Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0261, 1946-01-17.
Date17 January, 1946
translation numbereditorial-0819
call numberDS801 .S82
Persistent Identifier
EDITORIAL SERIES: 261
ITEM 1 In Reply to Mr. HANI - Yomiuri Hochi - 16 Jan 46. Translator: T. Naruse.
Full Translation:
Mr. HANI accused me of being a war supporter in his talk which was printed in YOMIURI-HOCHI
on 7 January. In my reply to you I
want to make clear my stand.
From the year 1921 to the out break of the CHINA incident I endeavoured to develop
Japanese history with a possible scientific
basis, and owing to this I found myself in difficulty for a long time. The general
public has recognized this fact, I think.
After the outbreak of the CHINA incident, I was mainly engaged in the editing of material
for Japanese history, and with this
data as the basis of my argument, I warned that the incident should be solved as soon
as possible. Due to this warning,
however, I was strongly attacked by the right wing elements.
Ths following is a section from the introduction to my work, "The Leaders in Japanese
Capitalistic History", which was
published in October, 1939 by the IWANAMI bookshop.
"If the pressure of military affairs and politics causes our economy to drop beyond
safe limitations, the function of the
military and politicians will also fall into a dilemma before long. I earnestly desire
the present leaders land the people to
consider accurately and wisely this limit so that they do not let our national power
evaporate".
Anticipating the danger of the nation's ruin in the near future, I again advised,
under a camouflage in this introduction,
that the war be ended without delay. I commented much with the same purpose of warning
in various guises. My collection of
these comments is included the book, "The Historical Review of the Establishment of
Japanese National Defence", which was
published in January 1942 and which you cited. Although there is some disguise, this
book was also written scientifically in
substance. When the war against AMERICA and ENGLAND broke out, I though that JAPAN
would be ruined before long and that the
war should be ended as soon as possible. I always talked to my intimate friends on
this problem. My scientific background
forced me to forcast the miserable defeat of JAPAN.
However, under the abnormal circumstances of that time, I had no courage and no way
to openly declare that we must stop the
war. Therefore, I often explained my opinions to certain high officials who agreed
with me. Moreover, taking into
consideration the extent of the divine war view, in my effort to contribute & little
to a self-examination of the military
and the people in a scientific war discussion, I wrote "Discussions on the Total National
War" in August 1942. Due to the
circumstances at that time, I had to be even more devious in this work, but again
the scientific consideration became the key
note of my writing. The right wing, however, saw through my intentions in spite of
the camouflage, and consequently, I was
compelled to retire from the university in August 1944 under pressure of the educational
authorities
EDITORIAL SERIES: 261 (Continued)
ITEM 1 (Continued)
and the right wing elements.
To conclude, you are free to impeach me, but your method is [illegible]absurd, as if it were a medieval
inquisition. This is natural [illegible]you have been in prison for a long time, I think. However, a demo
trial, is one that is impartial, kind, careful, calm, and bright, li[illegible]General YAMASHITA's trial by
the Allied Nations. I beg of you to us [illegible]this manner from new on. (TSUCHIYA, Takao)
ITEM 2 The Irresponsibillity of the SHIDEHARA Cabinet in Personnel Administr[illegible]Mainichi Shimbun - 16 Jan 46. Translator: H. Arai.
Full Translation:
The mission of the SHIDEHARA Cabinet as an intermediate Cabinet and how that Cabinet
exhibits its characteristics has been
made clear in speech of Chief Secretary of the Cabinet NARAFASHI. There must alway
be a cabinet in existence. However
incompetent a cabinet may be, it better than none at all. However, the question is
whether we ought or recognize the reason
for the existence of the SHIDEHARA Cabinet or no [illegible]. To tell the truth, it is a question of whether
a better cabinet than this can be formed or not. It is unfair to speak of the SHIDEHARA
Cabinet as the worst intermediate
cabinet we have ever had, but were [illegible]gret that we must give a negative answer to the question of
whether the Cabinet will justify the people's trust in them as an aid to the establishment
of a new JAPAN.
