Robin Cook: will make clear British "strength of feeling"

Cook To Discuss Compensation Claims From World War Two Veterans

The veterans, who were held in Japanese labour camps during the Second World War, hope Mr Cook will apply pressure for compensation during his meeting. Next month three British veterans will pursue their claims in a two day court hearing in Japan.

The 12,000 former prisoners, their relatives and civilian internees, believe the Japanese will want to resolve the issue before the state visit of their Emperor Akihito next year.Japanese officials will be anxious to avoid the hostile reception which the emperor's father Hirohito encountered when he made a state visit 27 years ago.

In 1993, the Japanese government rejected a personal plea by John Major to consider claims for £15,000 each from claimants. At the beginning of this year, the Conservative Foreign Office minister Jeremy Hanley pledged not to raise the issue again. He said payments made under a 1951 treaty giving each "unique" payments of £72, before Japan amassed its present economic wealth, were still legally binding.

A Foreign Office spokesman said, "The Foreign Secretary will doubtless make the Japanese government aware of the strength of feeling and sympathy in this country for the former prisoners of war and internees."