Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0139, 1945-12-22.
Date22 December, 1945
translation numbereditorial-0455
call numberDS801 .S82
Persistent Identifier
EDITORIAL SERIES: 139
ITEM 1 Remedial Measures for Reparations - Hyuga Nichinichi (Miyazaki) - 14 Dec 45. Translator: T. Unayama.
Full Translation:
It has been made clear by various declarations since the POTSDAM Declaration that
the primary purpose of the U1TITED STATES
reparations policy toward JAPAN is to eradicate every vestige of militarism from its
life so that JAPAN can never provoke any
war of militaristic aggression. However the concern of the Japanese people is concentrated
in concrete data.
The statement of Ambassador Edwin W. PAULEY released by Public Relations officer
7 December has given us a reply to this
point. According to this statement, the production of JAPAN's heavy industry will
be reduced to the same level as before she
invaded MANCHURIA in 1931, and the standard of living of the Japanese people after
the fulfillment of the reparations shall be
no higher than that of countries against whom the Japanese aggressed. The statement
also notes that a way must be opened for
the development, in the future, of a self respecting JAPAN, economically stable, and
committed politically, without
reservations, to a democratic way of life. This is the aim of the UNITED STATES’ policy
expressed many times since the POTSDAM
Declaration, and it is reiterated in the Ambassador's statement.
We would unhesitatingly accept this data as retribution that is just and proper for
defeated JAPAN. However, the actual effect
of the reparations to Japanese industry and finance will be heavy. The capacity to
manufacture machine tools is to be reduced
to half. The main portion of the equipment of shipyards and light metal factories
is to be removed. All steel working capacity
is to be reduced to 2,500,000 tons per year, and the limitations on one chemical industry
is also to be tightened. Moreover,
the fibre industry is being considered in another way.
It is clear that JAPAN, having lost all outside territory, has no means to revive
economically except by increasing her
productive capacity by industrial efficiency. Accordingly it is not easy to work out
economic reconstruction during and after
the period when the reparations program is carried out. We would, of course, never
hesitate to bear the reparations as one of
our obligations to the world. However, we cannot but emphasize that in order not to
let the payment of reparations and its
effect stray from the fundamental intention of the reparations policy, there are many
things which the Japanese Government
should do.
First, the Japanese Government should show a concrete plan with minute and adequate
materials for controlling Japanese
industry, especially heavy industry. The reconstruction of the industry and economy
of
EDITORIAL SERIES: 139 (Continued)
ITEM 1 (Continued)
JAPAN is her own business and duty. If she does not make efforts for reconstruction
along the lines directed by Supreme
Headquarters, it will result in delay in proper reconstruction and show a lack of
cooperation with the Allies. It would
indicate great idleness by the administrators. Second, it is important to open a way
to let the people positively exercise
their knowledge and ability to increase industrial effeciency. Third, the Government
should map out plans to prevent the
inflation which is feared as a result of the compensation to be paid for the industrial
equipment removed as reparations. For
example, there may be a plan to pay the compensation with the interest on bonds issued
for this purpose.
We have not yet been informed that the Government has made enough preparation and
effort to meet this objective. We are
therefore pointing it out here, to keep strict watch over the Government's slow action.
In addition, we advise every one of
the nine hundred thousand people in this prefecture to be aware of his responsibility
and make efforts to raise again the
standard of living of the Japanese which has fallen below that of the Chinese and
all races to the south.
ITEM 2 Save the Salaried men - Kohoku Shinpo (Sendai) - l6 Dec Translator: Y. A. Suzuki.
Summary:
Freedom of selling prevented the people from going into the country for supplementary
food and also stopped black market
prices from rising It Improved the livelihood of most of the people and helped them
to be better fed. The recent decrease in
bank deposits, withdrawal of savings, and expenditure of salaries by demobilized and
unemployed people brought on hardship to
many families. This is especially true of those who live only on a salary. They have
no fixed fortune, and are unable to
negotiate loans so that they are continually pressed for money to buy enough food
from the black market. Elementary school
teachers and lower public officials are representative of the Japanese low-salaried
people. They have other troubles, too with
mental anguish due to the social credits and positions which must be maintained. Therefore
the Government must promptly think
of their security.
