Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0246, 1946-01-15.

Full Translation:

Informal reorganization of the Shidehara Cabinet was completed earlier than generally expected. However, the new line-up is very disappointing to our people. The Shidehara Cabinet is but an interm Cabinet to carry on until the forthcoming general election. Nevertheless, it is up to this interim Cabinet to cope with various momentous problems facing the people and to relieve them from their present plight. As soon as he assumed the premiership, Prime Minister Shidehara declared that "high efficiency" would be the motto of the Cabinet. Nevertheless, the present reorganization clearly shows its inefficiency. In short, the reshuffle must be considered only a stop-gap.

ABE, Nosei, principal of the First High School may be an appropriate choice for the seat of Education Minister. However, we can not understand the reason why old MITSUCHI, Chuzo, is appointed Home Minister and SOYEJINA, Sempachi, Agriculture Minister. The Agriculture Ministry is one of the most important government offices at present in JAPAN. The Home Ministry is the government office charged with managing the general election, the first political step toward a democratic JAPAN. MITSUCHI, Chuzo, the senior statesman of the former SEIYUKAI, is surely one of the outstanding financiers in this country, but now he is only an old man. It may not be an exaggeration to say that, by appointing MITSUCHI Home Minister, the Cabinet is plotting to give the Liberal Party an advantage in the forthcoming general election. If this assumption should be true, the present reorganization would not only prove a suicidal measure for this interim Cabinet but would deceive the Japanese people. Considering that there are various restrictive conditions in reorganizing the Cabinet, we were rather sympathetic toward the Premier, However, the present reorganization makes us wonder about the political sincerity of Premier SHIDEHARA.

The Japanese people earnestly desire the formation of the best Cabinet possible as long as conditions permit, no matter how the nation is being managed by the Allied Powers, even though the present Cabinet is but an interim one. This sincere hope of our Nation was frustrated by Premier SHIDEHARA. We do hope that the general election will be held promptly so the nation can be rid of the present Cabinet as soon as possible.

The abolition of price control over perishable goods has proved an unquestionable failure by the authorities. It has not only failed to solve the problem, but, as it is well known to the people, it added to the disturbance of our economic control policy. As soon as price control over perishables was lifted, inflation conspicuously increased, widening the gap between the rich and poor. In view of the present dire shortage of food, the failure of this measure has had immeasurably bad effects upon the national economy.

EDITORIAL SERIES: 246 (Continued)

ITEM 1 (Continued)

The lukewarm attitude and inconsistent steps heretofore taken by the authorities concerned following the abolition of price control clearly show how incompetent and lacking in self-confidence the present government and its officials are.

When the abolition of price control over perishables was declared, we predicted that most of those black marketeers on the street would lose their jobs. We assumed at that time that in order to expel the black marketeers and abolish unlawful channels of goods, the Government would first put authorized merchants into severe competition with those black marketeers, then effect the manipulation of price and supply under a new aspect. However, this proved unsuccessful for the authorities. They were either lacking in a clear cut perspective of the matter, they were not ready for the consequences following the lifting of price control. Accordingly, when prices of perishable goods advanced, instead of taking adequate steps, the authorities failed even to allow free prices. That is, on one hand, the authorities concerned are formally adopting a free price system, but actually they are still admitting a fixed price and standard price system. As a result, channels of goods on the market are still in the grip of the black marketeers. Accordingly, the nationalization of channels distribution by means of the purchase and transport of commodities in great quantities is still incomplete. The above fact proves that the present authorities are unable to cope with the difficult situation at hand.

Full Translation:

The first session of the organization was opened on 10 January with the leading delegates of the 51 nations gathered in LONDON. King GEORGE VI spoke with the modest expectation that the coming few weeks would decide whether a new dawn of civilization would begin or whether dark clouds would hover again over the whole world. In JAPAN, none can doubt the great success which the new international organization has achieved in working its way to the opening of the first session through the DUMBARTON OAKS Conference of the year before last and the SAN FRANCISCO Conference held just before our defeat.

