As for Robert McKinney's Dec. 29 letter, "Japanese aren't the only whalers," I would like to add:

(1) Australia is well aware that other nations like Norway and Iceland conduct scientific whaling, but the real issue is the Antarctic whale sanctuary. Being closer to Australia than Norway or Iceland, the sanctuary and the whales — which form a whale-watching industry — attract sentimental feelings from Australians.

(2) The opposition to whaling in light of this is selective, and perhaps due in part to fading memories of World War II. Australians are choosing to focus only on Japan because whaling is being done in Australia's "backyard."

(3) Gen. Douglas MacArthur's choice of which nationalities represented the Occupation forces was due to his wish that the reform of Japan should be seen as a largely American achievement, nothing more. He wasn't known as "Dugout Doug" for nothing.

The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.

christopher glen