議員立法の不成立

Later, Mr. Mizukami told me more about the content of their discussion.  According to him, there was a strong opinion of not to even consider compensation for individual former internees in Soviet.  There was also an opinion that stated the fear of tremendous amount of financial burden if such compensation was approved. As a result, the bill did not include the measures of any personal compensation.  That was against the expectation of our organization, the Japan Association of Forced Internees.  

By the way, in regards to the repatriates from Manchuria, there were opinions such as compensation awarded in two separate payments for them should be enough.  Unfortunately, those repatriates did not have a strong lobby to pursue more.  As a result, most of the members of the conference came to the common understanding that they should negotiate with the Japan Association of Forced Internees, the organization for the formerly interned in Siberia, and another organization of those disqualified for the government pension.  Then they reached the conclusion that the consideration of compensation for the formerly interned in the Soviet Union needs to be focused due to the fact the nation was most compassionate about them, the number internees was as high as 600,000, 10 % of them died. Also the length of internment was  from three years to as long as ten years, while they were forced to work under severe freezing weather.  By far, they clearly went through the worst hardships.  Moreover, the fact it all happened after the war ended was an unacceptable condition the whole nation felt compassionate about.

Upon hearing such arguments, the leaders of the coalition of Diet members in regards to the two organizations, one for the formerly interned in Soviet, and the other for the ones who were disqualified for the pension, gathered and made the plan that the Japan Association of Forced Internees will make the first move and make a mark on the wall, and then the other organization will come forward.  Thus, the Diet members for the formerly interned in Soviet took the lead.  

As for the Japan Association of Forced Internees, we were starting to prepare for the establishment of a private member’s bill in accordance with members of Congress in cooperation with the conference of investigation of treatment of post war problems which started in 1981.  However, when we found out their report did not acknowledge personal compensations, we resolutely finished writing “the bill regarding the special payment to the internees etc. “ Then we received the agreements of three highest ranking leaders of Liberal Democratic Party, also received agreements from all other political parties including the Communist Party, and completed the process of establishment of the bill right before the end of the National Diet session in both parliaments within two days as the committee chairman’s special bill which did not require deliberation.  Nonetheless, it did not materialize because the Chief Cabinet Secretary, Masaharu Gotoda expreseed a strong opposition from the Government side.

Overview of the bill regarding the special payment to the internees etc

•  Special allowance is given to the military personnel and civilian in military employment

    who were forcefully interned in the Soviet Union and their families after August 15, 

   1945.

• There are four different amounts of allowance depending on the time of the return to Japan.  

  1. 500,000 yen for those who came back between Aug.15, 1945 to the end of 1946
  2. 650,000 for those who came back within 1947
  3. 800,000 for those who came back within 1948
  4. 1,000,000 for those who came back after 1949

          There is no tax on the above allowance.

•   Prime Minister will be in charge of the acknowledgement of the rights of the receivers of the special 

     allowance, based on the requests.  Ministers of Posts and Telecommunications are in charge of the 

     office work of the payment of the redemption of the government bonds.  

 •  Issuing of this law is scheduled to be executed on June 1st,1986.  

By the way, because the Diet session ended, I wrote the following document and requested the signatures by the three highest ranking leaders of Liberal Democratic Party, Chief Cabinet Secretary and Minister of Financing.  However, partly because of lack of time, I could not receive the signatures from the Chief Cabinet Secretary and Minister of Finance. This became the major source of difficulty later on. 

The above understanding regarding the special allowance for those who were interned etc. is going to be presented to the coming session of the National Diet for approval.  

May 15, 1986

Masaharu Gotoda            Chief Cabinet Secretary

Noboru Takeshita            Minister of Financing 

Shin Kanemaru               Chief Secretary of Liberal Democratic Party   signed

Kiichi Miyazawa              Chairman of Executive Council    signd

Masayuki Fujio               Chairman of Government Affairs    signed

Regardless of the above endeavors, the flow of time worked against time, and the private member’s bill that was not discussed in time was never passed in the original manner.  As a result, it became the common consent of the major political party of the government as of December 1986.

 

In regards to the issues regarding the formerly interned in the Soviet Union

For those who were interned in the Soviet after the war, the following measures are taken in order to pray for eternal peace as we recognize the services of enormous hardships such as forced labor in the region of extreme freezing climate.

1. We will practice the project of commemoration such as building the structures to console the spirits of the dead and memorial buildings 

(total of 30,000,000 yen) as well as granting rewards for their services.

(In average, 40,000 yen per person for ten years.  The family of the deceased will receive 70 % of the survivors.  

