Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0065, 1945-12-07.

Full Translation:

Among the newly-listed 59 Japanese war criminal suspects, there are many leading figures. These suspects would be obstacles rather than benefactors in the construction of a new JAPAN. The people may well say that their accusation came as a great relief in most cases.

If JAPA had not been defeated, these persons would assume the reins of Government. Therefore, if we do not inquire as to whether the accused and their associates' governing of JAPAN was good or bad, we can hardly know the feelings of the people in the matter.

It must be acknowledged that among the war suspects, there are some who were accused to the people's surprise because of their reputations, the discrepancy between their positions and their real abilities. The real ability referred to here is that which committed the war crimes, and it is only because they talked too much or their positions were so conveniently suitable that they have been charged with war guilt.

But they certainly had great confidence in themselves to receive their rewards after an examination of their services. It must, be because of their great self-assurance that they were surprised to find their own names in the list of war suspects. Since certain other persons are those who wanted to immortalize their names, it was possible that the Headquarters of the Allied Supreme Commander recognized their literary fames or reputations.

HIRANUMA, President of the Privy Council, is the leader of a group of influential statesmen. His backers arc the ZAIBATSU, not to mention his backing by the judicial clique and the military clique. He was the leader of the JUSHIN or great statesmen after the GENRO or elder statesmen died, and this firmly installed him in the impregnable fortress of the Privy Council.

NAKAJIMA, Chikuhei, might have expected to be what he is today, and it means a great deal that he has already disappeared from political circles before the coming general election. There may be a good many men who, miscalculating on electioneering expenses, have passed away politically.

It may be said that the problem of war responsibility among Diet members has been solved by this arrest order. Though Premier SHIDEHARA

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made a reply to the interpellation of KAWASAKI, Katsu, to the effect that the present ministers will resign their posts when they meet with opposition of the majority party, it is inevitable since even the "majority" Cabinet must resign against its own will.

Some people may also be surprised to see the true character of YOKOYAMA, Yui, a political sphinx. The real Japanese policy was such that a person whose regular occupation was arresting people was being charmed by an ex-convict, and was completely under his influence. In short, it was not a policy which was derived from among the mass of the people but was one which looked down on them, and allowed the people to contribute only in small part. It did not derive from the masses. Now, the people must awaken to the fact that it is the real character of democracy to allow them to show their discrimination at the coming general election.

Summary:

Anyone who rides the streetcars is probably astonished at the imprudence of the advertisements posted, by the Air Raid Sufferers Relief Association in which it asks the public to offer daily sustenance for the victims. The Association is trying to coax us by promising an invitation to some theater or cinema as a reward. Such offers will spoil the significance of the charity which requires true sympathy and clear resolution on the part of the donor who offers the articles to the needy not merely to get a ticket for a theater or a cinema. The promise of reward will only incur antipathy toward the Association.

Incidentally, the Association may well be blamed for its lack of faith, since it took action at such a late time. It should take steps to relieve sufferers soon. In fact, air raid sufferers have been hindered by the lack of action by the Association. The air raid sufferers are those who have lost their fortunes for their own country, so the only reason that an individual should relieve them is out of pure heartfelt sympathy for their plight. How can such sympathy be effected by a theater ticket?

After all, it is the duty of the Government to relieve them. If there are any bedclothes for sale in the black market, the Government should collect them in order to distribute them free to the needy. The Government should also build houses for each the raid-victims and further insure the minimum expense of their daily livelihood. Some of them may have plenty of cash and furniture, and there may even be those who are insurance swindlers. Those should be investigated and punished. But the poor and innocent victims should never be left in a state of dearth and poverty.

Full Translation:

During the war, an extremely unfavorable period for free speech in the Diet, the budget sessions were always marked by a strained atmosphere. However, in the present budget session, the discussions are lacking in seriousness. If our leaders have sufficient enthusiasm to tide over the present difficulties with the general public, they should make far

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ITEM 3 (Continued)

more urgent and appealing inquiries. On the first day, for example, the issue of resignation of the Cabinet after the general election was settled in a most common place manner following the controversy between the Premier and Diet members. It was followed by the questions of Mr. KAWASAKI, and Mr. TANAKA to the Finance Minister, which were dull, probably because they are not specialists in that branch. The Finance Minister's answers to them, also, were quite unsatisfactory, partly because he is still a newcomer to the Diet and not yet well versed in the affairs of the Finance Ministry and partly because his intelligence was not fully displayed. The latter may be traced to his inexperience or to the oppression of the Diet tradition. If it is the latter, it is worthy of consideration.

