Tokyo, November 5, 1958

GIST OF TALKS SIXTH SESSION SUB-COMMITTEE ON OTHER CLAIMS REGARDING THE MATTER ON KOREAN ART OBJECTS

1. Time and place:
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., November 1,
1958, Room 411, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japanese Goverment
2. Conferees.:
Korean side:
Mr. CHOI, Kyu Hah
Mr. CHEE, Choul. Keun
Mr. MOON, Chul Soon
Mr. ROH, Jae Won
Mr. LEE, Won Ho
Japanese side:
Mr. ITAGAKI, Osamu
Mr. TAKANO, Tokichi
Mr. HANDA, Go
Mr. SUGANUMA, Kiyoshi
3. Gist of Talks:
Mr. ITAGAKI:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has studied the first gist of Korean art objects which the Korean side presented to the sub-committee at the Previous session. The gist has been also transmitted to the Ministry of Education for their study thereon. Since thin matter is related to the basic policy of the Government, we or not in a position to deliver to you any answer today, pending the receipt of instructions from the high level of the Goverment thereon. The basic policy has not been decided upon yet.
Mr. CHOI:
Our side has requested your side to submit a list of Korean art objects which your side is ready to return to Korea, but, since you said that the submittance of such list was to be delayed, our side presented to your side the first gist of Korean art objects to be returned to Korea at the previous session.
You say that the basic policy is not decided yet. Do you refer to the "basic policy," then, on our request for the submittance of the complete list of Korean art objects, which Japan is ready to return to Korea, or on our first gist of Korean art objects presented at the previous session?
Mr. ITAGAKI:
Since the basic pclicy is meant in connection with the Korean art objects, it covers both of them. Therefore, I meant we can not enter into discussions thereon today.
Mr. CHOI:
I would like to make a supplementary explanation, on the first gist of Korean art objects which was presented at the previous meeting:
First, regarding "the Registered Art Objects, No.1 of the gist", they are contained in the 'List of the Registered Art Objects' published by the Japanese Ministry of Education, under the category of "Important Art Objects" It, therefore, can be asserted that the art objects under reference are located in Japan. They had been called "the national treasures," but we know that they are now called "the important cultural properties." They are, therefore, within the category of "the Registered Art Objects."
Second, I want to know when your side will return the 489 items covered in the list which the Japanese side had already submitted to our side.
We request that the Japanese side would return the items included in the gist, since they are no doubt the art items to be returned to Korea at any moment without any further discussion.
We are prepared to answer question you may raise in connection with Nos. 3, 4 and 5 of the gist of the Korean side, but we wish that the prompt return of the art objects be realized in view of the fact that such would help the smooth process of the works of other committees as well.
Mr. ITAGAKI:
It is Impossible for the Japanese side to settle a part of them separately putting aside the others for later discussion, because the matter of the Korean art objects should be considered as a whole in its decision. we turned over to Korea 106 items of Korean art objects and it was a matter of impossibility in the light of the standing laws concerned. Therefore, the measure brought about a lot of difficulties in the Diet. It is administratively impossible to return 489 items unless there is an amendment of laws concerned.
Mr. CHOI:
Your words that even the return of a part of them is impossible now, are very hard to be understood. If there is any difficulty in connection with the domestic procedures concerned, it should be your responsibility to take appropriate steps according to the need so that they would not hinder the sussess of Korea-Japan Talks. It is further hard for the Korean side to understand that the Japanese side delays the constructive settlement of the matter only because of the internal difficulties. I hope the Japanese side would take more constructive steps for the settlement of the pending matter.
Mr. ITAGAKI:
The difficulty with us is that, if this matter is to be settled without connection with works of other committees it would become an internal complicacy. but it would be less difficult, if it is to be settled together with the other matters of the Talks. This, I hope, you will understand.
Mr. CHOI:
It has been the Korean stand that all pending questions be settled as early as possible. However, as regards the art objects, their return to Korea has been a national demand of the whole people of Korea, and this was well verified by the fact that the question had been specially discussed from the time of preliminary talks. I have to say that almost all the Korean art objects now in Japan are those which were removed from Korea to Japan unlawfully and lawlessly. It is more than natural that Japan should return them to Korea.
The Japanese side says that this matter should be settled in consideration of the progress of the works of the other committees, but such would only drive both sides to a difficult situation in carrying out effective negotiations in the Talks. From this view point, we strongly hope the Japanese side would cooperate with us for the prompt settlement of the art objects affairs which would be an important. key to the success of the present Talks.
I remember Mr. ITAGAKI said at the previous sessions that the Japanese sids would be able to produce an answer "in not so distant future", and that it was sincerely considering the settlement of the pending problem. I hope you can give an answer today.
Mr. ITAGAKI:
You may rest assured that the Japanese side has sincerity for the settlement of the art objects problem. But, I hope you would understand that this should be solved in relation to the other problems as a whole.
Mr. CHOI:
How about discussing in details at least on those art objects, of which the Japanese side grasped the clear picturs?
Mr. ITAGAKI:
It is very difficul for us to do so, since the basic policy on the Korean art objects has not been decided yet. The Japanese side can hardly make any discussion on your gist without Government authorization. Anyway, there might be some questions to be presented at this Sub-committee in the course of its future meetings, since the Ministry of Education is conducting an unofficial study thereon.
Mr. CHOI:
Do you hare any idea on what would be stimulus for the settlement of the pending question on the return of Korean art objects?
Mr. ITAGAKI:
In fact, for the Japanese side, we are conduting study and collecting data in our own way for the settlement of the problem regarding the Korean art objects.
As to the time of the next meeting, how do you like to meet on November 8, (Saturday) at 10:30 a.m. ?
Mr. CHOI:
The Korean side hopes that next meeting will be held earlier than that. But, since you insist on that day, I would not argue with you. in this regard.
(Remarks: Before the meeting was adjourned both sides agreed to the Joint Press Release which reads: The sub-committee continued substantial discussions on the problem concerning Korean art objects, and it was decided that the next meeting would be held at 10:30 a.m. on November 8, 1958, Saturday)

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