Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0118, 1945-12-19.

Summary:

CHINA has won the war. The victory was given to us unexpectly by good fortune. FORMOSA is now in the seventh heaven of joy. I am not excepted. But, I wish, together with our people to deliberate here on the way we should think and act as Formosans. It is lamentable that we recently have lost our former modest attitude. By a drastic change in the situation, we are growing all the more presumptuous, and frequent seem to be overbearing. However, we must not be too eleated with this joy. It is high time for us to deliberate seriously and moderately on how to develop FORMOSA.

For all this, a certain group is too much assertive of the right of the power of victory and this has resulted in bringing disgrace on those patriots who have long contributed to our nation. For example, it is reported that ware-houses are often assaulted by same Formosans. Of course, those who had hands in these affairs are all youngsters, but such conduct is too rash, too headstrong and too presumptuous to enable them to insist that they are people of the first-rate country. Theo may say we do it because we are hungry and no measures have been taken so far by the Japanese Government to save us from such difficulty. Not only that, we were caught by their (Japanese) sweet words to come here, and now are thrown off by them. This is our consolation. It may sound reasonable enough, but hunger is no reason for robbery. We must recall one of our moral principles that a man should prefer poverty to unjust riches. If we had a shade of conscience, of a first-rate people, we could not nave done such misdeeds as those. We must deeply consider the following words of Generalissimo CHIANG-KAI SHEK "Never meet violence with violence." Not only that, we ought to reflect on our own mistakes during the war. I have many long years' experience here and know JAPAN and the Japanese public feeling towards us. I saw their contemptuous attitude towards us at the close of the war. When I recall it, I burn with anger. I wish revenge no less than other Formosans. But, revenge is needless. They were miserably defeated and actually are now doing penance. In consideration of this, we must not follow in their steps.

Now, world peace has been established. There is no more conflicts. We should forgive and even go a step further to assist them in their trouble. The American soldiers are good examples of this. No matter whether the Japanese hold a revengeful feeling towards us or not, we must persist in a tolerable and kind attitude towards then. We must not take short views of things. We should be proud and conscious of our position as a first rate people. Needless to say, the responsibility of reconstructing CHINA is upon our shoulders.

EDITORIAL SERIES: 118 (Continued)

Full Translation:

Dr. MINAMIHARA new President of TOKYO Imperial University is a modest scholar who had not been much sought after by the press until he was made Dean of the Law Department of TOKYO Imperial University this summer. When he was lately erroneously reported to have accepted a councilorship for the Liberal Party, the proper way to write his name was unknown. To be sure the presidency of the TOKYO Imperial University has recently changed frequently from one little-known scholar to another. However, in MINAMIHARA's case frequent opportunities night presumably have presented themselves for the press to utilize his special knowledge of European political history. It may be that he avoided such chances to associate with the press.

The last three presidents of this University were scholars in scientific fields such as Doctor NAGAYO in medicine, Doctors HIRAGA and UCHIDA in engineering. This was partly due to the internal conditions of the University itself, but in part it might be attributable to the prevalent idea that under the militaristic end rightist influence during the war ideologically colorless scholars were preferred for the post by the timid education authorities.

In this sense Doctor MINAMIHARA's appointment as the president is by no means thought the whim of the authorities concerned. It was made along the lines of democracy. In view of the important and spectacular role he has to play, this scholar, profund in learning and above worldly fame, must have been well aware of the difficulties attendant on this post. This must have been realized by the educational authorities who had appointed him to the post.

As Doctor MINAMIHARAs said in his statement for the press most important from the viewpoint of the nation and the university itself is the revival of learning.

It seems that the way is paved for its achievement now that the hindering feudalistic influences have been removed. Nevertheless, actually there are still abundant difficulties obstructing the path. There is, for instance, a question as to the extension of the rivival of leaning considering the poor resources of our country. In other words, from now on scientific research in our country may be regarded as a luxury. A university education will add nothing to its value in securing occupations in the near future. This is already a fact shown in the employment of the new graduates of this university. There are no applications for new graduates. This tendency, to be sure, may result in a selection of students, expelling those who have neither earnestness nor intentions for research, bus are interested only in securing certificates. However, we fear at the same time, the concern of the students may be directed to outword activities rather than hearing lectures. This tendency was marked in the TAISHO period when the freedom of research was denied.

