Foreign Ministry kept secret English-version Japan-U.S. security pact+

TOKYO, July 11 Kyodo -
The Japanese Foreign Ministry had kept the English-version document of a secret
Japan-U.S. pact that outlines the handling of the U.S. forces' nuclear weapons
since 1960, a former senior ministry official said Saturday.
The document had been placed under the strict supervision of the ministry's
North American Affairs Bureau and Treaties Bureau, which is now International
Legal Affairs Bureau, said the official who served as director general of the
Treaties Bureau.
It is the first time that the existence of the English-version document at the
ministry has been revealed.
A former vice foreign minister has already confirmed the existence of a
Japanese-version of the document at the ministry.
Under the pact, Japan agreed, when it revised the security treaty with the
United States in 1960, to allow U.S. military ships to carry nuclear weapons on
such occasions as when they make port calls at Japanese ports.
The government has denied the existence of such an agreement.
The Japanese government upholds the ''three nonnuclear principles'' of not
possessing, producing or allowing nuclear weapons on its territory.
==Kyodo
2009-07-11 19:35:04