JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 10/06/08

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E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 10/06/08 Index: Opinion surveys: 1) Aso Cabinet support rate drops 7 points to 41 PERCENT , while non-support rate rises 6 points to 42 PERCENT (Asahi) 2) In Nikkei survey of 100 top C.E.O.s and 500 regional companies, 94 PERCENT judge that the economy is worsening (Nikkei) Defense and security affairs: 3) Interviewed by Sankei, Naha Consul General Maher reiterates that Futenma relocation will go according to agreed plan (Sankei) 4) Prime Minister Aso desires to see enacted a permanent law for dispatching the SDF for peacekeeping operations (Yomiuri) 5) Cabinet approves dispatch of two SDF officers to Sudan's PKO headquarters, but view is growing in the Aso government for sending an entire unit (Asahi) 6) SDF unit being sent to Iraq to wrap up the ASDF support operation that is being withdrawn (Sankei) 7) LDP diet affairs chairman sees deliberation starting on anti-terror bill for Indian Ocean operations once the supplementary budget bill passes the Diet (Yomiuri) 8) Japan vying for rotating membership on the UN Security Council that will be decided on the 17th (Nikkei) 9) Japan has invited cabinet-level representatives from 40 countries to attend a conference on Middle East democracy (Nikkei) Political agenda: 10) Clashes expected in the Lower House Budget Committee today as deliberations start on supplementary budget (Nikkei) 11) Diet Affairs Chairman Oshima predicts Diet dissolution after the budget is passed (Asahi) 12) DPJ's Hatoyama conditions cooperation on deliberating supplementary budget once promise of Diet dissolution made (Asahi) 13) DPJ Vice President Ishii calls the New Komeito a "contagion," and rules out any coalition with that party (Asahi) 14) Small splinter parties hope to for a third political force (Nikkei) 15) Social Democratic Party's legendary leader Takako Doi has decided not to run in the next general election (Mainichi) 16) Rumors of an 8 trillion yen among Japan, South Korea, and China to cope with international financial crisis is denied by Tokyo (Yomiuri) Articles: 1) Poll: Cabinet support, nonsupport rates are close ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) October 6, 2008 Ahead of a snap election for the House of Representatives, the Asahi Shimbun conducted a telephone-based public opinion survey on Oct. 4-5. The rate of public support for the Aso cabinet was 41 PERCENT , down from the 48 PERCENT rating in the last survey taken Sept. 24-25 shortly after its inauguration. The nonsupport rate rose from 36 PERCENT to 42 PERCENT , close to the support rate. Respondents were also asked which political party they would vote for in their proportional representation blocs if they were to vote now. In this voter preference of political parties, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party marked 33 PERCENT (36 PERCENT in the last TOKYO 00002775 002 OF 010 survey),with the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) at 34 PERCENT (32 PERCENT in the last survey). In the last survey, the LDP markedly regained ground in the tailwind of the new cabinet's inauguration and came from behind the DPJ. Those interested in the general election accounted for 35 PERCENT . Among them, 48 PERCENT opted for the DPJ, with 30 PERCENT choosing the LDP. Among LDP supporters, the cabinet's support rate was comparatively high, reaching 79 PERCENT . Among DPJ supporters, however, 77 PERCENT said they did not support the cabinet. The figures show a clear-cut showdown between the LDP and DPJ supporters as well. Among floating voters with no particular party affiliation, the cabinet's support rate was down from 31 PERCENT to 24 PERCENT , and the nonsupport rate was up from 41 PERCENT to 48 PERCENT . Among men, the support rate was only slightly down from 46 PERCENT to 43 PERCENT . Among women, however, it was substantially down from 50 PERCENT to 39 PERCENT , a factor that caused the decline in the support rate. Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Nariaki Nakayama has now resigned (to take responsibility for a series of gaffes he had made). In the survey, respondents were asked about the responsibility of Prime Minister Aso, who appointed him. To this question, 48 PERCENT answered that his responsibility is not very big, with 44 PERCENT saying it is big. Asked about the desirable form of government, the proportion of those who chose an LDP-led coalition government was down from 39 PERCENT to 34 PERCENT . Meanwhile, the proportion of those opting for a DPJ-led coalition government remained the same at 40 PERCENT . In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the LDP stood at 32 PERCENT (34 PERCENT in the last survey),with the DPJ at 23 PERCENT (leveling off from 23 PERCENT in the last survey). The survey was conducted Oct. 4-5 over the telephone on a computer-aided random digit dialing (RDD) basis. Respondents were chosen from among the nation's voting population on a three-stage random-sampling basis. Valid answers were obtained from 1,036 persons (57 PERCENT ). 