*EPF505 11/03/00
Text: Lawmaker Lauds WWII Japanese Diplomat for Saving Jews
(Chiune Sugihara issued Japanese visas to Jews in Lithuania) (910)
One of the leading human rights advocates of the United States Congress paid tribute November 1 to a wartime diplomat of Japan who worked to save the lives of Jews trapped in Nazi-occupied Lithuania.
Representative Tom Lantos (Democrat of California), a native of Hungary who opposed both the Nazis and the Communists in his homeland, praised Chiune Sugihara, Japan's consul in Lithuania at the beginning of World War II, for saving the lives of Jews seeking to flee Nazi persecution.
Despite the fact that Japan was Germany's ally, Sugihara, who had been appointed consul on September 1, 1939, the day Nazi Germany invaded Poland, issued visas to Jews in Lithuania so they could escape from Nazi-occupied territory.
"As the war progressed in its destruction and as the Nazi anti-Semites began their systematic extermination of Jews in Nazi-conquered territory, Sugihara was besieged by Jews seeking visas to flee the Nazi Holocaust," Lantos told his colleagues.
"After requesting authorization three times to issue Japanese visas to these victims of Nazi persecution and being rejected twice and ignored once, he disregarded his government's instructions and issued thousands of visas to Polish Jews," Lantos said.
Sugihara signed visas "day and night for thirty days," Lantos said. "Thanks to these documents, many of the refugees were able to escape," he added.
"Long after the faceless nameless bureaucrats who blindly and timidly followed instructions are forgotten by history," Lantos said, "the determination and compassion of Chiune Sugihara will continue to serve as an example of the finest of human action and bring honor to his memory."
Following is the text of Representative Lantos' speech from the November 1 Congressional Record:
(begin text)
TRIBUTE TO JAPANESE DIPLOMAT CHIUNE SUGIHARA,
HONORED AT LAST IN JAPAN FOR SAVING
LIVES OF JEWS DURING THE HOLOCAUST
HON. TOM LANTOS
(Extension of Remarks)
November 01, 2000
HON. TOM LANTOS
in the House of Representatives
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2000
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on September 1, 1939--the day the Second World War began with the Nazi invasion of Poland--the government of Japan named Chiune Sugihara its consul in Lithuania. As the war progressed in its destruction and as the Nazi anti-Semites began their systematic extermination of Jews in Nazi-conquered territory, Sugihara was besieged by Jews seeking visas to flee the Nazi Holocaust.
After requesting authorization three times to issue Japanese visas to these victims of Nazi persecution and being rejected twice and ignored once, he disregarded his government's instructions and issued thousands of visas to Polish Jews. Mr. Sugihara signed visas day and night for thirty days. Thanks to these documents, many of the refugees were able to escape to Kobe, Japan, and from there were able to find refuge in other countries.
Not long after issuing these visas in Lithuania, Mr. Sugihara was assigned to serve in Germany. When he returned to Japan at the end of World War II, the Japanese government forced him to resign from the diplomatic service. He was told that this was because of `that incident in Lithuania.' Mr. Sugihara died in 1986 at the age of 86 without ever being officially recognized for his outstanding humanitarian service by the government of Japan.
Outside Japan Chiune Sugihara has long been recognized as a hero. The government of Lithuania named a street in his honor. Israel has designated him a `Righteous Gentile.' The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum here in Washington has presented a special exhibit paying tribute to his efforts.
Mr. Speaker, earlier this month--at long last--the government of Japan acknowledged the true heroism of its own citizens. On the 100th anniversary of the birth of Chiune Sugihara and 14 years after his death. In a modest ceremony at the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo, Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono apologized to Yukiko Sugihara, the widow of Chiune Sugihara: `Here we praise Chiune Sugihara's courageous and humanitarian act conducted in an extreme situation amid the Nazi persecution of Jews.' He apologized to Mrs. Sugihara `for the long neglect' and promised that he would `see that his achievements are known to future generations.'
On this occasion, the Foreign Minister unveiled a plaque honoring Mr. Sugihara. The copper plaque was placed on the wall of the Foreign Ministry's Diplomatic Record Office in Tokyo, and it reads, in part: `A courageous diplomat of humanity. In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of his birth.'
Also this month in Los Angeles a documentary film, `Sugihara: Conspiracy of Kindness' which chronicles the heroism of Chiune Sugihara, was awarded the Pare Lorentz prize of the International Documentary Association. The IDA prize has been called `the Oscar of the documentary world.' The film also received the Best Documentary award at the Hollywood Film Festival this past August.
Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues in the Congress to join me in honoring Chiune Sugihara on the 100th anniversary of his birth. I welcome the action of the government of Japan in belatedly recognizing the courage and humanity of this outstanding diplomat. Long after the faceless nameless bureaucrats who blindly and timidly followed instructions are forgotten by history, the determination and compassion of Chiune Sugihara will continue to serve as an example of the finest of human action and bring honor to his memory.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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