950813

Japan says

"apology" used

in letter

to Major

TOKYO: A row over Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama's feelings about Japan's World War Two actions came full circle on Sunday when officials revealed he used the word "apology" in a letter to British Prime Minister John Major.

After a weekend of high emotion on the issue, the Japanese foreign ministry broke with tradition because of the furore and said publicly for the first time that the private letter to Major did include the word "apology".

"We normally do not disclose what is in a private letter," a foreign ministry official said.

The dispute, only two days before the 50th anniversary of Japan's World War Two surrender, flared when the Japanese leader said on Saturday the letter he sent to Major was not meant as an apology as described by British government officials.

The comment set off anger and confusion among British war veterans who had already been dismissive of reports that the letter expressed only "remorse and regret" for the treatment of prisoners of war.-Reuter