2) In survey, 94 PERCENT view economy as deteriorating in aftermath of U.S. financial crisis; 50 PERCENT expect turnaround in a year NIKKEI (Top Play) (Excerpts) October 6, 2008 The results of a Nikkei questionnaire of corporate presidents and executives released yesterday showed that more than 90 PERCENT of respondents viewed the domestic economy is deteriorating, a threefold increase from the previous survey (in June). In a snap survey on Oct. 3 conducted following a steep plunge in stock prices, nearly 60 PERCENT said that the U.S. financial crisis has had an adverse effect on their business operations. In a survey of top officials at 500 regional firms and organizations conducted at the same time as the snap survey, as well, 80 PERCENT said that the economy is worsening. Presidents and other senior executives of 139 major firms responded to the questionnaire conducted as of late September, while 114 firms replied to the snap poll. In the survey of regional firms, 408 TOKYO 00002775 003 OF 010 senior executives responded. On the current Japanese economic conditions, 93.5 PERCENT of respondents in the September survey picked any of these replies: Conditions are deteriorating, moderately deteriorating; or rapid deteriorating. For the first time since the survey was started in 2004, no respondents viewed the economy as expanding. In the previous survey, 10.6 PERCENT gave positive replies. The figure worked out by subtracting negative replies from positive ones to a question about the present economic state compared with the state six months ago was minus 95.7. In the prior survey, the figure was 84.1. In the snap survey, nearly 60 PERCENT said that the U.S. financial crisis has already had a negative impact on their business operations, with 38.6 PERCENT replying that the crisis has affected the real economy, leading to negative repercussions and 19.3 PERCENT responding that indirect repercussions have emerged in such areas as stock prices, the exchange rate, and fund-raising. Of the respondents, 41.2 PERCENT expect the financial crisis will remain in a critical state for nearly one year, while only 9.6 PERCENT see conditions will calm down with the passage of revised U.S. legislation to stabilize the financial sector. Nearly half expect Japan's economy will recover within a year, with 16.5 PERCENT pointing to the April-June quarter in 2009 and 33.1 PERCENT citing the July-September quarter the same year. 3) Futenma will go ahead as planned: Maher SANKEI (Page 3) (Full) October 6, 2008 Kevin Maher, U.S. consul general in Okinawa, told the Sankei Shimbun in a recent interview that the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan was smoothly underway and that he was optimistic. Meanwhile, Okinawa Prefecture has been calling for the Japanese and U.S. governments to revise their plan to relocate the site for the replacement for Futenma airfield. In this regard, Maher remarked that there was no rational reason for such and that the Futenma relocation should be implemented as planned. In October 2005, the Japanese and U.S. governments agreed on an interim report, U.S.-Japan Alliance: Transformation and Realignment for the Future. Based on this, Maher stressed the significance of transforming the Japan-U.S. alliance to meet various and newly emerging threats. On the issue of relocating Futenma airfield, the political focus was what to do about its replacement facility. "In the interim report," Maher said, "there was a plan to build an L-shaped runway." He added: "After that, the Japanese government consulted with local officials on an X-shaped runway. In the end, the plan was revised to the current plan to build a V-shaped pair of airstrips." With this, Maher indicated that the plan is well based on local views, repudiating the local criticism of bilateral talks without Okinawa. Maher said: "We're now at the stage to implement the agreement. If we try to revise it, the consensus between Japan and the United States will collapse. That is not desirable." The Japanese and U.S. governments have agreed to relocate Futenma airfield to a coastal area of Camp Schwab in the city of Nago, TOKYO 00002775 004 OF 010 Okinawa Prefecture. But Nago City has proposed laying down an offshore airfield about 400 meters southwest. Maher said it would be another story if there is a rational and scientific reason for revision after an environmental impact assessment. Even so, Maher said: "I cannot understand why they think moving the runway out (into the sea) will reduce its environmental impact. 