Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0053, 1945-12-04.

Extracts:

The Minister of Finance, while enroute to ISE by train, said that more important than the squeezing of wealth from the rich and its redistribution is the creation of new wealth. We should make every effort to prevent strife over redistribution from interfering with the objective of increasing the total amount of goods. The distribution consumer's goods carried out in an equitable manner. As regards the problem of the distribution of capital and the means of production, its discussion should be postponed for two or three years.

When we analyze this statement, we conclude that the minister is in favour of the ZAIBATSU and other feudal elements and considers the problems of the people as secondary. Why would the redistribution of wealth lower production? Is it because of the resistance of the rich who would be adversily affected? Production would not be lowered if we pushed through measures so strong that the rich would be unable to resist.

The Minister of Finance stated that an equitable distribution of consumer's goods would be made, but that the distribution of the means of production should be decided after two or three years. Everybody knows that the capitalists have been living in luxury because of the black market by which they evade profit control. This destroys any attempt on the part of the authorities to control the consumption of goods. It is impossible to expect an equitable distribution of consumer goods without considering the distribution of the means of production. We demand a simple and clear explanation from the statesmen, Meanwhile we are following their actions with intense feeling, in the midst of hunger and suffering.

Extracts:

The lives of the people are at last becoming free of Government control. The newspapers in the metropolitan area acknowledged their responsibilities in falsefying news during the war. Nevertheless, the "University Newspaper'' has not yet revised its name and is still carrying on as though it were the accepted newspaper for all universities. In May 1944, the Information Office ordered all school newspapers to be discontinued, with the exception of the Imperial "University Newspaper which continued to be published throughout the war under the name

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ITEM 2 (Continued)

"University Newspaper." This newspaper has always been an organ for the bureaucracy and should be discontinued at once as the representative newspaper for all universities. Moreover "University Newspaper" must apologize for its past monopoly to all the other university newspapers now being re-established.

Full Translation:

I was surprised at the news that both the Liberal and the Socialist Parties are now pressing a bill or war criminals for submission to the Diet. They, the members of both parties, as we all remember, received and welcomed TOJO's speeches with their applause during the war. Nor did they take exception to the budget. Even at the time of the SUZUKI Cabinet, their attitude was the same. At that time, none of the members of either House dared stand against the bills. It is needless to say, the members of two parties were included in this ring, and now, such an impudent discussion from them as is presently progressing is unforgivable. This is almost as absurd as trying to shift responsibility for the war to the people.

As to the war responsibility, it is natural that all members, regardless of their positions in the Houses, should assume it. Instead, they are trying to cover up their mistakes. This is unpardonable. They must admit their own mistakes and leave their offices to apologize to the people as five of the members, notably MORITA, Masayoshi, and others have done.

Full Translation:

At the plenary session of the House of Representatives held on 28 November, Premier SHIDEHARA tried to deny what he had said in his press interview some weeks ago. This is inexcusable. Naturally, the press protested, but in replying, he excused himself by saying, "The newspapers are not to be blamed for the false report, since Mr. SAITO abridged the news and I (the prime minister) had not the latest news about the question I was discussing. Hence, there were several discrepancies in my statement."

We can see through these words his intention to evade responsibility. The undeniable weakness of bureaucracy is fully demonstrated here. Look back 15 years ago when SHIDHARA was acting prime minister. At the plenary session for the national budget held on 3 February, 1931. NAKAJIMA, Chikuhei, one of the members of the Diet, criticezed the Treaty of LONDON, and SHIDEHARA, in replying to his criticism, used improper language. These were his very words, "This treaty is already ratified. So, it is clear that the treaty does not endanger our national defense." Such words were the subject of criticism in the Diet. It seems that even now such imprudence remains as his attitude, should what is learned in the cradle, necessarily be carried to the grave? It is lamentable, that are few men who do not make errors. Now we can only hope that it is no too late for him to mend his ways.

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ITEM 4 (continued)

There is still another case to be pointed out Improprieties were uttered by "YOSHIDA, the Foreign minister, at the plenary session on the 29 November. He did not stick to his position but rather laid down his arms and expressed his regret. This was admirable for the Foreign Minister, for he is known to be an obstinate man.

