Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0106, 1945-12-17.
Date17 December, 1945
translation numbereditorial-0363
call numberDS801 .S82
Persistent Identifier
EDITORIAL SEREIS: 106
ITEM 1 Future of Japanese Agriculture Hopeful - Provincial Newspaper Chubu Nippon Shimbun NAGOYA - 12 Dec 45. Translator: K. Gunju.
Full translation:
General MacARTHUR's directive on agrarian reforms, issued to emancipate the Japanese
peasant who has suffered for centuries
under feudal oppression, has settled once and for all the issue for the Diet.
Deliberations on the land bill were exceedingly drawn out and lacked seriousness,
despite the importance of the legislation.
Whether the deliberations were ever completed is rather dubious, but since the directive,
discussion became animated along
serious lines. No one any longer doubts its eventual passage.
The Government has exhibited a slowness in all matters until allied Headquarters
directives prod them into activity. It is a
most disgraceful condition both for the Government and the Diet.
No one can object to the reforms as such. The differences originated in such details
as limits to land ownership. The
directive, however, removed forthwith such petty obstacles. It prescribes far broader
and more thorough reforms than the
Government objective. Most noteworthy is the order for provisions protecting the farmers
from the oppressive tactics of
manufacturers and tradesmen. Further, by providing a system of long and short term
loans, it removes the degradation of farm
tenancy.
Thus, to obey the letter of the directive, the Government and Diet are obliged to
emancipate the farmer and efficiently manage
agriculture.
ITEM 2 Significance of YAMASHITA Trial - Yomiuri Hochi - 13 Dec 45. Translator: H. Furukawa.
Full translation:
The terrible atrocities committed by the Japanese Army in the PHILIPPINES were disclosed
to the world in the YAMASHITA trial.
They were crimes perpetrated against God and man, and will probably be recorded as
the most heinous in the military history of
either the Orient or the Occident.
Those committing these atrocities have always given lip service to BUSHIDO, and have
unabashedly called themselves the
"Imperial Army" since the Manchurian Incident.
From ancient times, BUSHIDO has counselled that even a surrendered enemy is to be
treated kindly, as expressed in the
allegory, "The hunter does not kill the sorely-pressed bird who is completely at his
mercy." This is the moral foundation for
BUSHIDO, and the spirit and creed of the warrior.
EDITORIAL SERIES 106 (Continued)
ITEM 2 (Continued)
Yet, despite this creed, the expeditionary army under General YAMASHITA's command
arbitrarily massacred innocent civilians
including the aged, women, and children, in MANILA and many other places. How can
anyone not be horrified at such
outrages?
The true character of the so-called "Imperial Army" has been exposed. These atrocities
bring dishonor, not only to the
Japanese Army, but to JAPAN as well. And though we must express our sincere regrets,
the matter must stop there.
Lt. General MUTO and other witnesses for the defense stated that because of disrupted
communications only the troops at the
actual scene of the atrocities can be held responsible. They further charged that
the offenders mere naval personnel who
refused to obey the orders of General YAMASHITA. What are we to make of this statement?
An old Chinese proverb states, "Thousands die so that one can be elevated to fame."
This proverb is applicable to the trial
which has attracted the attention of all the world, bearing witness to General YAMASHITA
and his staff, endeavoring to save
one general's life at the expense of thousands of soldiers and sailors.
There can be no discriminating between soldiers and sailors when engaged in joint
operations. Moreover, General YAMASHITA was
the Commander-in-chief of all Japanese forces in the PHILIPPINES.
Naturally, the military court at MANILA could not be bothered to listen to testimony
designed for the evasion of
responsibility, so General YAMASHITA was duly sentenced to death for his responsibility
for the atrocities committed against
numerous innocent civilians.
After YAMASHITA had been convicted, Colonel CLAYMAN (TN ?) and others of the defense
counsel took legal steps, at their own
expense, to file an appeal to the Supreme Court of the UNITED STATES, because they
felt YAMASHITA was entitled to full respect
of the law, and they wished the trial to be concluded carefully.
Let us assume an American general being tried by a Japanese court. We seriously doubt
whether Japanese defense counsel would
exercise the same effort as did the American counsel, particularly if private funds
were involved. Assuming that the lawyers
ardently wished to see justice done, what would be the reaction of the majority of
Japanese? The lawyers would be charged with
meddling, or exceeding their authority, and would further be vilified as publicly
seekers, or as traitors.
How the YAMASHITA case will be handled in the Supreme Court, and in General MacARTHUR's
Headquarters, is more than we can
guess. But the extremely cruel and undisciplined character of our Army has been made
unmistakably clear as a result of the
trial. Similarly, the sincerity of the Americans has been made obvious by the actions
of Colonel CLAYMAN (TN ?) and his legal
staff who, without regard for their personal feelings or sentiment, have demonstrated
a willingness do anything in the
interests of justice. This is a fine example of the character of the American people.
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EDITORIAL SERIES: 106 (Continued)
ITEM 2 (Continued
What is war, and what is the essence of justice and humanity? We Japanese must never
forget the invaluable lessons provided us
by the YAMASHITA trial.
ITEM 3 How We Should Handle the Thought Problem - Provincial Paper Chubu Nippon Shimbun NAGOYA - 13 Dec Translator: K. Gunji.
Full translation:
In a Diet discussion on the problem of thought, Education Minister MAEDA repeatedly
asserted that thought is determinable not
only by force, but rather by intelligence. This is self-evident. But in considering
this problem we must cautiously avoid the
fallacy of dealing in abstractions and the fallacy of limiting the problem to specific
classes of society. Such a situation is
incompatible with existing conditions.
Times have become so critical that even state ministers talk about death by starvation
of 10,000,000 people. The problem of
thought is not, therefore, separable from grim reality. If dangerous ideas prevail
as a result of this reality, no amount of
theorizing will check them.
Moreover, applying the problem to any particular social class is a great mistake
since the problem exists in all classes.
Theories which are products of meditation cannot persist against the force of thought.
We, therefore, believe that the existing problem of thought is inseparably related
to the problem of the people's livelihood,
and not the limited sphere of the Education Ministry.
Its objective, which is peace and democracy, has already been determined. Our contribution
to world peace and civilization is
in the uniqueness of our culture and the individuality of our national history. The
permanent policies of our nation should
not be changed to suit a single transitory phase in history.
Since all national effort is directed at this objective, the problem of thought must
also follow along these lines. We must
not leave the matter solely to the judgment of the Government and the leaders. The
people must consider the problem and
conduct themselves cautiously.
Distribution "X"
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