4) Prime Minister Aso answering question in Upper House states desire to pass permanent overseas dispatch law YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) October 4, 2008 Prime Minister Aso on Oct. 3 in a reply to a question in the plenary session of the Upper House indicated his desire to enact a permanent law for allowing the overseas dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF). He said: "It would be desirable to Japan to be able to carry out international peacekeeping cooperation swiftly and effectively. We will consider such legislation fully based on thorough national debate, as well as debate within the ruling parties." Commenting on not being able to launch discussions in the constitutional councils that were created in both chambers of the Diet last year in August, Aso said, "I have strong hopes that with the participation of all political parties, we can carry out earnest discussions." He urged that constitutional discussions be started soon in the Diet. On the other hand, he also expressed his view that it was necessary to change the government's interpretation of the right of collective self-defense that is now forbidden: "It is an important topic, and the interpretation should be now thoroughly discussed." His view was that discussion to change the interpretation should be tackled. He was replying to a question from Social Democratic Party head Fukushima. 5) Cabinet decision made to send SDF personnel to Sudan; Call for sending unit may reignite ASAHI (Page 4) (Excerpts) October 4, 2008 The government decided on Oct. 3 to send two Self-Defense Force personnel to the UN peacekeeping operations command in southern Sudan. With the aim of impressing the world as Japan being a peace fostering nation, as was vowed by the former Fukuda administration, the government temporarily considered dispatching an SDF unit to the country, but it has decided to forgo the plan out of concern over the security situation there. But legislation to allow the Maritime Self-Defense Force to continue its refueling mission in the Indian Ocean reaches a deadlock, calls for greater support for Sudan might flare up again in the government. Foreign Minister Nakasone, speaking to reporters after the cabinet meeting that approved the dispatch of two SDF personnel to Sudan, said: "The step will greatly contribute to the peace and stability of the region, not to mention improving bilateral relations." The two SDF personnel will be dispatched to Sudan's capital of Khartoum where the command of the UN Mission in Sudan is located. As part of the 10,000 PKO troops from over 60 countries, they will belong to both the logistic office to coordinate supplies for the TOKYO 00002775 005 OF 010 military department deployed in the south of the country and the information office managing the database. 6) Japan to send prep unit for ASDF pullout from Iraq SANKEI (Page 2) (Abridged) October 6, 2008 The Defense Ministry is considering sending an Air Self-Defense Force unit for the withdrawal of ASDF troops from Iraq within the year, officials said yesterday. The unit will assist with customs clearance procedures and quarantine preparations for the ASDF troops and equipment and will also engage in negotiations with local authorities for hangar evacuation. The ministry plans to send the unit in December. The ASDF troops currently on an airlift mission will be recalled to Japan that month, but even after that the other unit will remain there. The government announced its plan on Sept. 11 to withdraw the ASDF detachment from Iraq within the year after its five-year airlift activities there, given that a United Nations Security Council resolution, which endorses the stationing of multinational forces in Iraq, will expire at the end of December. This is the first time for the government to reveal a withdrawal operation plan. The ASDF detachment to Iraq, based in Kuwait, has been tasked with airlifting personnel and supplies for the United Nations and the multinational forces to the Iraqi capital of Baghdad and the northern Iraqi city of Arbil. About 210 ASDF members are on the airlift mission with three C-130 transport planes. In Kuwait, the ASDF detachment has been based at Ali Al Salem Air Base, where the ASDF has built hangars and billets. The Defense Ministry would like to transfer these facilities to Kuwait without dismantling them. The withdrawal unit will negotiate with local officials and go through procedures for transfer. 7) LDP Diet Affairs Committee chairman expresses intent to deliberate on bill amending antiterrorism legislation after passage of extra budget bill YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) October 6, 2008 Appearing on Asahi and NHK TV programs with his counterparts from the ruling partner and opposition parties yesterday, Liberal Democratic Party Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Tadamori Oshima expressed his intention to start deliberations in the current Diet session on a bill amending the New Antiterrorism Special Measures Law to extend the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. The deliberations would start after the fiscal 2008 budget bill clears the Diet. New Komeito Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Yoshio Urushibara added: "It is fully conceivable that