principles of neutrality and impartiality. On the other hand it is a very vulnerable organization just because of its neutrality. Anybody can present any problem for investigation or assistance if it were in the name of Red Cross and for humanitarian purposes.
So at present the Japanese-Communist joint proposal is up in the air. ICRC physically received it, but as yet it is neither rejected nor accepted. At their meeting on July 6th the committee was first informed about the proposal and the staff concerned was told to make a study of it. This study period can be prolonged as long as we can interfere. Since we are fighting with a game of delaying tactics, this is the time to interfere.
While our thoughts were running along these lines, President Boissier repeatedly says that the ICRC would welcome our proposal if we have any. And he emphasizes the time element in our presentation by saying as soon as possible or "within two weeks".
So believing it to be a good strategy we sent the cables and asked for instructions. With your permission I think Ministers Kim and Choi can draw up the initial draft and submit it for your approval before presentation. We can see only one step at a time, it seems. If we take this step now, we can prolong the battle. And in the meantime other possible steps may emerge to lead us on to our final victory.
As to the substence of our contemplated proposal we are putting our thoughts into words today, I will carry it to Paris tomorrow and there on to you through Paris. This letter will be sent by pouch from Paris too.
2. On improvement of the staff and working facilities: While this problem is pending, which we hope will be a longtime yet, at least two were persons should be sent and added to the two men working together now. One should be Mr. Bum-suk Lee who had been here last spring and got sick. He is needed because of the Red Cross representation only a red cross man can make. Also he did such a good job that every body, I met here, thinks and speaks ever so highly of him. His contribution should be continued. Then a secretary who will be at the desk all the time and do all the recording and correspondence. If not possible to have someone come from home, it may be that one man can be spared for the time being by one of our embassies in Europe.
Then an office is needed with at least the minimum equipment essential and a budget to operate. There is nothing here now. Even the permanent mission in Geneva has nothing tangible so far - Mr. Kim does not say, but I think it is because no money has come as yet, for the office or even for a typist. And the allowance for cable should not be limitted too much.
And I want to command most highly the work of Ministers Kim and Choi. They are doing such a fine piece of work that all I could do was merely to add the standing of the ROK national Red Cross. The two men are different but highly complimentary to each other and are working together in full harmony and cooperation. We can be very proud of their representations individually as well as a team. They are second to no others in the quality of their services. You and our country are to be congratulated to have such fine men serve the cause.
People like myself who come and go on temporary missions will be doing well, if we do not interfere too much. The credit for our success so far in delaying the decision of ICRC should be given to these two men and Mr. Bum-suk Lee.
3. Creation of an International Affairs Section in the working organization of our red cross. I have discovered that there is a distinct Red Cross World quite unique and apart from the rest. Only specialized workers, well versed both in theories and practices of the red cross international affairs can serve satisfactorily in relationships like our present one. We need good diplomats in the Red Cross World as well as in others.
This concludes for the time being what I have seen and felt and thought since coming here.
Please allow me to make another point here not directly but indirectly connected with our present issue. Since the Korea -Japan talks broke up last time, its seriousness has been coming home to my mind. I do not know the issues well and all the pros and cons are beyond me to enter into discussion. I know only three simple facts about it, and I state them here for your consideration. The first one is, that Korea and Japan being neighbors physically, geographically must restore and enjoy normal relations for the good of each other and for the strength of the free world.
The second fact is that you can bring about as no one else can. We have this confidence.
The third fact is that we, common people wish and pray that it be done. By you in your time while you are still holding the reins. We shudder even at the idea of this important work being done by somebody else at some unkwnon future date.
May be you have never given thought to this angle of the question. I want to plead to you in the name of the countless who suffered under Japanese, that it is so important that you straighten out this relationship for us in your time once and for all times.
I hope I have not wearied you with so many words. The spirit behind the words has been an eager and anxious one. Please forgive me for any wrong expressions, if there are such to displease you.
When I see you in person I want to thank you for the second scroll you have written for my whangap. Words are too inadequate to express my gratitude. I am studying caligraphy and hope to be able to write one for your next birthday.
Kyung Mu Dai
Seoul, Korea
Your Excellency, dear Mr. President :
On a sudden notice I rushed out of the country and came here to work on this national problem of ours. Because you were in Chinhae it was not possible to get your advice and counsel before leaving, for which I regret to this day.
Since coming here, with the indispensable help of Ministers Kim Yongshik and Choi Kyuha Kyuhah, I have made many contacts and interviewed individuals and groups connected with International Committee of Red Cross and several news agencies. With the background of these experiences, I hereby report to you the following observations and recommendations.
