COMPENSATION FOR MASSACRES BY JAPANESE ARMY IN SINGAPORE

[Mr SPEAKER in the Chair]

Mr Tee Kim Leng asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent discussions with the Japanese Prime Minister on the question of compensation for the massacres by the Japanese army in Singapore in the last war.

The Prime Minister (Mr Lee Kuan Yew): Sir, on the 25th of May, I paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister of Japan and in the course of our conversation, he referred to the unfortunate incidents which took place during the war in Singapore in which our civilians were massacred by the Japanese army. He expressed his sincere regret for what had happened. I told him that there were strong feelings on the subject and that it was a very emotional issue. I told him also that the Japanese Government and people will have to make atonement to the people of Singapore. My conversation was an informal one because foreign affairs as distinct from trade relations are the responsibility of the United Kingdom Government, and as I have stated in answer to another question by the Member for Pasir Panjang, the question of war reparation including compensation for atrocities and war damage was the responsibility of the United Kingdom Government which in 1951 signed a treaty of peace with Japan.

Mr Tee Kim Leng: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, morally, we should get some sort of compensation. From the reply given by the Prime Minister, we can see that the Japanese Government is very obstinate in this matter. So is the Government prepared to take further steps regarding this matter?

The Prime Minister: I am sorry that the Member for Pasir Panjang did not listen to my reply, or perhaps he did not listen very carefully to the translation of my reply.

To be fair to the Japanese, I did not find the Prime Minister's attitude to me "obstinate" - I do not know how the word was translated. I did not find him either obstinate or obdurate. He expressed his sincere regrets, and I indicated to him that beyond the expression of sincere regrets there should be an act of atonement to the people of Singapore. I know certain elements would like to see our trade relations with non-Communist and anti-Communist countries disrupted: I see no reason at the moment for embarking on any such action which the Member for Pasir Panjang has suggested.

Mr Ong Chang Sam: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Prime Minister said that he had an informal conversation with the Prime Minister of Japan. He also told this House that the question of compensation, according to the Constitution of Singapore, is in the hands of the United Kingdom Government. But from what I know, the Government has brought up this matter of compensation with the United Kingdom Government. So can the Prime Minister tell this House: What is the present position of negotiations between the United Kingdom Government and Japan? When can a report be made on this matter to this House?

The Prime Minister: Sir, if the Member for Choa Chu Kang will recollect, I indicated that we had written to the United Kingdom Commission who have communicated with their Government and they wanted evidence to show whether the bones found referred to massacres which were already known at the time of the war crimes and before the Treaty of San Francisco or whether they were new massacres in the sense that they were unknown at the time of the war crimes and the Treaty of San Francisco.

I have been in correspondence with the persons who are interested in these matters and who wish to exhume the bones and they have gone round to get the evidence of survivors. The evidence is being collated, although, as far as we can make out at the present moment, there is no clear evidence of any one of the massacres being unknown to the authorities either at the time of the Treaty of San Francisco or at the time of the war crimes. But the matter is still under investigation.

Mr David Marshall: Will the Prime Minister indicate what was the reaction of the Prime Minister of Japan to his suggestion of material atonement!

The Prime Minister: I think the Member for Anson, who spent some time, I believe living amongst the Japanese - albeit unwillingly - understands that the Japanese people are extremely polite on formal occasions. I can only say that I found him most receptive to everything that I said in the usual Japanese civilian way. [Interruption] I found in the typical Japanese, politeness of the host and not of the conqueror. I found him extremely courteous and listening attentively to my points, and he indicated that he would pass his views for close examination by his Foreign Minister and, in due course of time, I have no doubt there will be an official reaction.

Mr Teo Hock Guan: Can the Prime Minister inform the House what action the Government intends to take if the Japanese Government ignores the request of the people for compensation?

Mr Speaker: It is a hypothetical question.

Mr Tee Kim Leng: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, from a statement given by the Japanese, it was stated that this matter was settled by the Treaty of San Francisco. So from this, we can see that the request of Singapore has not been met and that no compensation has been made towards the victims' families. What steps are the Government going to take!

The Prime Minister: Sir, I would be delighted when the time comes to listen to any suggestion of martial activities as have been suggested by Members opposite. Yesterday I heard protestations of great love for peace and peace-loving methods and I am quite sure that when the time comes for them to play a different role, they will not be altogether barren of ideas of aggressive action. We are open to - as it is the duty of any democratic government - all suggestions from all quarters which we think would be to the benefit of the people of Singapore, and if the Member for Pasir Panjang lacks sufficient "martial" qualities, we are even prepared to attach him to the Second Infantry Battalion for training.

Mr Speaker: Question No. 2, Mr Tee Kim Leng.