Although, at first, he attempted to avoid thorough explanation, he was obliged, at last, to promise to publish the five years finance plan. But, we doubt whether a sufficient amount of material can be gathered for it. If the plan is founded on hitherto undecided matters such as subsidy, indemnity, wartime profit tax, or property tax, it is very unreliable, and we fear it will prove only to be a stumbling block.

The election bill committee session which opened in the 45th, was even duller than the budget session. The discussions lacked seriousness and many members were absent. It convened at 1030 but only 20 out of 45 members attended. The absent members perhaps thought that the Minister's explanation for the submission of the bill was not worth hearing. Mr. KIYOSE, chairman of the committee, finally became impatient and claimed the attendance of all the members. In spite of that, when discussion began, their questions were earnest, indicating the close connection of the bill to their own interests. Some were of the opinion that although they are in favor of womens' suffrage, they fear it may lead to the break-up of the family system of this country. With such opinions, we are inclined to believe that they are actually against the bill.

Then, they ardently discussed the election campaign before the new election law comes into effect. It is natural that they cannot be absorbed in the present task, if their new rivals are undermining their footing in their electorates, taking advantage of their absence. Therefore, they could not be assured by the Home Minister's Comments, but determined to ask for a mere responsible reply from the Minister of Justice on the 6th. The falling leaves outside the window may look to them like election ballots.

Summary:

An American painter who is attached to the Occupation Forces criticized Japanese art, saying "Japanese painters have the higher circles as their object. Accordingly, art flourishes among those circles and most painters make a comparatively good living in JAPAN." But Japanese art is not a mere amusement for the higher circles. Art is sacred and no one can control it. One may say that Japanese art is not popular, but the value of art does not depend upon whether it is popular or not. Some painters painted battle scenes during the war by order of those who were then influential. However, no one can make light of the substantial value of Japanese art because of this fact.

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Full Translation:

The staple food ration for coal miners and their families will be increased to help relieve the coal famine. At present, it has been increased for workers who are employed in building huts for air raid sufferers, and also for factory workers. The present standard ration of staple food, 2.1 go, is not even enough for the unemployed. It is proper to say that "one who is idle should not eat." One solution to the problem of the labor shortage is to increase the coal miner's ration in order to draw workers to the mines, but it is not a wise method.

During the war, apriority policy had been carried out, but because of the government's economic control, it ended in failure. For instance, to increase airplane production, the Government had given priority to the air plane industry. Labor, materials and capital had been given to the industry with priority, but consequently the plane industry alone had expanded. In the long run, the industry itself came to a standstill because other industries were weakened. To solve the difficulty, the Government changed its priority policy. Consequently, the significance or effect of the priority policy could not but become obscure and end in failure.

Needless to say, in the present economic structure, there is a great need for correlation of materials. One industry cannot be dealt with independently. However basic one specific industry or materials may be, it must be, viewed in relation to the rest. Coal is truly a material necessary for all industries, but if it be produced alone, it will be good for nothing. Even if coal production is increased, it will be impossible, without transportation, to convey it to places where it is wanted; and steel cannot be made without iron ore and other materials. Today, it is true that coal production must be increased rapidly. However much coal is supplied, a factory, the latter still must have workers.

The present food ration is not only in sufficient for miners, but also for us all, though there may be a difference of degree. If miners' ration are increased, coal production should recover; but we can now foresee that the ration for important workers as transportation employees and factory men must also be increased. In addition, we can clearly see that unless enough food is also given to miners' families as well as to the miners, the latter will be unable to set their minds at rest during work.

The defeated Japanese cannot be permitted to be idle and endure hunger. In order to work, we must not be hungry. Food import is necessary for we idle shall be obliged to die of hunger. However much coal may be dug up, it will be in vain unless factories start to operate. Circumstances being as they are, it is plain that unless workers get increased rations, there will be an acute shortage of labor. In spite of whatever efforts the Government may employ for reconstruction, they will not get the co-operation of the workers. If so, social uneasiness will be aggravated and profiteers will dominate.

It will take several months to restore coal production to normal, and it will take still more time for all industries, to recover from the coal

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famine. As in the case of coal, if one industry comes to a standstill, it will influence directly or indirectly all other industries, and the economic reconstruction of JAPAN will be further delayed.

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