Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0186, 1945-12-31.

Full Translation:

(A)

We think that the rice monepoly system has come to the stage where it can be put into practice; the stage of investigation has already been passed. It is needed, not only as a temporary remedy for the present food crisis, but also as a permanent policy for our country, where the food problem is expected to occupy the main part of the national policy for many years. It seems that the unprecedented unsuccessful result of the rice delivery for this year itself explains the necessity for the rice monopoly system although, this fact is partly attributed to the worst harvest we have ever and in the past 40 years.

The Government is endeavoring to increase the rice deliver from the farmers. This is justifiable to some extent as an instantly effective remedy, for the Nation at present is confronted with starvation. Yet, at is well-known, we cannot expect much form this. Almost all measures have already been tried for encouraging the rice delivery, but all of them have proved ineffective. Therefore, it is obvious that we must consider a new method.

If we leave the staple food of the Nation in the present state, it will form an influential factor for accelerating vicious inflation. Moreover, such "a laissez-faire" attitude may even political immorality contrary to social justice. Hence it is a most appropriate measure for the Government to supervise production and distribution of rice in order to guarantee the stability in the life of the Nation. The misunderstood "liberal" economic system must be rejected, under these circumstances. The rice monopoly system should be adopted at once in order to maintain social order.

A number of reasons reasons can be given for the unsuccessful result of the rice delivery for this year. It cannot be denied that past policy cooled the desire of the farmers for farming. If the monopoly system of rice is adopted, the Government must not force the farmers to delivery their rice, but must carefully take measure to increase the rice crop. If this is done effectively, the rice problem will surely be favorably affected by national supervision.

SCAP has allowed us to import 3 million tons of food. Nonethe less, we cannot be too optimistic. It can easily be understood how difficult importation is, if we only consider the lack the required material shortage of ships needed for transportation, decrease of food in each country, etc. We must especially not overlook the fact that the

EDITORIAL SERIES: 186 (Continued)

ITEM 1 (Continued)

crops in Eastern Asiatic Countries were affected by the war end bad weather. If we cannot avail ourselves of the goodwill of the Allied Powers, we must get through the crisis by our own means. We believe that the adoption of the rice monopoly system must be seriously considered in connection with this problem.

(B)

It is astonishing how rampart crime has been after the war. Of the 103 cases of burglary and 31 cases of murder in the district under the supervision of the Metropoltan Police Board, in about a year, 90 per cent of the burglary cases and 77 per cent of the murder cases are said to have occured within the four and half months following the war. Moreover, this situation is becoming more severe at present. We cannot help regarding this with apprehension as these crimes acutely reflect all the political, economical, and social defects, such as shortage of food end housing, unemployment, vicious inflation, etc.

This problem cannot be solved without removing such evils, nor can we allow these conditions to remain. It is clear that we must take some counter-measures. If we cannot rely upon the absent-minded policemen, we ere obliged to strengthen the civilian organizations for preventing crime. Stringent measures need not be introduced, and it may be sufficient if the action of the neighbor's association is a little more organized for the prevention of crime. If this is carried out, we may be able to protect ourselves form most of the crimes. Already in some quarters in TOIYO there are large organizations composed of the town assemblies as a unit. The result is reported to be very effective. Let us also form similar organizations!

Full Translation:

The result of the rice delivery to the government by farmers is very poor. Needless to say, at this rate the rice problem cannot be solved without mishap. Since, the termination of the war, this has been generally expected to occur. The farmers are naturally resentful of the corruption of the staff of food distribution centers, officials of village offices, secretaries of agricultural associations, members of the agricultural direction committees and of the economic police (TN Police detailed to check farmers.) In this column we repeatedly pointed cut the unreasonable assignment of quotas for delivery, their illicit transactions in rice and their shameful activities carried on under cover of their positions. The farmers delivered crops, gathered together by starving themselves, unscrupulous to these parasites. In return for all this the farmers received anything but fair treatment from them. Besides, the open rice-robbery of the GUMBATSU made the farmers sick of the rice deliveries.

The government does not take adequate measures to qeuiet the farmers' justifiable anger. Naturally the farmers would like to say that they will offer not even a grain of rice to feed bad leaders. People who delivered precious rice to the black market, ate as much of it as they wanted, and starved Japanese soldiers on islands abroad. An upright farmer would rather have starved than eaten a grain of seed-rice. Such a conscientious farmer is sure to hide seed-rice when others use it in illicit transactions. No farmer can be reluctant to offer rice when he hears of his countrymen's hunger.

