Japanese Hid Americans at Embassy

The Japanese Embassy in Kuwait gave refuge to 16 American diplomats and their families shortly after Iraq’s invasion, then helped them escape from the emirate, Foreign Ministry officials said Thursday.

The Foreign Ministry had kept silent about the matter because it feared any publicity might lead to Iraqi reprisals against Japanese citizens held in Kuwait, the officials said.

The announcement was seen as a reflection of Japan’s eagerness to show that the nation has contributed more than money to the international efforts to force Iraq to relinquish Kuwait.

The officials said that Foreign Minister Taro Nakayama has received a letter from Secretary of State James A. Baker III, who expressed gratitude for Japan’s assistance in the matter.

One official said that shortly after Iraq’s Aug. 2 invasion, the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait asked the Japanese Embassy to shelter 16 American diplomats and their families, including some children.

“They were afraid that they might be detained if they were seen by Iraqi soldiers on the street,” the official said. “The American Embassy was a little far from their homes, so they hurried to our embassy.”

The Japanese Embassy was already sheltering about 100 people, including an American civilian, Britons and Canadians as well as Japanese, he said.

The Japanese Embassy hid the Americans from Aug. 4 to Aug. 13. They were then taken to the U.S. Embassy and later left Kuwait, the official said.

Other foreign nationals also were taken to their embassies safely and then escaped from Kuwait, he said.

Japan’s “peace constitution” barred Tokyo from contributing troops to the multinational effort against Iraq.

Under pressure from the United States, however, the country committed $4 billion to the costs of the Persian Gulf War early on.

The lower house of Parliament later approved an additional $9 billion.