GENERAL HEADQUARTERS SUPREME COMMAND FOR THE ALLIED POWERS APO 500 Diplomatic Section
The Deplomatic Section of General Headquarters, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, presents its compliments to the Korean Diplomatic Mission is Japan and has the honor to refer to the latter's note of August 10, 1951 and to previous correspondence between the Mission and this Headquarters concerning the return to Korea of certain vessels now in Japanese curtody.
In review of the terms of the Korean Vesting Decree issued by the United States Military Government in Korea, this Headquarters has determined that those vessels which were of Korean registry on August 9, 1945 rightfully fell within the scope of the Korean Vesting Decree and were thereby included in those assets transferred by the United States Army Militart Government in Korea to the Republic of Korea by times of the Agreement between the United States and the Republic of Korea on Initial Financial and Property Settlement, of September 11, 1948.
Consequently, the Japanese Government has been instructed as of this date of deliver, in an "as is where is" condition, these vessels and the ownership thereof to the Mission for the Republic of Korea.
This action is not intended to prejudice or exclude any other claims which the 'Republic of Korea may desire to make against Japan in respect of vessels alleged to have been in Korean waters on or about August 9, 1945. However, it should be understood that any such claims will have to be made directly against the Japanese Government at an appropriate date.
It is suggested that the Mission undertake to make arrangements directly with the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to effect transfer of title to vessels mentioned above. Such arrangements should be commenced within sixty days from this date.
Tokyo, September 10, 1951 to the Korean Diplomatic Mission, Tokyo