Diplomatic Section
The Diplomatic Section of General Headquarters, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, presents its compliments to the Korean Diplomatic Mission in Japan and has the honor to refer to the latter’s note of October 4, 1951 and previous correspondence concerning discussions to be held by representatives of the Republic of Korea and of Japan under the good offices of this Headquarters. The Japanese Government has advised this Headquarters of its willingness to engage in such discussions.
In its proposal to the Japanese Government,, this Headquarters suggested that the scope of the discussions, which were originally limited to the nationality and status of Koreans resident in Japan, be expanded to include “the development of agenda and the investigation of ways and means for bilateral negotiation of all outstanding problems between Japan and Korea.” The Japanese Government has agreed to this expanded scope and has stated that the development of an agenda will no doubt “pave the way to early opening of necessary negotiations between Korea and Japan.”
With regard to the scope of the discussions and particularly to the request contained in the third paragraph of the Mission’s note under reference, it should be clearly understood that the good offices of this Headquarters will be limited to the two specific issues of (1) the legal status of Koreans resident in Japan, and (2) the development of an agenda as well as ways and means for the subsequent bilateral negotiation of outstanding problems between Korea and Japan. These present limitations are consistent with the Mission’s statement in its note under reference that, “this Mission has no objection to the SCAP’s proposal to take up as the first item of the agenda of the conference the problem of legal status of Korean residents in Japan which will be succeeded by the discussion on the overall agenda and ways and means for bilateral negotiation”.
As was stated in this Headquarters’ note of August 16, 1951, the participation of this Headquarters in these discussions will be limited to the designation of officers who will be present in the capacity of observers. They will thus not be expected to take an active part in the proceedings or to express positions on behalf of this Headquarters. The functions of these observers will terminate with the □ of an agenda and the □ of ways and means for bilateral negotiations of problems between Korea and Japan. It is assumed that these subsequent bilateral negotiations will be arranged directly between the Governments of Korea and Japan at the mutual convenience of both parties.
As proposed by the Mission, it has been arranged that the first meeting of the representatives of the Republic of Korea and of the Japanese Government take place in the offices of the Diplomatic Section on Saturday, October 20, at 10:00 A.M. It would be appreciated if the Mission would indicate at its early convenience the names of the Korean representatives who have been designated to take part in the forthcoming discussions.
Tokyo, October 13, 1951
To the
Korean Diplomatic Mission,
Tokyo