Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0074, 1945-12-10.

Full Translation:

The Government bill to revise the Farm Land Law was submitted to the Diet. This democratic bill means an agrarian revolution. By this law, the landowners who have farmland above the amount of five chobu are to be affected at the time that the Zaibatsu is abolished.

To abolish the Zaibatsu is to destroy the foundation of the munitions industry, and to create a peaceful democratic country. However, measures affecting the landowners have no punitive intent. but is for the purpose of increasing food. This intention of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry is convincing.

MATSUMURA, Minister of agriculture and Forestry, is an absentee landowner possessing more than five chobu, of farm land. Many members of the Diet, with the exception of the members of the Social Democratic Party, are landowners who will suffer from, or will be affected unfavorably, by the enforcement of this law. The discussions were, therefore expected to be heated, and the assertions of advantages and disadvantages outght to have been expressed plainly. But the interpellations, probably for fear of counterattack by the masses of tenant farmers, were not active. Minister MATSUMARA's replies to the interpellations were full of sincerity "but wordy. Consequently the proceedings were, from the start, not very lively. But in the lobby, the representatives were enjoying, freedom of speech, arguing actively about the "Rtd" character of the farmland law, and abusing the prompt decision of minister MATSUMURA who was responsible for the Director of the Bureau being released from prison to draft the bill. They pointed out the unreasonableness of filling the tenant farmers' pockets on these days when they can buy three tan of rice field at a price of 2,000 yen when they can get by selling a bag of rice at the blackmarket price.

If freedom and democracy were really in the House, the arguments in the lobby would have developed on the floor and in the meetings of committees. The conservative opposition on the side of landowners would have been directed against the progressive stand of the parties which act for the masses. Nevertheless, having heretofore been afraid of the military unique and now in fear of criticism outside the House, members of the Diet are still displaying their opportunism. Such cowarde will be unable to establish a real democratic policy.

Full Translation:

The Government has decided on the reclamation of land and construction of dams as unemployment relief measures. The Home Ministry, in addition to the above, is said to be drawing up a four-year plan for public works with a fund of 6,000,000,000 yen. The plan is a very sensible one

EDITORIAL SERIES 74 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

and to be highly commended. The number of unemployed will probably reach as high as 6,000,000 a year and so projects to alleviate this condition must be on a large scale. No one opposes these projects on the ground that they will encourge inflation. It is recommended that these works be used to comer unemployment completely. That is they must not be stopped halfway because frugality in the appropriation of funds.

The opposition may claim, when we run about short of necessary materials that money poured into public works is only wasted and that projects begun will still remain to be fully completed. For example, roads are to be improved and made strong enough to endure the loads of a heavy truck, such as is driven by the occupation troops. Most of the enterprises projected by our ministries in the past have failed due to over economy in materials and expenses. We see such had example as the highways in Tokyo. Our financial operations have to face a complete change of policy after the next fiscal year, but, at any rate, better reads will encourage development of the auto industry and offer inducements to greater sales and production. Money used for these projects will never Cause inflation. Therefore, the financial authorities must never lower the quality of projects by lowering expenses. The must, rather, support them and see these projects through to completion.

We have another problem-the food situation. The Government must remember that there will never be sufficient laborers unless they are provided for. The advantages and aid of machinery in lightening physical labor cannot make laborers work unler the present rationing system. Their food ration must be increased. The results these measures will bring must be emphasized more than their expense.

How will the government solve this problem? They may say that unemployment relief measures leave no room for extravagance. But they must know that without such measures the projects will fail. The food situation will become worse next year and the government must find a new source of food even though importation of food is authorized by the Supreme headquarters for the Allied Forces. Does the Government have actual plans for this? we fear that it will come with more empty words. The relief of unemployed in the future is far more important than before and the government must not merely make promises but must take immediate action.

Full Translation:

The people are apprehensive lest the Farm Land Reform Bill be shelved by landowner-members of the lower house. If the Progressive and Liberal sentiment runs counter to this bill, members of bothe parties supported by tenant farmers will be defeated in the forthcoming election. On the other hand, if the Progressives and the Liberals favor the bill, both parties will be forsaken by members of the prefectural or village assemblies, most of whom are landowners. But, since they two cannot make a bargain, both the parties prefer to shelve the bill. Only the Social-Cemocratic Party is endeaviring to have the bill passed. For ages socialists have been toiling and struggling for farm land reform and if this bill should be shelved, socialists would be betraying their supporters.

