*EPF204 07/03/01
Text: Sen. Hatch Says POWs Should Be Able to Sue Japanese Firms
(Hatch says he supports WWII veterans' "fight for justice") (860)

While America appreciates the "decades of friendship the United States and Japan have shared," there remains "the memory of injustices perpetrated by private companies in Japan against American servicemen" during World War II, according to Senator Orrin Hatch (Republican of Utah).

In a June 29 speech to the Senate, Hatch said that it is with appreciation of the strong bilateral relationship between the United States and Japan that he seeks to "raise the memory of injustices perpetrated by private companies in Japan against American servicemen" and to "find a resolution to this problem."

"There is no more appropriate time to open the door to this long overdue dialogue between the United States and Japan," he said. "This is a moral issue that will not go away."

"We can work with Japan to close this sad chapter in history. In so doing, we will fortify and continue our bilateral relationship with Japan," he continued.

On the same day that Hatch spoke, Senators John Warner (Republican of Virginia) and Robert Smith (Republican of New Hampshire), both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced S. 1154, a bill that would preserve the right of former U.S. prisoners-of-war (POWs) to use the U.S. courts to seek redress from Japanese companies that used them as forced labor during World War II.

Representatives Michael Honda (Democrat of California), a Japanese-American who was interned during the war, and Dana Rohrabacher (Republican of California) introduced similar legislation, H.R. 1198, into the House of Representatives March 22.

Following is the text of Senator Hatch's June 29 speech from the Congressional Record:

(begin text)

JUSTICE FOR U.S. PRISONERS OF WAR

Senate
June 29, 2001

Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, as we move into recess for our annual Independence Day celebration, I wish to offer my deepest gratitude for all veterans of this country who took the call for arms in silent and noble duty and sacrificed more than we can ever repay. From the Revolutionary War to the Persian Gulf War, American men and women have always answered the call to secure and preserve independence and freedom both here and abroad. We are forever in their debt.

I also want to take this occasion to recognize and honor a special group of brave, indeed extraordinary, soldiers who served this country so gallantly in WWII. I want to pay special tribute to those who served in the Pacific, were taken prisoner, and then enslaved, and forced into labor without pay, under horrific conditions by Japanese companies.

While I in no way wish to suggest that other American troops did not suffer equally horrific hardships or served with any less courage, the situation faced by this particular group of veterans was unique. As recognized in a unanimous joint resolution last year, all members of Congress stated their strong support for these brave Americans. As with many of our colleagues here today, I am committed to supporting these veterans in every way possible in their fight for justice.

This weekend the Prime Minister of Japan will be meeting with the President of the United States. I cannot praise this President enough for his thoughtfulness in hosting this event for the leader of Japan.

On this Independence Day, as we honor and appreciate America's freedom, we cannot help but think of those who served our country. Freedom, indeed, is not free. The price is immeasurable. I hope the Prime Minister will understand, as I know he does, the value we place upon our veterans--the very people who fought and paid the price.

Our country appreciates the decades of friendship the United States and Japan have shared. Often, we probably do not recognize as we should the value of our bilateral relationship with Japan. On many occasions, we get bogged down in trade disputes. But ultimately we have found ways to resolve past trade differences, and I am confident we can address all current and future trade issues.

It is with this sincere hope and appreciation that I raise the memory of injustices perpetrated by private companies in Japan against American servicemen, and I hope that we can find a resolution to this problem. There is no more appropriate time to open the door to this long overdue dialogue between the United States and Japan. This is a moral issue that will not go away. We can work with Japan to close this sad chapter in history. In so doing, we will fortify and continue our bilateral relationship with Japan.

In closing, I urge all Americans, during this next week as we celebrate our freedom and our great history, to thank our soldiers who gave their lives and their freedom to fight for our nation. I thank them and express my support that they will be helped and protected. I will fight for them as they fought for me, my children, and all other Americans.

(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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