if the opposition camp rejects the bill during the period (in the House of Councillors),we will use overriding revote in the lower chamber." He indicated that he would approve of reinstating the bill by using a two-thirds lower chamber overriding vote. Asked about the timing for Lower House dissolution and a general election, Oshima said: TOKYO 00002775 006 OF 010 "We will enact the supplementary budget bill without fail. We will then ask for views from each political party and would like to bring about party head talks. Under such a situation, if it becomes necessary to seek the people's judgment, Prime Minister will naturally make a judgment, I think." Oshima revealed plans to come up with additional economic measures after the extra budget bill pass the Diet, saying: "Studies have already begun, and we would like to present a package to the people as soon as possible." Democratic Party of Japan Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Kenji Yamaoka cited five days as the minimum necessary number of days for deliberations on the extra budget bill at the Upper House Budget Committee. 8) Japan intensively lobbying for its bid for nonpermanent UNSC seat ahead of Oct. 17 election NIKKEI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) October 6, 2008 The government has been intensively lobbying other countries in the run-up to the Oct. 17 election of the nonpermanent members of the UN Security Council. In his speech to the UN General Assembly in New York in late September, Prime Minister Taro Aso called for support for Japan's bid for a nonpermanent UNSC seat. Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone also conveyed to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Japan's intention to seek a permanent UNSC seat on the assumption that the country first wins a nonpermanent seat. Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, too, lobbied Tanzanian President Kikwete and others for their support for Japan's bid. The UNSC is responsible for leading discussions on international issues. Ten nonpermanent members, which serve two-year terms, are selected from each region. Japan has served nine times, the most along with Brazil. Winning a nonpermanent seat requires the support of two-thirds of the 192 UN members in an election. This time around, Japan is vying with Iran for the Asian seat. Japan acutely sensed the advantage of being a nonpermanent UNSC member through the adoption of a resolution condemning North Korea's missile launches in July 2006. The UNSC adopted the resolution after about 10 days of discussion that was led by Japan. "If Japan had not been a UNSC member, it would have taken over one month," a senior Foreign Ministry official commented. With the intergovernmental talks on UNSC reform scheduled to begin by the end of February 2009, Japan wants to win a nonpermanent seat with a huge margin to gain momentum for its bid for a permanent seat. But Japan is troubled over the frequent changeover of the prime minister and the divided Diet. Although Prime Minister Aso visited New York shortly after assuming office, he was able to meet only with UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. 9) Government to host cabinet-level meeting on Middle East modernization with 40 countries invited NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) October 6, 2008 TOKYO 00002775 007 OF 010 The government has decided to host a cabinet-level meeting in mid-October in Dubai, a member of the United Arab Emirates (UAE),to support the democratization and economic reform of the Middle East. Calling on the Group of Eight countries and some 40 Middle Eastern and North African countries, Japan, as the country that chaired this year's G-8 summit, will co-chair the meeting with the UEA. The government will launch an effort to send Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone to the event if the Diet timetable permits. The meeting will be formally announced later this week. The meeting titled the Forum for the Future is scheduled to take place on Oct. 18-19. With the aim of giving a boost to the democratization of the Middle East, the meeting will discuss such topics as the improvement of the judicial system, participation in politics by women, support for the poor, cooperation with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to look for cooperative measures. The meeting is scheduled to end with the release of a chairman's statement on the last day. The forum's purpose is for the G-8 to support the political and economic reform of the Greater Middle East. Its establishment was decided on in the Sea Island Summit in 2004. Since then, a meeting has been held every year with the exception of last year. 10) Fierce battle between ruling and opposition camps over supplementary budget to start today at Lower House Budget Committee NIKKEI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) October 6, 2008 The ruling and opposition camps will start today full-fledged discussions on the fiscal 