Geneva, July 16, 1959
Excellency,
In accordance with the Government instructions dated June 13, I left Tokyo on June 15 and arrived here in Geneva on June 17. Upon my arrival here, minister kim and myself made a carefull assessment of the situation surrounding the outcome of the Japanese-Puppets direct talks and mapped out our strategy to cope with the situation.
The first thing that I found as a result of my close contact with ICRC officials and diplomats stationed here was that Japs were working energetically to obtain the ICRC "approval " or "endorsement" of the so-called agreement reached with puppets on their deportation scheme of our people in Japan, if possible, on July 2 when the ICRC committee meeting was originally scheduled to be held. With a strong determination to defeat the above Japanese scheme by all means, I started visiting ICRC officials to let them understand our position more thoroughly. Besides, I met a number of influential officials of the League of Red Cross Societies for the purpose of asking them to use their influence upon the ICRC in favour of our position.
The Japanese and puppets completed the drafting of the so-called agreement and the Japanese presented to the ICRC French translation of the document on agreement for its immediate approval in the latter part of June. But the ICRC committee meeting scheduled to be held on July 2 was not held "for technical reasons". This postponmentpostponement of the committee meeting obliged the Japanese to express their anxiety and disappointment and made puppets begin to feel impatient. In the meantime, puppets strongly demanded that Japanese should immediately sign the so-called agreement,while Japanese who started doubting about the ICRC 's true intentin became evasive under various excuses.
Although the ICRC committee meeting was held on July 6 with the presence of President Boissier who had been out of Geneve on vacation for about a month, no decision was made on the Japanese request for the ICRC 'e approval of the so-called agreement ebforebefore the signing. But it seams that the committee meeting gave a tacit understanding that executive officers could start studying the document, leaving undecided the question on whether the unsigned document could be formally accepted by the ICRC for "study" or "examination".
This made both Japanese and Communists feel extremely unhappy, and Communists began to threat the Japanese, saying that they go home unless the Japanese side sign immediately. Finally, Communists except two left Geneve for Pyong yang on July 8, issuing a statement accusing Japanese of their "insincerity", while two Japanese also left for home: -----one on July 8 and the other on July 9, respectively. Thus, the "second stage which was rather rough for us to tide over came to an end without serioua detriment to our cause.
(The "first stage" was from the time Japanese approach to the ICRC for its intervention in the deportation scheme since the Japanese Cabinet decision thereon on Feb. 13 until the moment when the ICRC handed us a note on March 23. )
Thus our diplomatic game with the Japanese has entered the "third stage" since July 7. If we can map out an appropriate strategy in careful analysis of the present situation, I am sure that we shall be able to put the Japanese on the defensive. The fact is that ICRC executive officers are studying the document in question submitted by the Japanese side and are asking them to clarify various points regarding the so-called ICRC role. It is my feeling that we could take advantage of the present opportunity to defeat the Japanese scheme. My humble observation on the present situation together with summary of what happed after my arrival here is incorporated into the attached report for the Government's reference. I will continue to do my utmost to block the Japanese scheme.
With nigh esteem, I remain,
Respectfully Yours,
Enclosure: a/s