George H.W. Bush: “My answer is, yes, not only do I think we will preserve but I think we will strengthen this relationship. I hope most…”

“My answer is, yes, not only do I think we will preserve but I think we will strengthen this relationship. I hope most Americans understand the constitutional constraints on Japan in terms of what--I think you called them human forces, or human--human personnel. But what I would like to emphasize to the American people and the people of Japan is, from day one--from day one, Toshiki Kaifu and the Japanese Government was in strong support of the U.N. resolutions. Japan stepped up early on to a fundamental and substantial monetary contribution. Through those months of diplomacy before force was used, Japan played a key role. And so if we have a difference now over some detail, I would simply say that this relationship is too fundamental, too important to have it on the shoals because of difficulty that I'm confident we can work out. And to the degree that there's bashing on one side of the Pacific or another, Toshiki Kaifu and I are committed to see that that bashing doesn't go forward because it's in our interest in the United States to have this relationship strong. And I happen to think it's in Japan's interest. I know the Prime Minister has to go, but can we take one more for each side? And we'll divide it up, one for him and one for me.”