NISHIKAWA, Teiichi, progressive, was the first interpellator on this bill. To our regret, his speech failed to reach the crus of the situation. ISHIZAKI, Shigeru; AKOSHIMA, Toshimaru; and KITA, Katsutaro, questioned the bill but also were vague. The dullness of these interpellations is apparently due to the interpellators' ignorance of the farm land system. Up to now in Japan, whoever referred to the land problem has always been condemned for being communistic. The government, which did not place

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EDITORIAL SERIES 74 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

the bill on the agenda of the House, at a earlier date, is to be censured for its indifferent attitude to the farm land problem.

Only Agriculture Minister MATSUMURA is doing his best to pass the bill. The Diet members in general are indifferent to the problem. Many members of the lower house left their seats and only about 100 members were present Mr. ISHIZAKA took the floor. This lamemtable indifference of the Diet members to the farm land reform bill, important for the solution of the food problem, points to the fact that the present Diet members are lacking in the initiative to consider this highly-important legislation.

The outline of the five-year financial plan of the Government was revealed by Finance Minister SHIBUSAWA is reply to an interpellation by TANAKA, Mitsugu, Progressive, at the plenary session of the budget committee in the House of Representatives, The answer of Finance Minister SHIBUSAWA disappointed us, because the expenditures for reparations, relief service for repatrates from abroad, increase in food production, rehabilitation work, and the establishment of public facilities are not provided for, and the increase in income from war profit taxes, property taxes, and the tax system reforms were not calculated as part of the income.

Extracts:

We often wonder that the commercial world is doing when we see the tremendous black markets flourishing in the shopping centers and the crowds going and from the country to buy food. The tradesmen must strive to restore commerce for the benefit of the people. We want them to re-establish free commercial facilities as soon as possible so that consumers will be able to forgot their disadvantages and inconveniences. They must, therefore, consider immediately the following:

1. Make plans for rebuilding shops at. once; 2. Associations must be consolidated and the sale of essential goods must be controlled; 3. Institutions must be set up to co-ordinate production and transportation in order to increase supply; 4. Improvement of customer service and, accuracy of measurement, just and fair profits, and better window decorations will make, for better Conditions.

Obstructions which are now retarding restoration of better conditions are the problems of controlled prices, permission enterpris, and city planning. We cannot blame only the commercial world, for unless the Government solves these problems for them, they are absolutely helpless. The Government should take the following three steps:

1. Abolition of controlled prices and restoration of competitive sales rather than rationed sales; 2. Make an immediate decision as to whether to maintain or abolish the system of getting permission to set up business. Permission for maintenance should be left to the individual; 3. Definite city planning to be accomplished as soon s possible.

Restoration of commerce not only will bring profits to the consumer but will encourage those who are confused by the web of Government controls.

Mr. MOTOHASHI'S letter asking Mr. HATOYAMA, Ichiro to explain the

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EDITORIAL SERIES 74 (Continued)

ITEM 5 (Continued)

KYOTO University incident was written with dignity and impartialt. To clarify the people's suspicions, and, as leader of the Liberal Party, he made several very pertinent suggestions in expressing his political convictions to the people. Mr. HATOYAMA should answer these problems in a straightforward manner.

(From KOYAMA)

Mr. HATOYAMA should clear up for the people the KYOTO University case. If he does not give any answer we must believe he has no intention of clarifying the case. .And we are ready to censure him severely for being such an unprecedent politician.

(FROM OTANI)

Reformation among judicial police brought cheer to the people but it is a pity to see that the Economic police are still abusing their official powers and their rank. They take advantage of the people's weaknesses to fill their own pockets. We have often heard of them becoming millionaires overnight during the war. Even the regular police are envious when they see them easily get goods which are quite impossible for anyone else to obtain. The country can never live normally when the police are so unfair. We must therefore enforce Economic police discipline.

(From YAMAZAKI)

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