1. Found ICRC attitude toward us friendly and wishing to do something for us too. On the one hand ICRC is a "hard nut to crack" because of its rigid adherence to their principles of neutrality and impartiality. On the other hand it is a very vulnerable organization just because of its neutrality. Anybody can present any problem for investigation or assistance if it were in the name of Red Cross and for humanitarian purposes.
So at present the Japanese-Communist joint proposal is up in the air. ICRC physically received it, but as yet it is neither rejected nor accepted. At their meeting on July 6th the committee was first informed about the proposal and the staff concerned was told to make a study of it. This study period can be prolonged as long as we can interfere. Since we are fighting with a game of delaying tactics, this is the time to interfere.
While our thoughts were running along these lines, President Boissier repeatedly says that the ICRC would welcome our proposal if we have any. And he emphasizes the time element in our presentation by saying as soon as possible or "within two weeks".
So believing it to be a good strategy we sent the cables and asked for instructions. With your permission I think Ministers Kim and Choi can draw up the initial draft and submit it for your approval before presentation. We can see only one step at a time, it seems. If we take this step now, we can prolong the battle. And in the meantime other possible steps may emerge to lead us on to our final victory.
As to the substence of our contemplated proposal we are putting our thoughts into words today, I will carry it to Paris tomorrow and there on to you through Paris. This letter will be sent by pouch from Paris too.
2. On improvement of the staff and working facilities: While this problem is pending, which we hope will be a longtime yet, at least two were persons should be sent and added to the two men working together now. One should be Mr. Bum-suk Lee who had been here last spring and got sick. He is needed because of the Red Cross representation only a red cross man can make. Also he did such a good job that every body, I met here, thinks and speaks ever so highly of him. His contribution should be continued. Then a secretary who will be at the desk all the time and do all the recording and correspondence. If not possible to have someone come from home, it may be that one man can be spared for the time being by one of our embassies in Europe.
Then an office is needed with at least the minimum equipment essential and a budget to operate. There is nothing here now. Even the permanent mission in Geneva has nothing tangible so far - Mr. Kim does not say, but I think it is because no money has come as yet, for the office or even for a typist. And the allowance for cable should not be limitted too much.
And I want to command most highly the work of Ministers Kim and Choi. They are doing such a fine piece of work that all I could do was merely to add the standing of the ROK national Red Cross. The two men are different but highly complimentary to each other and are working together in full harmony and cooperation. We can be very proud of their representations individually as well as a team. They are second to no others in the quality of their services. You and our country are to be congratulated to have such fine men serve the cause.
People like myself who come and go on temporary missions will be doing well, if we do not interfere too much. The credit for our success so far in delaying the decision of ICRC should be given to these two men and Mr. Bum-suk Lee.
3. Creation of an International Affairs Section in the working organization of our red cross. I have discovered that there is a distinct Red Cross World quite unique and apart from the rest. Only specialized workers, well versed both in theories and practices of the red cross international affairs can serve satisfactorily in relationships like our present one. We need good diplomats in the Red Cross World as well as in others.
This concludes for the time being what I have seen and felt and thought since coming here.
Please allow me to make another point here not directly but indirectly connected with our present issue. Since the Korea -Japan talks broke up last time, its seriousness has been coming home to my mind. I do not know the issues well and all the pros and cons are beyond me to enter into discussion. I know only three simple facts about it, and I state them here for your consideration. The first one is, that Korea and Japan being neighbors physically, geographically must restore and enjoy normal relations for the good of each other and for the strength of the free world.
The second fact is that you can bring about as no one else can. We have this confidence.
The third fact is that we, common people wish and pray that it be done. By you in your time while you are still holding the reins. We shudder even at the idea of this important work being done by somebody else at some unkwnon future date.
May be you have never given thought to this angle of the question. I want to plead to you in the name of the countless who suffered under Japanese, that it is so important that you straighten out this relationship for us in your time once and for all times.
I hope I have not wearied you with so many words. The spirit behind the words has been an eager and anxious one. Please forgive me for any wrong expressions, if there are such to displease you.
When I see you in person I want to thank you for the second scroll you have written for my whangap. Words are too inadequate to express my gratitude. I am studying caligraphy and hope to be able to write one for your next birthday.
Ever sincerely yours,
Helen Kim
색인어
- 이름
- Kim Yongshik, Choi Kyuha, Boissier, Bum-suk Lee, Bum-suk Lee
- 지명
- Chinhae, Paris, Paris, Paris, Europe, Geneva, Korea, Japan, Korea, Japan
- 관서
- International Affairs Section, red cross international affairs
- 단체
- International Committee of Red Cross, ICRC, ICRC, Red Cross, ICRC, the ICRC, the Red Cross, red cross, the ROK national Red Cross, ICRC, red cross, Red Cross World, the Red Cross World
