[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16903-16904]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING IMPORTANCE IN HISTORY OF 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF ESTABLISHMENT 
        OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN UNITED STATES AND JAPAN

  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 418) recognizing the importance in 
history of the 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic 
relations between the United States and Japan.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 418

       Whereas over the past 150 years, the United States and 
     Japan have developed a strong, multifaceted relationship 
     based on shared democratic values and mutual interest in 
     Asian and global stability and development;
       Whereas the bilateral relationship between the United 
     States and Japan was opened by a visit by Commodore Matthew 
     Perry to Japan in 1853, the goal of which was to convince 
     Japan to establish commercial and diplomatic relations;
       Whereas the first bilateral treaty between the 2 nations, 
     the Treaty of Peace and Amity between Japan and the United 
     States, was signed by Commodore Perry and Japanese 
     representatives on March 31, 1854, in Yokohama, Japan;
       Whereas the Treaty of Peace and Amity signaled the end of 
     Japan's long isolation as a feudal society and set the stage 
     for the Meiji Restoration and for Japan's transformation into 
     a modern industrial nation;
       Whereas with the direct assistance of President Theodore 
     Roosevelt, the Portsmouth Peace Treaty was signed in 1905, 
     ending the Russo-Japanese War and earning President Roosevelt 
     the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize;
       Whereas as a symbol of friendship, Japan presented the 
     United States with 3,020 cherry trees in 1912, which continue 
     to blossom each year on the National Mall in Washington, 
     District of Columbia;
       Whereas the people of the United States and Japan worked 
     together after World War II to reconstruct Japan and to 
     ensure the post war emergence of Japan as a beacon of 
     democracy and economic liberalization in the Asia-Pacific 
     region;
       Whereas the allied security relationship between the United 
     States and Japan was launched with the signing of the 
     Security Treaty of 1951 and further solidified with the 
     signing of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security in 
     1960;
       Whereas the United States and Japan, despite ongoing 
     bilateral trade disputes, have long sought to promote 
     economic cooperation and an open global trading system, and 
     both nations serve as important and powerful markets for each 
     other with over $170,000,000,000 in bilateral trade in 2003;
       Whereas the Government of Japan strongly condemned the 
     terrorist attacks against the United States that occurred on 
     September 11, 2001, provided logistical support to United 
     States military operations against Al Qaeda and the Taliban 
     in Afghanistan, and has been a leading donor for the relief 
     and reconstruction of Afghanistan;
       Whereas the Government of Japan enacted special legislation 
     to allow the deployment to Iraq of Japanese Self Defense 
     Force personnel to carry out humanitarian aid and 
     reconstruction activities, and committed to providing 
     $5,000,000,000 in assistance to Iraq;
       Whereas increased tourism and educational and business 
     exchanges between the people of Japan and the United States 
     have dramatically increased mutual appreciation of Japanese 
     and American culture;
       Whereas Japanese-American relations are further cemented by 
     the enormous contributions to American economic, political, 
     and cultural life by nearly 1,000,000 Japanese-Americans;
       Whereas Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi stated at 
     the ceremony commemorating the 150th anniversary of the 
     Japan-United States relationship that the bilateral 
     friendship ``is as solid as it is because our countries share 
     fundamental values like freedom, democracy, and free market 
     economy . . . [w]e are a prime example to the world that 
     people of different races and beliefs can share the same 
     values and be true friends''; and
       Whereas generations of American and Japanese leaders have 
     steered the bilateral relationship between the two nations 
     from the humble beginnings of the visit to Japan by Commodore 
     Matthew Perry to the current status of Japan as the strongest 
     ally of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region: Now, 
     therefore be it--
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) recognizes the importance in history of the 150th 
     anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States 
     and Japan; and
       (2) calls for expanded political, economic, strategic, and 
     cultural ties between the Japanese and American people and 
     their respective governments.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Iowa (Mr. Leach) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach).


                             General Leave

  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 418.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Iowa?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for this 
resolution which was originally introduced by our good friend, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), the distinguished ranking 
member of the committee.
  As my colleagues may know, this year marks the 150th anniversary of 
the beginning of relations between Japan and the United States. Even at 
that time, the middle of the 19th century, the United States saw itself 
as an emerging Pacific power and recognized the need for relations with 
Japan as a nation of profound significance in Asia and beyond.
  Despite a 250-year history of isolationist policy under the Tokokawa 
shogunate, Japan's leadership was also becoming aware of vast changes 
taking place across the world and that the need to adapt as a matter of 
national leadership as well as economic viability.
  The Treaty of Peace and Amity between our nations, signed 150 years 
ago, symbolizes the deep and abiding bond between our two peoples.

