Dr. John H. Marburger
Director
Office of Science and Technology Policy
USA

Dear Dr. Marburger:

Science Council of Japan is the liaison committee in Japan to IUPAP, the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics, which has missions to assist in the worldwide development of physics, to foster international cooperation in physics, and to help in the application of physics toward solving problems of concern to humanity. National Committee for Physics of Science Council of Japan supports the letter of IUPAP president, Yves Petrof, which has been sent to you last December.

Your country has been open to world and then a true basis for international scientific interactions for a long time. Such human interactions play vital roles in the progress of science. Many Japanese physicists, including ourselves, cherish the memories of the warm hospitality of your country. In recent years, however, these international human interactions through USA are confronted with various barriers. Especially, Chinese and Russian colleagues are having difficulty in obtaining US visas to attend international conferences and scientific meetings in USA. This makes international gatherings held in USA not truly international. Furthermore we often see that scientists at non-US institutions have to wait for long time in getting a visa to work in USA.

We would like to see these problems be solved as soon as possible.

We fully understand that September-11 tragedy might have left deep consequences in your society and that you have to make a close inspection of peoples visiting your country. At the same time, we note that international scientific communications help to recover strong human bonds.

We deeply appreciate your efforts to solve this serious and difficult problem.