January 17, 1958

Dear Mr. Ambassador:
I have been instructed by His Excellency the President to acknowledge receipt of your report No.39 dated January 9, 1958, in which you reported on the conclusion of the preliminary talks.
According to your report, the Japanese side was very reluctant to give us assurance that the U.S. Memorandum will not be released. I know that to the last moment you conducted difficult negotiations with the Japanese side on this question. However, I regret to say that the understanding you reached with the Japanese side in this connection is not satisfactory to the Government, because by cable instruction ST-9012104 dated December 31, 1957, you were instructed to "Make it clear with the Japanese side that it will be kept in lasting secret." If the Memorandum is not to be released "for the time being, there is no reason why it should not be released at this time. Our position that the document be kept in 'lasting secret' is unchanged. You are advised that the American Embassy in Seoul virtually concurred with us on not releasing the U.S. Memorandum. Therefore, if and when the Japanese Government consult us for release of the document, please do not agree to release it.
I take this opportunity to acknowledge receipt of eight (8) original documents signed, one understanding and a copy of the draft letter of the Japanese Prime Minister.

Sincerely yours,
Chung W. Cho Minister

Ambassador Yu Taik Kim Korean Mission in Japan Tokyo