August 6, 1959

First of all, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your friendly concern and sympathy extended to us on the question of mass deportation of Korean residents in Japan.
I share your view that a complete break between Korea and Japan would have grave long-term consequences which would certainly benefit the Communists against which the sixteen Korean War Allies alongside of us fought to defend the noble spirit of the United Nations, This is why our Government on July 30 proposed Japan unconditional resumption of Korean-Japan talks. It is the constant desire of our Government to establish good neighborly relations with Japan.
As for the question of mass deportation of Korean residents, the view and position of our Government are fully explained in the attached paper, However, I feel it necessary to clarify a few aspects of the matter to which you made reference,
The Korean Government has always accepted voluntary repatriation from Japan, and a considerable number of Korean residents in Japan actually repatriated themselves in the past years. We are even prepared to encourage mass repatriation of them if we can remove with mutual arrangements with the Japanese Government, various difficulties in the way of the voluntary repatriation and their re-settlement at home.
The Korean Government is second to none in seeking for friendly and peaceful solution on any international matter including question arising between Korea and Japan. As our national history testifies to it, Korea has always bean a peace-loving nation and never resorted to armed forceswithout provocation on the part of its neighbors.
I assure you that the Korean Government will exhaust all available peaceful means in blocking the Japanese deportation scheme. It seems that the national sentiments which do not allow any single Korean national to be expelled to northern Korea caused considerable misunderstandings to some quarters that Korea may take military action without exhausting peaceful means. Korea will in no case have recourse to armed forces except for self-defense in full accordance with the United Nations Charter.
In this connection, you expressed your concern over the possibility of reprisal against the Japanese fishermen. However, the Korean Government has never connected the question of mass deportation with that of Japanese fishermen. Your apprehension was probably caused by groundless allegations on the part of the Japanese Government.
We are as before exercising our jurisdiction within the Peace Line in accordance with international law as well as domestic law, not as means of reprisal against the deportation scheme.
It is the earnest desire of the Korean Government to settle all pending problems including those of Korean residents in Japan and fishery and Peace Line once and for all in amicable manner at the forthcoming Korea-Japan talks.
It is hoped that Japan will also come to its sense in paving the way to successful conclusion of the talks.