Historical Dictionary of United States-Japan ... - Bakumatsu Films

130 • JAPAN–U.S. MARINE VESSEL LEASE AGREEMENT
more than a year. Finally, on 17 April 1996, President Bill Clinton and
Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto formally announced a Japan–U.S.
joint declaration on security—the Alliance for the 21st Century. The
Declaration confirmed that the relationship between Washington and
Tokyo based on the Japan–U.S. Security Treaty should be the essential
basis for maintaining economic prosperity and stability in the
Asia–Pacific region. The declaration also confirmed the necessity for
the presence of about 100,000 members of the American armed forces
in the region. While the Japan–U.S. Security Treaty had stipulated
Japan–U.S. cooperation to deal with emergencies in Japan and the Far
East, this Declaration contained qualitatively new contents: the purpose
of the Japan–U.S. Security Treaty included the maintenance of
peace and stability in the Asia–Pacific region. To this end, Washington
and Tokyo agreed to revise the Guidelines for U.S.–Japan Defense
Cooperation formulated in 1978. In September 1997, the Japan–U.S.
Security Consultative Committee (SCC) agreed on the Guidelines
for U.S.–Japan Defense Cooperation, stipulating cooperation between
Washington and Tokyo on three stages: peacetime, emergencies in
Japan, and emergencies in the Asia–Pacific region.
JAPAN–U.S. MARINE VESSEL LEASE AGREEMENT. The
Japan–U.S. Marine Vessel Lease Agreement was concluded in Tokyo
between Japan and the United States on 12 November 1952. Foreign
Minister Katsuo Okazaki represented Japan and Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary to Japan Robert Daniel Murphy represented
the United States. The U.S. government agreed to lease its marine
vessels to the Japanese government for five years. Upon the
Japanese government’s request, and provided that both Tokyo and
Washington consented, the lease duration could be extended up to
five years. The United States would hand over marine vessels to
Japan at an agreed time, at an agreed place. The Japanese government
would be responsible for fees, delivery, operation, and navigation.
The Japanese government was also responsible for returning the
leased marine vessels to the U.S. government in virtually the same
condition at a given time and at a given place selected by the U.S.
government. If damage to a vessel was adjudged to mean a total loss,
the Japanese government should consult with the U.S. government
concerning compensation.