There is fear that the University will be separated from the trends of the time. If this is the case, the fall of the University is inevitable. There is a danger that the zeal for action along democratic lines will overcome the zeal for research. This may likewise be said about all phases of cultural life. The development of democracy will not be

- 2 -

EDITORIAL SERIES: 118 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

achieved at the sacrifice of the old culture. On the contrary it is the democratization of learning that will protect the worthy things of the old culture intact. On this account the mission of the University is its maintenance. Elevation of the standard of learning in democratic countries is undeniably of great importance. Doctor MINAMIHARA, the new president, has also been appointed to a professorship, an unprecedented action. Holding a chair in his speciality is praise for his faithfulness in research. This attitude of MINAMIHARA's has a combined meaning in that the professor is not only an educator but also a scholar.

Full Translation:

The wrongs of past political parties, that is, of party politics, originated chiefly from the expenditures of a party. If the leader of a part defrays the expenses, the party will change into a feudal association of which the boss takes command and consequently politics is liable to fall into an autocracy. We can see the example in the SEIYUKAI that was governed by the late President HARA, Kei. If a party raises funds from the outside, in conspiracy with capitalists or business men with political affiliations, the party is liable to be degraded. The history of past Japanese party politics can be properly called that of illicit politics by parties, capitalists and businessmen with political affiliations. If a party, to raise funds draws capitalists into it, the party by giving voice to such influences will be degraded and ultimately incur an inner collapse. An example can be seen in the SEIYKAI after President SUZUKI became its head.

Unless the expenditure of a party is fair and the fund raising is democratic, there will never appear a pure and democratic party. The general election is before our eyes, but even the JAPAN Communist Party, not to speak of other parties, has not referred to it and the people also seem to be indifferent.

Above all, the JAPAN Progressive Party has unblushingly counted "raising funds" as one of the greatest qualifications of a leader. The Party besides has said, “A leader should not be a war criminal suspect", or "He should have such power as to be recommended as Prime Minister", but it seems that the members of the Party have not considered fully Mr. SHIBUSAWA, Financial Minister, General UGAKI, Mr. MACHIDA, Chuji and others as the person fit to be Premier under the present situation, even if they are not suspected war criminals. If so, the one they are looking for will not be a leader, but a source of funds.

Those who are now taking command of the Progressive Party were members of the old SEIYU and MINSEI Parties, and their policies are still old as ever. Apart from their thought or form, we can only anticipate another outbreak as incident.

- 3 -

EDITORIAL SERIES: 118

Full Translation:

Some Koreans and Formosan Chinese have lately committed misdeeds. The Japanese officials have been very inactive in controlling them. There are, in some areas, police stations which have had no complaints from injured persons, and consequently the police hove been obliged to let the matter drop. In the past, our country and people did many coil things to the Chinese and Koreans. Some people among us behaved very haughtily. Accordingly, it is natural that we have incurred grudge by them, and we must take our just deserts. We have become the object of observation of the world, and we must be as faithful as possible to the judgement of the Allied Powers, and we must have all patience with these misdeeds.

But the expiatory means of the Japanese has been clearly indicated by the POTSDAM Declaration and there will not be permitted any other means except the Declaration. Such an attitude as to submit violence of individuals contrary to law and justice, is not only mean-spirited, but also contrary to the faith of the majority of the Japanese towards CHINA and KOREA with whom we shall willingly form an eternal and normal connection for co-existence.

What the Japanese have hitherto done far exceeds the present violence by the Chinese and Koreans. But JAPAN and the Japanese although regret[illegible]of their past errors cannot honestly overlook these deeds by their neighbors. We believe firmly that such an attitude will not be thought fair by our neighbor intellictuals.

Repentance exists for repentance and right for right. The Government, in order to obey the directives and orders by the Allied Powers, must be very brave and must not shrink in distinguishing right from wrong. However, much a new relation between JAPAN and CHINA may be discussed, if we lack courage in confirming our faith, it is nothing more than building castles in the air. To conquer an immediate obstacle is better than to discussing a hundred policies, and new relations between JAPAN, CHINA and KOREA. The beginning must be made in immediate solutions to these problems.

DISTRIBUTION "X"

- 4 -