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 186 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

The government may disregard the real feelings of the farmers or pretends to be ignorant of their resentment. If so, the government asks too much when it demands the delivery of rice from the farmers and, at the same time, appeals to their brotherly love. Why did not the Government replace the guilty persons responsible for the rice crisis? We do not intend to carry favor with the farmers at all. Many of them lapsed into dishonestly because the inflation caused a general weakening of moral standards. The Government, however, is too thick-skinned to understand the farmers' resentment, which is the chief reason why they don't offer rice.

Mr. BARTON CRANE, a. special correspondent of the New York Times blamed the Government's attitude with regard to the acceleration of rice shipments. He said that, according to an announcement of the authorities of the Allied Forces, if JAPAN suffers a food crisis by next spring, the Japanese Government alone should be blamed. The government must answer for the food shortage, yet it fears to [illegible]cam the farmers' true feelings on the subject.

According to an ancient record, it is said that in a lean year a good farmer did not eat a grain of seed-rice, in spite of hunger. Nevertheless during the closing days of the Shogmate hunger officials used to take it out of his house to sat it. Citizens and farmers died of hunger but never an official. Moreover it is said that Commodore PERRY pointed out that the Shogunate Government did not take care of the Japanese people, but of itself, and he was amazed that JAPAN was a country without politics. When we look at the present Japanese Government we believe that General MacARTHUR can understand PERRRY's statement.

We desire the Government to see the farmers with as keen a sense as it protects its profits. On 26 December the spokesman of the Allied Headquarters emphasized to the press that he considered that the Japanese war-criminals had committed serious crimes against the Japanese farmers, laborers, students, and women, as well as against the Allied Powers and nations. How true! How many times aid these in scrupulous officials and war-criminals cheat the farmers during the war! They cannot obtain the co-operation of the farmers and they are going to bring about a crisis that will plunge the whole nation into serious difficulties. We must bear that in mind and keep a watch on the Government's measures to meet the crisis. Moreover, it is necessary for us to remove from agricultural districts the source of the misconduct of former leaders. If this is done, rice will be offered by the farmers, because the Japanese farmers are not utterly corrupt.

On the one hand the general public must watch every movement of the privileged classes and war-profiteers, who go to farming districts to buy a large quantity of food. They are the enemy of the farmers. Therefore, to solve the food problem efficiently, the general public must understand the truth behind the crisis.

Full Translation:

In reply to the "crowds of students walking along the streets" letter

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 186 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

of Mr. FUJISAWA, Akira, a college boy writes he ignores statistics but still makes observations. In short, a partial survey cannot be used to condemn the whole. He commits the error of guessing. It is a great mistake to say that of one thousand students about ten are honest. I must emphasize that this is not so in general. Good conduct is seldom noticed by people, but bad always is. It is mistakenly thought that students in schools are usually guilty of this conduct. Students are full of awakening Interest, and want more time for extra-curricular study. I ask him not to judge many honest students by the bad conduct of a few (Engineering Students). Don't abuse, but encourage us. I am a school boy at Japan University and in reply to the "school boy's dispute at the Japan University" letter, I would like to say I think that his view is quite natural. It is regrettable that he critized to us. Rather than taking up an abusive attitude towards us, I wish he would advise and encourage us. We must agree to work together in the building of the new JAPAN.

(ISHIKAWA, Yoshihiro)

Six Surving Civilian Crew Members.

Among Japanese shipping lost during the PACIFIC war, larged-sized ships amounted to 3,100. At the termination of the war, dead civilian sailors numbered over 30,000, wounded over 4,800, and missing over 152,000. Amongst estimated seagoing personnel of 80,000 at that time, 44 per cent were killed and 20 per cent are missing. Nearly all of the crews were rescued at least two or three times. That there were far more casualties among sailors than soldiers was due to the former being treated badly by the latter. As the Imperial Navy had lost the sea battle of MIDWAY, it was compelled to withdraw its transportships. They were not allowed to come back to the homeland for security reasons and so were removed to DAYAO then taken to the GUADALCANAL fronts. Our forces also lost this battle. Almost all transports around the island were sunk by the enemy's attack. The Japanese Army forces did not supply food to the 800 survivors who had reached the island on the grounds that merchant seamen are not attached to the Navy during landings. Of these 800 there were only six who evaded death and were repatriated, of these three shortly died and one went mad. There are numerous such examples. To the people, we went to present these facts and beseech their sympathy on behalf of those who went to the bottom of the PACIFIC OCEAN. At the same time, we petition the government to save and support the victims' bereaved families who are suffering from hunger and privation?

(Sent by the Third Section of Crew Allotment Dept. of the Shipping Control Association Seaman’s Bureau)

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