NAHA, Japan -- The governor of Okinawa petitioned Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Sunday to reduce or relocate U.S. military bases on this strategic island and urged removing large numbers of American Marines to lower crime here.

In an unusual act of very public diplomacy, the Okinawa government decided that the entire meeting between Rumsfeld and Gov. Keiichi Inamine would be opened to Japanese and foreign news organizations, assuring that his plea would receive a wide airing.

Rumsfeld's other sessions with Japanese leaders during his two- day visit were held in private.

The defense ...

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