U.S. lawmaker eyes July 30 vote on Japan sex slaves

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A resolution calling on Japan to officially apologize for pressing thousands of women into sexual servitude in World War II is likely to be voted on by the U.S. House of Representatives on July 30, its chief sponsor said on Wednesday.

Rep. Mike Honda, a California Democrat, said his symbolic resolution, which has triggered a backlash among Japanese conservatives, would "definitely" be taken up before Congress begins summer recess on August 6.

He rejected assertions by Japan's ambassador to Washington, stated in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other leaders, that passage of the resolution would undermine U.S. ties with its closest Asian ally.

"I don't think it's going to hurt the relationship between our two countries," Honda, one of a handful of U.S. lawmakers of Japanese descent, said by telephone. "When people make amends, usually a friendship gets stronger."

Honda, 66, noted that Japan holds parliamentary elections on July 29 and said voting on the resolution after that represented a courtesy to Japan.

Japanese Ambassador Ryozo Kato warned that passage of the resolution "will almost certainly have lasting and harmful effects on the deep friendship, close trust and wide-ranging cooperation our two nations now enjoy."

The letter, issued on June 22 ahead of voting on the resolution in the House International Relations Committee, cited Japan's support for reconstruction in Iraq as an example of what could be hurt by the vote.

"Congress's decision to move H.Res. 121 will only serve the purposes of those who wish to undermine the Japan-U.S. relationship. I hope you will not allow that to happen," concluded the ambassador's letter, made available to Reuters.

The non-binding resolution -- a statement of U.S. Congressional sentiment with no bearing on U.S. policy toward Japan -- was approved in committee by a 39 to 2 vote that lawmakers said pointed to easy passage by the full chamber.  Continued...