Tokyo, August 21, 1958

No.21
Dear Mr. President:
Following my return here on Monday, August 18, with our Fisheries representative Chang Kyung Keun and Counselor Choi Kyu Hah, I received a briefing on the latest development on the talks with Japan, particularly in regard to the current detainee issue, while I had been away. The issue, in relation to some Korean detainees who ars allegedly desirous of going to 'north' Korea.
I have been informed that we presented the Japanese with a very sincere and conciliatory proposition for the settlement of the current detainee issue which, however, has not yet been accepted by them. Although the Japanese orally promised not to send the paroled detainees to north Korea, they refused to yield to our request to give us written assurances to that effect. As a result, there had been no progress in the other Committee proceedings.
Under such circumstances at a staff melting held following my return here, it has been decided that the scheduled opening of THE FISHERIES COMMITTEE be postponed until the detainee issue is settled, in order to apply pressure upon the Japanese, and that I meet Japanese officials concerned to prees our point to them once again.
Thus, I visited Ambassador Sawada and Vice Foreign Minister Yamada at 3 p.m. Tuesday, and 5 p.m. Wednesday, respectively. Minister Yiu and Mr. Chang accompanied me on these visits. Contents of the talks at these meetings have already been reported in my cables, MT-013 and 014 of which copies are enclosed herewith.
I told the Japanese officials that it was regrettable that there had been no progress during my absence from Tokyo in the current talks and that the Japanese side failed to accept our reasonable and conciliatory proposition for the settlement of the current detainee issue. We also told them that a practise of the Japanese press to denounce Korea groundlessly on the detainee issue did not serve the smooth proceedings of the talks and, therefore, should be discontinued.
Ws also made it clear that the Korean side was of the opinion that until a settlement of the current detainee issue is reached, the opening of THE FISHERIES COMMITTEE should be postponed. We stated that if the Japanese side wanted the smooth operation of the overall talks in future, the highest officials, such as Premier Kishi and Foreign Minister Fujiyama, should direct the lower-level officials to agree to our terms on the detainee issue. Ambassador Sawada replied in this regard that the matter would be taken up with Prime Minister Kishi and he would inform us of its result.
At our meeting with Vice Minister Yamada, as reported in my cable, he stated that it was extremely difficult to give us any written assurances that the released detainees would not be sent to north Korea, however, he said he would give the matter further study, to find a solution to the issue.
I also visited Ambassador MacArthur at 11:30 a.m. today to give him a full explanation on the current detainee issue. I have reported in this regard in detail under separate cover.
With sentiments of loyalty and esteem, I remain,

Most respectfully,

Encls.