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WORLD : Japan Party Chief Tells of Donations

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From Times wire services

In another revelation in Japan’s festering political scandal, former Foreign Minister Shintaro Abe admitted today that his wife had received monthly donations from the Recruit Co. for three years.

Abe’s remarks followed a newspaper report that Mrs. Abe had received about $70,000 between 1985 and 1988.

“Neither my wife nor I knew about this and I have left all my financial matters to my secretaries. After investigation, we found this was true and I regret my lack of knowledge,” Abe told a news conference.

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Abe indicated he was ready to speak on this and other contributions from the Recruit group at a special parliamentary hearing. He is secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and has been considered a possible successor if Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita is forced to resign in the growing Recruit scandal.

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