Report of Van Fleet Mission to Far East

The Report of Van Fleet Mission to the Far East is a secret report drafted by James Van Fleet, a US special mission ambassador, after a round of visits to South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines, and sent to the 34th U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower in 1954. The report was declassified in 1986.

Summary

The following points are based on the Rusk documents AbOUT the Syngman Rhee line, and the South Korean claims on the Liancourt Rocks, as a U.S. Government formal position on the San Francisco treaty.

• The unilateral declaration of territorial waters (Syngman Rhee line) is illegal.
• Liancourt Rocks are Japanese territory according to the San Francisco Treaty.
• The Liancourt Rocks territorial dispute should to be solved through the International Court of Justice.

Background

This timeline describes the the background of the drafting of this report.

• June 25, 1950: Korean war breaks out.
• July, 1951: Cease-fire talks start, and immediately prove very difficult.
• August 10, 1951: Dean Rusk sends an official message to the South Korea ambassador, which outlines the final U.S. Government position (see Rusk documents).
• January 18, 1952: The Syngman Rhee line is declared, marking the beginning of the Liancourt Rocks dispute.
• April 28, 1952: The treaty of peace with Japan (Treaty of San Francisco) is concluded, formalizing the independence of Korea.
• July 27, 1953: Agreement on a Korean war armistice. South Korea does not attend signing ceremony.
• August 15,1954: The secret Report of Van Fleet Mission to The Far East, by James A. Van Fleet, is Delivered to the US President.
• September 25,1954: The Japanese government lodges a complaint with the International Court of Justice against South Korea for illegally taking possession of the Liancourt Rocks and the surrounding waters. The South Korean government does not respond.

Syngman Rhee line

The unilateral territorial-waters declaration (Syngman Rhee line) is illegal.

The opinion as the so-called "peace line" of the South Korean government

a. Conservation of valuable marine resources in Korea's coastal waters

b. Elimination of future friction between Korea and Japan with respect to fisheries resources

c. Sea defence against Communist infiltration.

It has indicated you know if you see especially c. Although a time background and efforts are felt for the opinion of the South Korean government of those days. But one conclusion is:

"The United States Government has consistently taken the position that the unilateral proclamation of sovereignty over the seas is illegal and that the fisheries dispute between Japan and Korea should be settled on the basis of a fisheries conservation agreement that would protect the interests of both countries."

Liancourt Rocks territorial problem

Liancourt Rocks territorial problem is wanted to be solved through the International Court of Justice.

The report says:

"Our position has been that the dispute might properly be referred to the International Court of Justice and this suggestion has been informally conveyed to the Republic of Korea."

See also

• Rusk documents
• Syngman Rhee line
• Liancourt Rocks

External links

• "미국, 한국전직후 "독도는 일본땅" 일방결론", Segye Ilbo, 2006-03-27.
• Translation of the above Segye Ilbo article in English: "U.S. recognized Japanese claims on Dokdo!", The Marmot's Hole, March 27, 2006.

References

ja:ヴァン・フリート特命報告書