2. Foundation of Prayer for Peace (or Foundation of Commemoration of those who were interned in the Soviet Union) is to be established.  The law for that purpose will be enacted in the coming ordinary session of the Diet.

3. “Expense for preparation of the granting rewards for the interned in the Soviet Union” will 

      be appropriated in the amount of 200,000,000 yen in the budget of year 1987 

      for office work.  (jurisdiction is under Prime Minister’s Office)

December 20th, 1986

Masaharu Gotoda            Chief Cabinet Secretary

Kiichi Miyazawa              Minister of Financing 

Noboru Takesshita          Chief Secretary of Liberal Democratic Party   signed

Shintaro Abe                  Chairman of Executive Council    signd

Masayoshi Ito                Chairman of Government Affairs    signed

At the same time, the agreement with the next primary party of the government was made for the purpose of putting an end to the items regarding the dealings with Post war treatment. 

 

In regards to processing Post war situations

1. For those who experienced forced labor, a special project will be practiced based on the foundation: as a result of various discussions regarding this matter so far, for those who survived, letters and items as recognition of their hardships along with the money will be sent out individually as our expressions of recognition of their difficulties.  

2. Such money of recognition will be only sent to the survivors except for those who already receive public servant’s pension.  The method will be determined later giving consideration to the situation of financing.  

3. In order to launch on the above projects in 1988, a concrete plan will be investigated.  

December 29th, 1986  

Noboru Takeshita            Chief Cabinet Secretary

Shintaro Abe                  Chairman of Executive Council    

Masayoshi Ito                Chairman of Government Affairs    

Yosshihiko Tsuchiya       Head of members of the House of Councillors

Sosuke Uno                   Deputy of Chief secretary

Yoshirou Mori                 Deputy of Chairman of Executive Council

Koichi Kato                    Deputy of Chairman of Government Affairs

Matazo Kajiki                  Chief Secretary of the House of Councillors

Massaharu Gotoda          Chief Secretary of Liberal Democratic Party           

Riichiro Chikaoka       Vice-minister of General Affairs        

In regards to disqualification for pension, the government response indicated there was no room for consideration for personal compensations.  Various opinions were raised for that matter along with opinions that compensation allocated for the formerly interned in the Soviet Union was not satisfactory.  As a result, two associations of the formerly interned in Russia and the association of repatriates all got together and repeated their appeals.  As a result, the government settled on their promise to allocate 20,000,000,000 yen as foundation, and the interest can be used for their projects.  Thus they decided to deposit 50,000,000 yen every year.  (Understood item between the government and the major party on December 17, 1987.)  

However, it was pointed out 20,000,000,000 yen is not enough, and 20,000,000,000 yen more was asked.  Thus, the total of 40,000,000,000 yen was accumulated, taking eight years.  

First, we planned to use 20,000,000,000 yen because the interest rate was 5% back then. However, there was not enough from the accumulation of the interest of the fund at that point.  Therefore, the government became in charge of issuing subsidiary aid to keep the project going.  The completion of the accumulation of total interest of 40,000,000,000 yen was finally completed after the era of Heisei started in 1989. Actually, the interest rate of 5% that was supposed to be generating 2,000,000,000 yen a year did not really come true due to the fact the rate actually went down.  As a result, the government had to assist quite an amount of money directly from their own fund to continue to carry on the projects for those who were disqualified because of the government pension, those who were interned in Soviet, and those who repatriated.  

Understandings of the Government and the ruling party

1. Foundation of the approved corporate body will be established within 1988. 

The amount is 20,000,000,000 yen, and the goal is to be attained in five years.  In the first year, the goal is 1,000,000,000 yen.

2. The purpose of this foundation is to implement the projects for the acknowledgement of the hardships experienced and comfort those who experienced it and commemorate those who died.  

3. The projects will be carried out with the fruit of the foundation.  

4. If necessary, the government can give assistance.  

5.  The steering committee will be established including those who are   

      recommended from people who have been involved.  The committee will 

      discuss how to carry on the special projects including the acknowledgement 

      and commemoration.  

6.  In 1988, the budget of 500,000,000 yen will be appropriated for the purpose of 

     management and the work of investigation.  

December 27th, 1987

Shintaro Abe                  Chief Cabinet Secretary

Masayoshi Ito                Chairman of Executive Council    

Michio Watanabe            Chairman of Government Affairs    

Yoshihiko Tsuchiya         Head of members of the House of Councillors

Ryutaro Hashimoto         Deputy of Chief secretary

Keizo Kobuchi                 Chief Secretary of Liberal Democratic Party           

Kiichi Miyazawa              Minister of Financing