                              {time}  1945

  As Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage noted recently, ``the 
Treaty of Peace and Amity was a document viewed in its time with both 
hope as well as apprehension; and indeed, over the years, this coming 
together of our countries, the collision of our cultures, it has 
changed us both, greatly enriched the lives of our peoples, and at 
times brought us turbulence and even tragedy.''
  The bonds between our two countries have stood the test of time, even 
surviving the crucible of war. They are bonds which are brought to the 
attention of Washingtonians every spring when those enduring symbols of 
Japanese-American friendship, the cherry blossoms, a gift from the 
people of Japan in 1912, bloom along the Tidal Basin. They are bonds 
that have been strengthened by our joint resolve during the Cold War, 
in our determination to foster peace and reconciliation on a nuclear-
free Korean peninsula, and in the reconstruction of Iraq and 
Afghanistan.
  Today, Japan and the United States enjoy a unique partnership of 
peace

[[Page 16904]]

rooted not only in common interests but common democratic values. Our 
relations have never been stronger. These bilateral bonds are critical 
not only to the peace and security of northeast Asia but to the larger 
world community.
  As former Senate majority leader Mike Mansfield noted upon assuming 
the position of U.S. Ambassador to Tokyo, the U.S.-Japanese 
relationship is ``the most important bilateral relationship in the 
world, bar none.'' It is that relationship and the enduring bonds 
between our two great countries and our two peoples which we honor here 
today through this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I 
strongly support this resolution and urge all of my colleagues to do 
so.
  This year, the United States and Japan are celebrating the 150th 
anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our 
two great Nations. My resolution commemorates this important event in 
our bilateral relationship, and it recognizes the significant political 
security and economic ties between the people of the United States and 
Japan.
  Mr. Speaker, the first bilateral treaty between our two countries was 
signed by Commodore Matthew Perry and Japanese representatives in 1854 
in the city of Yokohama, Japan. This treaty signaled the end of Japan's 
long isolation as a feudal society and set the stage for Japan's 
transformation into a modern industrial nation.
  From the humble beginnings of the visit to Japan by Commodore Perry, 
the United States and Japan have developed a strong, multifaceted 
relationship based on shared democratic values and mutual interests in 
Asian and global stability and economic development.
  After generations of close security and political ties between 
Japanese and American leaders, Japan has emerged as our strongest ally 
in Asia. Japan has been a leading donor to the relief and 
reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan. The Japanese government enacted 
special legislation to allow the deployment to Iraq of Japanese self-
defense forces so they may carry out humanitarian and reconstruction 
activities.
  Increased tourism and educational and business exchanges between the 
people of Japan and the United States have increased mutual and 
reciprocal appreciation of Japanese and American culture.
  The bilateral relationship has been further cemented by the enormous 
contributions to American economic political and cultural life made by 
nearly 1 million Japanese-Americans, many of whom live in my home State 
of California.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States and Japan have developed a strong, 
mutually beneficial relationship over the past century and a half, 
which is now anchored on democracy, security, and respect for human 
rights.
  As my colleague mentioned, each spring thousands of cherry trees 
given to the United States by the people of Japan blossom here in 
Washington, D.C., to the delight of both residents and visitors to our 
capital. The connections between the United States and Japan will 
similarly continue to blossom and to grow, and we will certainly do so 
for many generations to come.
  I strongly support passage of this resolution and urge all of my 
colleagues to do so as well.
  Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, the signing 150 years ago of the U.S.-Japan 
Treaty of Peace and Amity, also known as the Treaty of Kanagawa, marked 
the beginning of a remarkable relationship between two great nations. 
It also represented a milestone in the history of each nation.
  For Japan, which was emerging from two-and-a-half centuries of self-
imposed isolation, the treaty marked the moment that it began its 
ascent to the ranks of the world's great powers. For the United States, 
which began as a small colony on the North Atlantic seaboard with deep 
roots in Europe, the treaty represented its emergence as a Pacific 
nation.
  The Treaty of Kanagawa was signed in large part because the 
leadership of the United States recognized the importance of 
establishing a formal relationship with Japan, a nation that, in spite 
of its long period of isolation, was widely known to have a stable 
government as well as cultural and literary traditions that were highly 
evolved and refined.
  While we all acknowledge that the U.S.-Japan relationship has had 
periods of difficulty, particularly the tragedy of the Second World 
War, it has, on the whole, been close, sturdy, vital, and mutually 
beneficial. The relationship continues to flourish today because both 
nations share a belief in democratic institutions, the rule of law, and 
economic prosperity. Both nations also believe strongly in building a 
foundation for both regional and global cooperation throughout Asia and 
the world.
  We in Hawai`i have long had an especial relationship with Japan. 
Today, nearly 300,000 residents of our state (19 percent of our 
population) are descended from Japanese immigrants who first begin 
arriving in Hawai`i--then the Kingdom of Hawai`i--in 1868 to work as 
field laborers on our sugar plantations. Hawai`i's Japanese community 
has since played a central role in establishing modern Hawai`i's 
tradition of ethnic and social diversity.
  Over the course of this commemorative year, I am hopeful that all 
Americans and Japanese will reacquaint themselves with the depth and 
value of the relationship that was established between our two great 
nations 150 years ago.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hensarling). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 
418.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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