June 11, 1958

GIST OF TALKS SECOND SESSION SUB-COMMITTEE ON VESSE, COMMITTEE ON KOREAN CLAIMS
1. Time and Place:
June 11, 1958 (Wednesday) 03:00 p.m.-04:45 p.m. at Room 411, istry of Foreign Affair, Japanese Government.
2. Conferees:
Korean side:
Mr. LEE, Ho
Mr. CHOI, Kyu Hah
Mr. SHIN, Pil Shik
Mr. OHM, Young Dal
Mr. LIN, De Kyong
Mr. ROH, Jae Won
Japanese side:
Mr. Kazuo AWASAWA
Mr. Tokichi TAKANO
Mr. Masanobu YABE
Mr. Toshiro YOSHIDA
Mr. Go HANDA
Mr. Taizo ICHINOSE
Mr. Kiyoshi SUGANUMA
Mr. Mizuo KURODA
Mr. Minao TSUCHIYA
Mr. Chihiro KATSUTA
3. Gist of Talks
Mr. Awasawa:
I would like to open the second meeting of the Sub-Committee on Vessels of the Committee on Korean Claims. First of all, I would like to express the opinion of Japanese side in connection with the adoption of agenda items. Though the Japanese side has no objection to discussing the following two items as proposed by the Korean side: 1) Return of vessels of Korean registry: 2) Return to Korea of vessels located in Korean waters on or since August 9. 1945, the Japanese side entertains opinion that the agenda of this Sub-committee should cover four items which were decided upon at the previous conferences, taking into a good consideration the Agreed Minutes of December 31, 1957, which sets forth that the agenda of the overall talks would be the same five items that were discussed at the first, second, and third Korea-Japan Conferences. consequently, the problems concerning "five vessels" loaned to Korea and other "fishing vessels" be respectively adopted as agreed items for this Sub-committee.
Mr. Lee:
Korean side, for its part, underatands that the Agreed Minutes simply outlines general agreements reached between our two countries and does not define the agenda items of the Sub-committee. What is more, the discussions regarding "items (c) and (d)" were well exhausted at the previous talks. Therefore, other problems than those which the Korean side overtured to place on the agenda at the first meeting need not be discussed any more. I wonder whether any notable outcome would be expected from the problems raised by the Japanese side.
Mr. Awasawa:
The Japanese side can hardly agree with you in this regard.
Mr. Lee:
The reasons stem from the fact that the vessels under "item (c)", be absorbed in "item(a)" and the eight fishing vessels under "item (d)" are those which were captured by the united Nations Forces.
Now, I presume that the Japanese proposed item (c) in connection with the so-called "five vessels" and proposed item (d), with respect to the so-called "eight vessels" captured by the United Nations. Forces. Is it right?
Mr. Awasawa:
Well, in a sense, yes. However, at present, the Japanese side has not decided yet whether it may, or may not, touch on the problems other than that of "eight vessel". The Japanese side may introduce, if it deems necessary, other problem under item (d),
Mr. Lee:
As I have already pointed out, the korean side holds a view that both of the two sides should not overstep the scope which were set up by the Agreed Minutes, in view of the nature at this Sub-committee.
Mr. Awasawa:
In accordance with the Agreed Minutes, the Japanese side maintains its points of view that we can decide agenda items without clarifying the scope of their contents.
Mr. Lee:
That does not stand to reason. I am afraid your viewpoint is out of keeping with the Agreed Minutes. Moreover, we are here to discuss the adoption of agenda. So, to adopt agenda items without deciding on their scopes will, in all probability, give place to an unnecessary confusion at our later discussion.
Mr. Awasawa:
Then, do you mean to reject our proposed agenda items?
Mr. Lee:
I am now expressing my opinion that inasmuch as item (c) concerns with "five vessels" and item (d) with "eight vessels" it would hardly be constructive for us to repeat the same old story. If your side enterains some other ideas in connection with the scope of the "item (d)", I declare we are against any other issus than the eight vessels in question regarding the scope of the "item (d)".
Mr. Awasawa:
We here no definite intention now of pulling out other problems on the agenda "item (d)" but it might be possible to take up some other things than the "eight" fishing vessels.
Mr. Lee:
Your explanation on the proposed "item (d)" is very ambiguous. Would you kindly bring to light the content of the "item (d)" more in detail?
Mr. Awasawa:
We would like to see that the problem concerning the return of "149 vessels"-including "sight vessels"-which have been detained in Korea be placed on the agenda item.
Mr. Lee:
As far as I understand, the problem on the vessels of Korean registry and vessels located In Korean waters on or since August 9. 1945 can effectively be the subject of our discussions. If we take note of the nature of this Sub-committee, there is no room for taking up other problems than those two items referred to in the above. Moreover if the Japanese side gives thought to discussing the problem of 149 vessels under the proposed "item (d)", it diametrically runs counter to our way of thinking. To discuss the problem of "149" vessels is to add a new thing to our agreed understanding that the discussion would be confined to the matters which had been discussed at the previous Conferences.