Full Translation:

The intelligent public will realize that JAPAN has lost her self-sufficiency. The Allied Headquarters has allowed our country to import sufficient foodstuffs necessary for civilian sustenance. Judging from this lack of power to get her livelihood, JAPAN has lost her self-sufficiency, and a country which has lost its power of self-preservation may safely be termed a ruined country.

The other day a round-table conference pertaining to the Constitution was broadcast. The topic was concerned with the origin of sovereignty; whether in the people or in the Emperor. Since they were referring to present day JAPAN, this discussion is nonsensical. In our country sovereignty exists neither in the people nor in the Emperor. The Emperor, the government, and the Diet have completely lost their self-supporting power, therefore the people who are under the direction of these organizations cannot be self-supporting. Being deprived of self-support, means being ruined. If such is the case, JAPAN only be called a ruined country. Of course she will recover her self-supporting power in the future.

In the above mentioned round-table conference opinion was unanimous in that the new a Constitution will lack provisions pertaining to the prerogative of the supreme command because no military power will exist. However, every independent country has military power for self-preservation, this is to be universal truth. In the event that our country is permitted to be an independent country again, it must be allowed also to have arms for protection. Those who discussed the Constitution, maintained a contradictory opinion to the effect that, they, though expecting future independence of our country, expect a new Constitution leaking provisions concerning military power. The POTSDOM Declaration states that the Allied Powers do not intend to enslave nor to ruin the Japanese people. The present condition of JAPAN, however, is actually in a state of slavery and destruction. When democratization of our country which is the requirement of the Allied Powers is realized, JAPAN will be able to restore her military power and will regain her self-governing power. Self-government necessarily involves self-defence. This may be concluded to be the intention of the POTSDOM Declaration, the Allied Powers presumably are of the same opinion.

The revision of the Constitution should begin with the inquiry into the cause of the defeat. Frankly speaking, The Emperor who should be a supreme religions figure, the object of veneration by the masses, has come down from that high position to become involved in worldly affairs such as administration and the prerogatives for the supreme command. It was this fact that constituted the principal cause of defeat. Never in our history since the appearance of KOJIKI, (TN a precious manuscript history of JAPAN over a thousand years ago) has the Emperor been in military dress. There were forty-six Tennos dressed in Buddhist clothing however, only three Emperor's have dressed in military style; MEIJI, [illegible]SHO, and SHOWA. Furthermore, since the

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time of KOJIKI no Emperor except the last three carried on any personal administration. Usually DAIJO KAIJIN (prime minister), SESSHO, (regent), and KAMPAKU (chief advisor to the Throne) were advisors to the Throne. And for seven hundred years before the Meiji era the SHOGUNATE had governed JAPAN. It was after MEIJI that the Emperor had prerogatives over administration. This fact reveals that the Emperor is essentially a religious figure removed from politics or military affairs. Since Emperor MEIJI stepped down to take up personal execution of administration, it may be said that the Emperor became CHIO (Emperor of the Earth), and the defeat is attributable to this fact. Like CONFUCIUS in CHINA whose discendants have existed throughout seventy generations, and like the Pope of ROME whose holy existence in ITALY is unhindered throughout the peninsula, our Emperor should have been residing perhaps in KYOTO as a supreme religious figure, an object of people's adoration. Before the introduction of Buddha as God, and after that, in many cases, as a believer in Buddhism, the Emperor had occupied for 1400 years the supreme position in shintoism or Buddhism. In sprite of this, in the Meiji Restoration, the Emperor came down to assume worldly duties. Thus JAPAN has become an ordinary empire in the world.

Our desire is for the Emperor's immediate return to his original position whether in Shinto attire or Buddhist attire, so long as these words of sovereignty and prerogatives of authority are being used in discussion, the feudalistic militarists or bureaucrats will take advantage of this opportunity which will entail the repetition of a similar error in the future. The Allied Powers will presumably not remove their forces from JAPAN as long as the Emperor retains his present position. The Emperor under present conditions is essentially wrong: restoration to his previous position before MEIJI is an urgent need.

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