RETURN OF KOREANS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28822, 17 February 1959, Page 16

RETURN OF KOREANS

Negotiations By Bed Cross (NJi. Press Asnxxatton—Copvrtphti TOKYO, February 14. Hie Japanese Red Cross has already cabled Red Cross headquarters in Geneva as a preliminary to arranging the "voluntary return” of Koreans from Japan to Communist North Korea. Tokyo headquarters of the organisation also said today that Mr Masutaro Inoue, director of the society’s foreign affairs section here, will visit Geneva, leaving Tokyo in about a week. The Korean reaction to the Japanese Government’s decision to let Koreans. leave for Com-munist-controlled territory has been a threat to intercept any ships carrying them. Trade ties are being severed and Korea has broken off negotiations with Japan about renewing normal relations. The chief of the Korean mission in Tokyo (Mr Yiu Tai Ha) has been recalled. The mission said today he would leave for Seoul on Monday and not today as originally intended. A high Korean officer closely associated with President Syngman Rhee said this morning that Dr. Rhee had reached a “grave decision” about the action the republic of Korea would take if Japan proceeded with the propoked movement of Koreans.

The associate said President Rhee was deeply disappointed that the Prime Minister of Japan (Mr Nobusuke Kishi) had failed to present the Japanese Cabinet's approval of the Foreign Ministry’s policy.