Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0151, 1945-12-25.

Full translation:

The most important of the problems now facing the Japanese nation is the food problem, which has now reached its most critical point. In spite of a resolution adopted in both the House of Commons and the House of Peers, encouraging the importation of food, no actual efforts have yet been made in this respect. This is the usual fate of such resolutions. It might be a good idea, instead, to conserve the materials so far unused and plan for the reclamation of land. It is absurd to depend simply on an obsolete economy. We must remember that the policy of economic independence must be discontinued with the recovery of the free trade which will result from our complete adherence to the POTSDAM Declaration.

Can Japanese rice compete with rice produced under good climatic condition and at Low wages in FRENCH INDO-CHINA, HAILAND, BURMA, or FORMOSA? Can we complete against CANADA, AMERICA, or AUSTRALIA in wheat production? We are afraid that here is sprouting the seeds of another agricultural panic quite different from the one now prevailing.

We must descard insularity, and make it a fundamental policy to supplement shortages of staple foods with imports from the aforementioned nations. We must also exert ourselves to produce commodities in exchange for these imports. But this will necessitate the establishment of a government which can stand high credit with the Allied Powers. It is with good reason that the Allied Powers have not so far offered any assistance in this respect, since our Government does not even have enough power to publish notices about the general election. One of the first duties of an interim cabinet is the adoption of a policy which will facilitate the carrying, out of a general election. This would permit the election of a new cabinet which is capable of reopening, the conference with the Allied Forces. Unless this is done, there may not be any solution of the food problem.

Self sufficiency might have been all right at time, but General Mac- ARTHUR's Headquarters cannot avoid realizing the fact that in the past we used the self sufficiency argument as a reason for militarism. For the future, we advocate an overall import policy. This is the only way we can solve our present problems.

Full Translation:

In the revision of the Constitution, demand that there be a stimulation to the effect that when petitions are presented directly to the [illegible]and trans itte by the [illegible]to the Diet, the latter shall be [illegible]lled

EDITORIAL SERIES: 151 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

to deliberate on the petition immediately. The right of petitioning should be expressly stipulated in the Constitution. By this method, not only will a direct connection be established between the Emperor and the people, but a certain amount of political control may be exercised over the Diet. The expanding of the Diet's power may prove to be injurious to the welfare of the people.

The reduction of the rights of sovereignty is necessary and justifiable. At the same time, the, establishment of the right of petitioning will result in a new respect by the Government for the will of the people, which is essential to a democratic policy.

(Letter from O[illegible]ideo)

There is nothing more serious and urgent than carrying out measures to stave off the starvarion of the Japanese people. It is, therefore, a matter of course that every political party has mapped out plans for the solution of t is problem and that the representatives of each party have made these plans public. Too much reliance, however, should not be placed on any of these plans.

Have members of the political parties ever gone out to farm villages to purchase food? Have they ever negotiated with the wicked farmers who are saying "Now is the time for us to deprive the town people of their money" and are greedily demanding goods in addition to the unreasonable black market price? Have they ever experienced the feeling of returning home in the evening with only a sho of rice or half a kamme of potatoes, with their children crying in hunger and members of their family ill?

Their plans are good in theory, but, until they are actually carried out, the people will starve in cities and towns. The people's minds have already become black and crimes are increasing, Our concern, therefore, is only in how to stave off this crisis. What a want from the politicians are sweeping measures; and the people will choose the ones who are most sincere in their desire to solve this problem.

DISTRIBUTION "X"

- 2 -