The court acknowledged the existence of Japan's biological warfare program but rejected the plaintiffs' demands for compensation, saying the issue was covered under postwar treaties.

The first postwar treaty, the abortive Treaty of San Stefano signed on 3 March 1878, assigned Albanian-populated lands to Serbia, Montenegro, and Bulgaria.

A series of postwar treaties with the British solidified the nation's boundaries and eliminated the threat of another war with England.

Mr. Gorbachev prefers to see the issue evolve within the framework of existing postwar treaties and multi-nation conference where, he said today, "the issue of German unity may find its resolution."

It was a significant concession from Japan, which has always asserted that postwar treaties absolved it of all individual claims from World War II.

The Japanese government stressed that the "atonement money" did not come from the government, in keeping with its position that postwar treaties cleared it of such claims.

The fact that the postwar treaty had been a dead letter for many years did not worry either party.

The "Great Powers" constituted the "Concert of Europe" and claimed the right to joint enforcement of the postwar treaties.

The decision in the case comes at a time when the United States and other parties to postwar treaties have discouraged litigation and sought to resolve restitution cases through negotiation.

The postwar treaty was the founding document of the European Community.