MY Japanese problem is I am an 88 years-old ex-Far East POW who was forced to work on the Thai-Burma railway from 1942-1945.

I am not proud of it and would like to reply to the arrogant, insulting "Jap happy gentleman' who hides behind the nom de plume 'The Progressive. (Journal Mailbox June 4)

I am one of the 'old fools' he insults in his letter and I would like to help him solve 'his problem' (poor soul on £35K salary, BMW car etc., I would have no problem with the Japanese).

History: I am pleased to learn that he has a good job and wish him well but I do think he needs a lesson in history.

He refers to the loss of life during the war of relatives of his Japanese employers. Has he never thought that the Japanese started the war in the Far East by an unprovoked and cowardly attack on Pearl Harbour on December 8, 1941.

Does he not realise that if the Japanese had not started the war the relatives of his new found friends, and thousands of British, Australians, Americans, Dutch, Indians, Malays and others would not have died. It was the fault of the Japanese. There is no mention of these facts in post war Japanese history books.

Anti-social behaviour: He talks about the anti-social behaviour of the British. What about the treatment of the Far East POWs by the Japanese? Enforced to work on the Japanese war effort by building a railway from Thailand to Burma and by building air strips in Thailand on three bowls of rice per day in sweltering heat from dawn till dusk (12 hours) in a malarial infested jungle in a constant state of dysentery, working throughout the monsoon seasons, using maggot ridden trenches for toilet purposes, living in primitive bug and lice besieged shelters, inadequate medical aids, leg amputations without anaesthetics, I could go on and on. We did not get free health insurance or free holidays that 'The Progressive' so arrogantly and unashamedly enjoys. All that we "enjoyed" was malaria, dysentery, leg ulcers, malnutrition etc. I know, I was there. Tony Blair and The Progressive were not.

Order of the Garter: Because of treatment received from the Japanese, the 'old fools' - the ex-F.E POWs - and the majority of British people do not consider that the Order of the Garter bestowed on the Japanese Emperor by the Queen and our Government was justified. Hence the booing and hissing on The Mall. It was lucky the that the Emperor did not get the full monty.

We do not consider that we have anything to thank or honour the Japanese for. Afterall, the Japanese helped to destroy our economy, were instrumental in destroying our Empire and, inter alia, ruined our electronic and car industry. How Tony Blair and 'The Progressive' can say forgive and forget baffles me.

Apology: I know why the Japanese will never say sorry. The simple reasons are (a) loss of face, and (b) they are not sorry for their actions in WW II. They are only sorry that they did not win the war and ultimately achieve world wide domination. Come to think of it, they are not doing so bad at present.

Compensation: I am pleased to learn from 'The Progressive' (how well informed he is) that the veterans - the 'old fools' will get their compensation. Has he told Tony Blair? If we do get the compensation he mentions I will gladly invite him round for a glass (or two) of Saki. In the meantime can he arrange a £5K advance to help me going? Just a thought: On one of his Far East holidays I would humbly suggest that he arranges a stop over in Thailand and visits the war cemeteries at Chungkai and nearby Kanchanaburi. If he does and is not very emotionally upset I will be surprised. "At the going down of the sun and in the morning - we will remember them."

Conclusion: The Japanese are cunning and unscrupulous, as he will find out in due course. The Japanese are not doing us any real favours in finding work for the British - they are only helping themselves to huge profits.

I note that 'The Progressive' did not choose to publish his name or address but if he would like to contact me on "Roko, Sitchi, San, Roko, Shee Coo", I will be pleased to arrange a friendly (?) meeting.

In the meantime, I hope I have helped to solve 'his problem' and he does not resort to kamikaze.

By the way, I will be taking my Yasume (holiday) on the Costa del Fylde Coast this year, unless he offers me his apartment in Portugal.

T. Boardman

Milnes Avenue, Pennington

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.