It is a well-known fact that the new international organization has had to overcome many difficulties before it reached the opening of the first session. Even in the future, the organization will surely suffer from differences of opinion and many other difficulties. At this very momment, RUSSIA is in an unexpected conflict with the UNITED STATES and GREAT BRITAIN regarding the election of the assembly president. Moreover, the difficult problem of the control of atomic energy is hindering the first session. It was never dreamed of 10 years ago, however, that the UNITED STATES and ENGLAND could possibly Compermise with the SOVIET UNION, as these two factions were believed to be destined to rival each other.

Then, there is the international control of atomic energy, which is powerful enough to make the inventor country the conqueror of the world. These splendid tasks are being realized. Peace is dawning over the world. The two world wars in the 20th century taught the human race how calanitous and injurious a war is. The longing for peace and happiness by the people of the world which is stronger than any armed power, brought this new organization into existence. So long as this will for peace exists, the United Nations Organizations will successfully carry on its sacred task, tiding over any disturbance and defeating any contradiction.

The new United Nations Organization, which aims at the establishment of a world security system, if necessary by force wielded by the Security Council, is for stronger and more realiztic than the old League of Nations. The world is coming into a new era of civilization. JAPAN joined the defunct League of Nations with the brilliance of a victor

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 246 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

country. Now she is groaning in the plight of a defeated country and is far from participating in the new organization. All that JAPAN intended in joining the League of Nations was to secure and enlarge the imperialistic trophies obtained in CHINA and the SOUTH SEAS. She did not understand in the least the true spirit of the world organization, treating it as a nuisance despite the fact that she was a principal member.

Now, the Japanese attitude toward the United Nations Organization should be, and is, quite different from her old attitude. JAPAN has sustained the most miserable defeat in her history, and her territories are occupied by enemy forces. JAPAN, as a country of BUSHIDO and Militarism, held conquest as the greatest honor, from the fabulous ages to the present, and believed that her lot improved only by war. However, JAPAN has been completely defeated. The nation has come to know the evils of war for the first time. The nation, which did not know the value of peace, is being enlightened to appreciate peace. The nation, suffering from hunger the war brought about is thinking bitterly of how meaningless war is and how precious peace is. Thus, the nation is seeking hope and consolation in the United Nations Organization which aims at lasting peace. At this very time, the Japanese nation can really appreciate peace and internationalism which are the spirit of the United Nations Organization.

The POTSDAM Declaration provides that JAPAN shall not be qualified for membership in the international community until she achieves democracy. Before this is accomplished, JAPAN will not be allowed public intercourse much less participation in the United Nation Organization. It is the greatest disadvantage and misfortune in our national life that JAPAN should be isolated in an obscure nook with poor natural resources. The nation should exert every effort to come out of this situation as soon as possible. If we speak in time sequences, the final end in the revival of JAPAN is participation in the United Nations Organization. As the desire to reform the unequal treaties was the motive power for internal reform, zeel for joining the United Nations Organization should be made the propelling power for national democratization.

Full Translation:

The Government ought to levy a heavy property tax on those who made profits during the war. However we are afraid of the intentions of revenue authorities of the Finance Department. In the case of an increase of taxation during the war, the authorities made it a motto to spread the burden impartially over the Nation. Nevertheless, looking back on the result, this was all talk and no action. Uni[illegible]this system war profiteers went free, and the poor purses of the general public was amptied.

In conspiracy with some revenue officers, the ZAIBATSU often succeeded in evading taxes. These scandalous cases have not been exposed. As to the imposition of the new property tax, we fear the authorities will fail to carry it out impartially, we consider their system and capacity.

Every person, legal or private, should consider how to meet the tax. It is unreasonable that the accelerated property tax is based on personal property held in 1940. Generally speaking, the first term of war inflation in JAPAN is considered to be from 1933 to 1938, the second is from 1938 to 1941, the third is up to our surrender.

The national income has now increased at least more than five times as that in 1933. Moreover, it is illogical that the profit which was made

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 246 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

before 1940 is not to be regarded as object for taxation. We think that an increased sum of property would be determined if the basis of the assessment is put back of 1933.

Speaking of the tariff of an accelerated property tax, this new tax is not a heavy burden on the ZAIBATSU, but on the middle class, whose resources are less than some 100,000 yen, and the graduated scale of the tariff is unreasonable. It will certainly become an object of discussion in the DIET. However, we must study it, lest we should not be fairly taxed.

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