2008 supplementary budget bill at the House of Representatives Budget Committee. Prime Minister Taro Aso has expressed his eagerness for an early enactment of the supplementary budget, while waiting for good timing to dissolve the Lower House. Fixated on the next Lower House election, the ruling and opposition camps have intensified their confrontational stances toward each other, and stormy developments can be expected. The ruling and opposition blocs have agreed to hold basic question-and-answer sessions on Oct. 6-7 at the Lower House Budget Committee with the prime minister and his cabinet present. The ruling coalition has proposed taking a vote on the budget bill on Oct. 8, but the opposition has held off on making a reply. Since Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa is expected to attend a meeting on Oct. 10 of central bank governors and finance ministers from the Group of Seven industrialized countries (G-7),the ruling coalition has a plan to initiate deliberations on the budget on the 14th in order to get the bill through the Diet before the end of next week. Ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Tadamori Oshima stressed on a NHK talks show yesterday that the ruling camp would prioritize the enactment of the supplementary budget and bills related to the budget, noting: "With the dissolution of the Lower House and a general election, a political vacuum of one and a half to two months would be created. Priority should be placed on the supplementary budget rather than the political situation and the possibility of Lower House dissolution." Oshima predicted that should early passage of the supplementary TOKYO 00002775 008 OF 010 budget become difficult, there would be a backlash of public criticism of the opposition parties. He sought to constrain the opposition camp by hinting at the possibility of Lower House dissolution before the supplementary budget cleared the Diet. "The prime minister may have to make the call," he warned. Oshima called on his Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) counterpart Kenji Yamaoka, who also appeared on the same NHK talk show, to schedule a debate in the Diet between Prime Minister Aso and DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa, as well as to begin deliberations on a bill extending Japan's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. The LDP intends to make as campaign issues in the next general election the appropriateness of extending the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission and the need for additional economic measures. Oshima revealed that the next Lower House election would likely be held after Nov. 9, and that the possibility of the election occurring on Nov. 2 has disappeared. Based of Prime Minister Aso's intention to pass the supplementary budget, the original rumored scenario an early Lower House dissolution has now been withdrawn. However, the New Komeito, the LDP's junior coalition partner, still retains a stance of urging the prime minister to quickly dissolve the Lower House. New Komeito Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Yoshio Urushibara, appearing also on the NHK talk show, underscored: "We are now preparing for a general election, thinking that it will be held in early November." There is a possibility that discord will resurface in the ruling coalition. 11) Lower House dissolution after enactment of supplementary budget: LDP Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Oshima ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) October 6, 2008 Appearing on NHK and TV Asahi talk shows yesterday morning, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Tadamori Oshima revealed the outlook that the House of Representatives would be dissolved after the passage of the fiscal 2008 supplementary budget. He said: "What we now should do is to stabilize the economy and take measures to cope with the economic crisis. (What we should do now is) to enact the supplementary budget, rather than to dissolve the Lower House." Referring also to a bill amending the new Antiterrorism Special Measures Law to allow the Maritime Self-Defense Force to continue its refueling operation in the Indian Ocean, Oshima said: "We want to start deliberations at any cost." He was enthusiastic about Diet deliberations after the passage of the supplementary budget by the Lower House. Regarding to the possibility of Lower House dissolution after the passage of the supplementary budget, Oshima said: "I think (Prime Minister Aso) will of course look into it." 12) Deliberations on supplementary budget conditioned on Lower House being dissolved afterward: DPJ Secretary General Hatoyama ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) October 6, 2008 TOKYO 00002775 009 OF 010 Yukio Hatoyama, secretary general of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ),stressed yesterday his party's position of not cooperating on an early enactment of the fiscal 2008 supplementary budget bill unless