Mr. Awasawa:
As to the problem of 149 vessels, the Japanese side would like to include it in the proposed "item (d)".
Mr. Lee:
Even if the Japanese side propose to limit the scope of discussions strictly to the content of the same agenda items agreed upon at the previous Conferences, the Korean side may find it difficult to agree to it at once. If the Japanese side has an itch for adding the new thing to the proposed "item (d)", this may become a cause of hampering the smooth proceeding of this Sub-committee. Your side is making this meeting more complicated by pulling out an entirely separate matter, instead of simplifying the issue.
Mr. Awasawa:
(silence)
Mr. Lee:
I would like to make sure once more of your stand in connection with the proposed item (d). Do you mean to continue the discussion of "1951" in accordances with the understandings of the Agreed Minutes or to include to the item such a new problem of 149 vessels which has never been dealt with in November, 1951?
Mr. Awasawa:
Generally speaking, I mean the Latter one.
Mr. Lee:
If it is the intention of the Japanese side, we cannot accept it, in view of the nature of this Sub-committee which is a part of the Committee on Korean Claims. Furthermore, your proposal clearly conflicts with the Agreed Minutes of December 31, 1957.
Mr. Awasawa:
(silence)
Mr. Lee:
As for as the problem of 149 vessels is concerned, we take the view that the problem could not be discussed at this Sub-comittee.
Mr. Awasawa:
Why?
Mr. Lee:
Now that the Agreed Minutes of December 31, 1957 sets forth that the same matters that had been discussed at the previous talks be taken up for their further discussion and settlement, the problem of 149 vessels which is a new proposal being distinct from the nature of the eight vessels cannot be referred to our present Sub-committee. As I repeatedly spelled out to you, even though you propose to confine your discussion to the former problems of "item (c)" and "item (d)", we may find it is not so easy to accept. Therefore, if the Japanese side, in ignorance of this fact, tries to add the problem of the so-called "149 vessels" to "item (d)", it would eventually diminish the possibility of reaching amicable settlement of the problems at issue which we are here for.
Mr. Awasawa:
By the way, suppose the Japanese would withdraw the problem of 149 vessels, would the Korean side agree to place "items (c) and (d)" on the agenda?
Mr. Lee:
If the Japanese side would show its clear-cut attitude toward this problem, we may be able to express our view in this regard. Otherwise, it ifs impossible for us to clarify our stand even though we want to. In this connection, I would like to add that the problem of the 149vessels is in a sense the problem of vessels: however, it must be reckoned with that the nature of the problem is different from that of the vessels that were discussed at the previous Korea-Japan Conferences. Accordingly, the problem on the so-called "149 vessels" has no relevancy at all to the matters to be taken up at this Sub-committee, or this Sub-committee has no competence to deal with the problem on such vessels.
Mr. Awasawa:
The Japanese side would like to propose to adopt same agenda items adopted at the previous Talks, leaving the bone of contention up in the air for the time being.
Mr. Lee:
We oppese to the very ambiguous attitude of yours. Korea, for its part, takes the view that the, agenda item as well as their scopes should be simultaneously decided upon at a time. Otherwise, no one knows what new prolem might be introduced all of a sudden by the Japanese side during our discussion on the problems concerned, as it was done by your side at today's meeting.
Mr. Awasawa:
We will study this problem later. And let me propose to terminate today's discussion of ours. we need a cooling-off period.
Mr. Lee:
In closing our discussion, I would like to repeat my proposal in this regard that the problems concerning the return of vessels of Korean registry and of vessels located in Korean waters on or since August 9, 1945 be respectively discussed and settled in their orders. And I hope that your side will drop the new proposition on the so-called 141 fishing vessels.
Mr. Awasawa:
We will study it, too.
Mr. Lee:
By the way, what date do you suggest for the next meeting?
Mr. Awasawa:
Wednesday, next week?
Mr. Lee:
How about holding our meeting on Saturday this week?
Mr. Awasawa:
As we want to have a word with the Maritime Agency, I propose, then, nest Tuesday (June 17).
Mr. Lee:
Inasmuch as you said that you wanted to have more time, I would raise no objection. And time and place?
Mr. Awasawa:
10:30 and at Room 411.
Mr. Lee:
No objection. Don't you think we need to make joint minutes of today's discussion?
Mr. Awasawa:
I see no necessity of making it.
Mr. Lee:
As regards press release, let me propose that our two sides name their respective representatives to see to the press release.
Mr. Awasawa:
No objection.
Mr. Lee:
Then, the Korean side will designate Mr. Chin.
Mr. Awasawa:
The Japanese side nases Mr. Suganuma.
- The end -