Mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki send letter to President Obama urging “no first use” of nuclear weapons
Jul. 30, 2016
by Kyosuke Mizukawa and Kyoji Matsumoto, Staff Writers
On July 29, the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki submitted a joint letter to the United States Embassy in Tokyo to express their support for possible changes in U.S. nuclear policy now being considered by U.S. President Barack Obama. The letter also calls on the U.S. government to make steady efforts to advance nuclear disarmament.
The changes under review are said to include declaring a policy of “no first use,” meaning the United States would not resort to nuclear arms unless that nation first suffered a nuclear attack, and making reductions in the budget for upgrading its nuclear arsenal. The letter addressed to President Obama was signed by both Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui and Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue. In the letter, they acknowledge Mr. Obama for recognizing the strong sentiments of the A-bomb survivors for nuclear abolition during his visit to Hiroshima in May, and expressed hope that the United States will adopt the “no first use” policy, saying this would be an important step toward a world free of nuclear weapons.
Officials from both cities, tasked with overseeing the letter, visited the embassy and personally handed it to Aaron Snipe, an embassy official. According to the official from Hiroshima, Mr. Snipe said that the message would be shown to Caroline Kennedy, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, and delivered to the White House.
On the same day, Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki also sent a letter to the White House, expressing his support for these changes in U.S. nuclear policy. In addition, Mr. Yuzaki sent a letter to ten U.S. Democratic senators who have expressed their support for revising the nation’s nuclear policy. In this letter, the governor asked for their help in persuading U.S. government officials to effect the changes in policy.
(Originally published on July 30, 2016)
On July 29, the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki submitted a joint letter to the United States Embassy in Tokyo to express their support for possible changes in U.S. nuclear policy now being considered by U.S. President Barack Obama. The letter also calls on the U.S. government to make steady efforts to advance nuclear disarmament.
The changes under review are said to include declaring a policy of “no first use,” meaning the United States would not resort to nuclear arms unless that nation first suffered a nuclear attack, and making reductions in the budget for upgrading its nuclear arsenal. The letter addressed to President Obama was signed by both Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui and Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue. In the letter, they acknowledge Mr. Obama for recognizing the strong sentiments of the A-bomb survivors for nuclear abolition during his visit to Hiroshima in May, and expressed hope that the United States will adopt the “no first use” policy, saying this would be an important step toward a world free of nuclear weapons.
Officials from both cities, tasked with overseeing the letter, visited the embassy and personally handed it to Aaron Snipe, an embassy official. According to the official from Hiroshima, Mr. Snipe said that the message would be shown to Caroline Kennedy, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, and delivered to the White House.
On the same day, Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki also sent a letter to the White House, expressing his support for these changes in U.S. nuclear policy. In addition, Mr. Yuzaki sent a letter to ten U.S. Democratic senators who have expressed their support for revising the nation’s nuclear policy. In this letter, the governor asked for their help in persuading U.S. government officials to effect the changes in policy.
(Originally published on July 30, 2016)
