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Japan: Bush Considering Salvage Of Sunken Ship

Bush Sends Apology To Japan

Japanese officials say President Bush's letter of apology over the sinking of a Japanese fishing vessel by a U.S. submarine includes a promise to consider raising the wreck. Japan's prime minister reportedly told a U.S. Navy admiral Tuesday that if the U.S. fails to do so, Japan might raise the ship on its own.
USS GREENEVILLE
USS Greenville
EHIME MARU
Ehine Maru
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The letter was hand-delivered Tuesday by a high-ranking naval officer, sent as a special envoy. A Foreign Ministry official told reporters that Bush pledged an investigation into why the USS Greeneville rammed into the high school training ship as the sub surfaced off Hawaii. The official added that Bush emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Japan security relationship in maintaining world peace and stability. Adm. William Fallon, the vice chief of naval operations, arrived at Yokota Air Base, a U.S. military facility on the outskirts of Tokyo Tuesday. In a statement upon arrival, Fallon said his words cannot express "the profound sorrow and regret that the American people feel over this tragic event." He said that he came not only to apologize, but to promote better understanding between the people of the two nations. He said that the letter from Bush expressed "our nation's apologies and regret" and added that while in Japan he would update officials and relatives on U.S. efforts to recover the sunken Japanese vessel and determine why the accident occured. Fallon is scheduled to meet with the family members on Wednesday morning, and meet government officials and hold a press conference before leaving Thursday. Nine people from the Ehime Maru, including four students, remain missing and are presumed dead. The Coast Guard announced Tuesday that the search has now covered an area the size of South Carolina. Two ships and two aircraft from the Navy and Coast Guard continued the search Tuesday. Japanese government officials boarded a U.S. Navy ship Monday to take a first-hand look at the Navy's survey of the Ehime Maru. They did not say whether the ship was salvageable, but they did say that the ship appeared to be in a good position for salvage because it is sitting upright in the water. Previous Stories:
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