During the war everything, even the public peace was executed in the name of the
people. All food was controlled and, above
all, the Government firmly maintained the price of rice, the staple food at double
its former price. A radical critism was
made on this score a short time ago and with a view toward stabilizing the people's
living, a re-examination was
requested.
- 1.At the present, salaried men are the ones who really need help therefore, the Government should add reasonable profits to production costs, and at the same time should increase family allowances. The main object of livelihood protection must be clarified. In this regard there are assertions advocating the amendment of price measures, reversing the price of rice to its former cost, and establishing a true price system with the price of rice as the balances.
- 2.During the war, production measures and livelihood security measures were applied by a single controlled economy, but now this has been demonstrated to be a failure, and since shipping, rationing and official price systems are beginning to decline, measures to protect the lower classes should first be considered and put into practice as an absolute social necessity. Measures to supply consumers with low price staple - 2 -
- EDITORIAL SEREIS: 139 (Continued) food fall wintin the catagory of social necessity. Hitherto the controlled economy proponents erred in confusing controlled economy and social necessity. For a democratic industry it is necessary to establish a social economy. Although there are clear evidences which show the faults in controlled economy, the Government is still adhering to it. This has only caused great difficulty to salaried people.
The Government must start to rescue the unemployed and stabilize the salaried men
simply from the standpoint of necessity. At
the same time it must abolish the old Japanese remedy. The problem of individual security
must be solved under the tutelage of
democratic industry and moreover it must be begun immediately, and courageously.
ITEM 3 Study on Agriculture in Proper Scale - Provincial Newspaper Hyuga Nichi (Miyazaki) - 16 Dec 45. Translator: K. Nobunaga.
Summary:
As a result of a directive of Supreme Headquarters, the Diet is obliged to pass the
Farm Land Reform Bill. However, the bill
is not so remarkably progressive that agriculture in JAPAPN will rapidly develope
by itself. Once we pointed out that farm
land reformation was of significance and should be distinguished from the creation
of the so-called "Small-holders' plan"
which failed. In order for this to succeed, the scale of agricultural management should
be considered. We fear that many small
holders who have even a small influence on prosperity would appear, and hamper the
development of agriculture in JAPAN.
Nevertheless, the Government has not settled the problem in this respect.
On the 9th, MATSUMURE Agriculture Minister, made a statement that the cultivated
area per farmer was insufficient but it could
be supplemented by diversified management, electrification of agriculture and the
development of industry. However, there is
too much management on a small scale which causes the lack of systematic farming.
This is a reason why agriculture on a larger
scale is requested. This problem should not be studied only from the standpoint of
the private economy of the farmer, or of
the economy of consumers, but should be solved from the point of view of the development
of Japanese agriculture.
The economy of JAPAN after defeat is based on agriculture. Therefore, by abondoning
agriculture on a small scale, and by
resorting to scientific development of productive power, our agriculture can progress.
Of course this means the enlargement of
management. But this should not be made by the farmer, but should be carried out from
the standpoint of social economy.
Consequently it does not matter if the area under cultivation is uniformly limited
to one or two cho of land. It should be
decided, instead, with relation to the productive power of the land.
ITEM 4 Mr. Ishida and Representatives - Tokyo Shimbun - 20 Dec 45. Translator: Y. Wada.
Full Translation:
JIJIKO UTA (TU: Songs on current topics) performed by Mr. ISHIDA give us more sympathy
and delight than the addresses of
representatives in the Diet which apparently are very credible but actually are nothing
more than mud slinging contests. The
representatives should always act in common with the Nation. Nevertheless, they are
now standing on inaccessible heights. On
the contrary, Mr. ISHIDA is so close to
- 3 -
EDITORIAL SERIES: 139 (Continued)
ITEM 4 (Continued)
us as not to be called "Mister" in many cases. We can not understand why representatives
dread his MONKIBUSHI (TN:
Happy-go-lucky tunes) so much. We are rather surprised at the narrow-mindness of Mr.
TSURUMI that he should net angry at such
a trifling matter. But that as it may, the Nation is supporting Mr. ISHIDA. Female
voters who are interested in politics will
not vote for the Progressive Party no matter how many platforms it may uphold. The
representatives should impress on their
minds that the nation is lingering on the verge of death from hunger and cold. The
letter of Mr. ISHIDA to this column said
for us what we wished to say.
DISTRIBUTION "X"
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