there was a commitment to dissolve the House of Representatives soon after passage of the budget. He was speaking to reporters in Kashima City, Ibaraki Prefecture: "(The Aso cabinet is) a caretaker government to deal with a general election. However, if there is not talk of quickly dissolving Lower House afterward, it will be necessary to thoroughly deliberate the supplementary budget." On whether the DPJ will approve the budget bill or not, he said: "Given the situation (in the government and ruling camp) of some members calling for a second supplementary budget and others saying the current supplementary budget bill (now in the Diet) is useless, it is difficult for us to approve it." 13) DPJ Vice President Ishii denies possibility of DPJ-New Komeito coalition, calling the party a "contagion" ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) October 6, 2008 Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Vice President Hajime Ishii, appearing on a TV Asahi talk show yesterday, denied the possibility of his party forming a coalition with the New Komeito after the next House of Representatives election. He said: "There is no possibility. It is like a contagion. President Ozawa and I strongly think so. If we are given four votes from the New Komeito, we will lose six. The public is not such fool." In reaction to this, New Komeito leader Akihiro Ota said in an outdoor speech in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture: "It is outrageous for a political party vice president to use such an extremely thoughtless word. I will ask him to immediately withdraw his remark and offer apology." 14) Third force, including PNP and Hiranuma, desperately trying to avoid sinking into insignificance NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) October 6, 2008 The ruling parties and the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan are gearing up for the next Lower House election. In the meantime, minor parties and lawmakers with no party affiliations are making desperate efforts to demonstrate their presence to become a third force to counter the two major parties. The People's New Party (PNP),for instance, is still trying to enhance cooperation with the DPJ although it has failed to merge with it. New Party Daichi Representative Muneo Suzuki and Daijiro Hashimoto, who is eying the formation of a new party, are intensifying their anti-LDP movements. Takeo Hiranuma, an independent, intends to get through the next Lower House election with his modest group and find a way out in the political realignment that is expected to occur after the election. PNP Representative Tamisuke Watanuki has repeatedly described the party's relationship with the DPJ as sharing a common destiny. The TOKYO 00002775 010 OF 010 PNP has decided to endorse a total of 170 DPJ candidates for the next election, including 154 it decided to back on Oct. 2. An agreement has been reached for PNP Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Masaaki Itokawa to leave the party after Lower House dissolution to run in the next race on the DPJ ticket. Tamisuke Watanuki will seek a proportional representation seat with the aim of adding to proportional votes. Once the Lower House election is over, the PNP plans to explore ways to merge with the DPJ. 15) SDP Doi not to run in next Lower House election MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) October 6, 2008 Former Social Democratic Party (SDP) President Takako Doi, 79, said in an interview with the Mainichi Shimbun yesterday that she would not run in the next House of Representatives election. She said: "I would like to go around the nation to give campaign speeches for SDP candidates." Doi was first elected to the Lower House in 1969 and assumed the Japan Socialist Party chairmanship in 1986. In 1993, she became the first female Lower House speaker in constitutional politics. Doi headed the SDP from 1996, when the party was launched, through 2003. She ran for the 2005 Lower House election under the proportional representation segment but was defeated. 16) South Korean daily states that Japan, China, and ROK readying 8 trillion yen fund to cope with international financial crisis, but Japan denies the reports YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpt) October 6, 2008 Yoshiharu Asano in Seoul The South Korean daily Chosun Ilbo (internet edition) reported on Oct. 5 that according to sources in the South Korean government, Japan, China, and the Republic of Korea are promoting the creation of a joint Asia fund on a scale of $80 billion (8.425 trillion yen) for coping with the financial crisis that started in the United States. A vice-minister level official gave his outlook that the joint fund would be discussed in a meeting in Washington in mid October. Regarding this report, a senior official of Japan's Finance Ministry stated: "At this point in time, there is no plan for a vice-minister level meeting. We do not feel there is need to create such a fund." SCHIEFFER