Then, you may ask what is wrong with the Cabinet? Considering that t[illegible]new state ministers are
respectable men, people may have, some doubts about this question. Indeed, it is natural.
It is inevitable for th[illegible]intermediate Cabinet that the choice of its ministers is confined to narrow limits,
because very few
are beyond suspicion of war-guilt. We are disappointed in the personnel of the new
Ministers. Needless to say, it is
impossible to tell how difficult the selection of personnel for an intermediate cabinet
is. However, we think that the Prime
Minister himself realizes the random selection which has been made. An old man forgotten
by the world and now, as it were, a
human fossil, has received a portfolio, and an ex-bureaucrat has entered th[illegible]Cabinet. Accordingly
the choice of popular persons merely makes peop[illegible]feel the irreponsibility of Prime Minister
SHIDEHARA in personnel administration.
Apart from the new ministers' fitness for their positions, the Cabine[illegible]is lacking in any fixed
principle. That is characteristic of the SHIDEHARA Cabinet of which the worst fault
is the lack of consciouene[illegible]of its temporary existence, for the Prime Minister insists that the existence of his
Cabinet is not
temporary. So far, it is all the SHIDEHARA Cabinet can do to reorganize itself. The
Cabinet could hav[illegible]carried the selection of Ministers to the people, however. That is the true mission
of the Cabinet,
which makes for a democratic Government.
When the OKUMA and ITAGAKI Cabinet, the first party Cabinet in JAPAN'[illegible]history, was organized,
Baron SONODA, Yasukat, Chief of the Metropoli[illegible]Police Board, stated in his farewell address that
all the ministers t[illegible]active parts in the political affairs of the country, but were men of[illegible]loose morals in private life; and that among them were some who obtain[illegible]money by false pretenses or did not pay rent. Mr. OSAKI, Yukio was [illegible]of these ministers. It may
well be said that the SHIDEHARA Cabinet,[illegible]wedded to the "minister class," cannot do anything
either.
ITEM 3 Establishment of Democratic Fronts - Tokyo Shimbun - 17 Jan 46. Translator: K. Nobunaga.
Full Translation:
Mr. NOZAKA said at his welcome meeting sponsored by the Communist Party. "To my surprise,
Communists today are quite different
from t[illegible]
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EDITORIAL SERIES: 261 (Continued)
ITEM 3 (Continued)
but now there are elderly people, young men, and women."
His speech should not be mistaken as a mere first impression. The [illegible]existence of elderly people
means that the Party itself, having surv[illegible]many bitter experiences in the past 20 years, has grown
up. This is clear in the policy of the Party announced after the defeat.
It is especially worthy of notice that Mr. NOZAKA has become a great elderly leader
during 16 years of bitter experiences.
This is evident in his advising the Party to create such an impression that the people,
rather than fleeing upon hearing the
name "Communist", will learn to love and respect them. The Party is neither a propaganda
association nor an illegal entity,
but a party capable of taking the helm in State affairs.
He says, "The Communist Party should always be with the masses. The Party should
neither force its policies on the masses, nor
be regarded as dangerous by them."
This is a remark worthy of deep consideration. In a public statement, the Party separated
the Emperor System from the Imperial
family. This may be regarded as a materialization of NOZAKA's stand for the liquidation
of formalism.
How much hesitation is there after the publication of the party statement for participating
with the Communists? People
entertaining doubts must have got rid of them, and the anticipated popular front will
surely be established. A united front is
very much like a love affair since it is achieved through mutual trust and love. To
realize unity we should not speak ill of
others, but should forget the past.
Mr. NOZAKA said modestly, "We Communists recognize the ability of our party, but
it is difficult to surmount national crises
by our efforts alone."
As long as he maintains such a modest attitude, we firmly believe that a democratic
front will surely be realized. Taking
advantage of this opportunity, we must achieve it with sincerity.
ITEM 4 Fundamental Improvements in the Education System - Yomiuri Hochi - 17 Jan 46. Translator: K. Nobunage.
Full Translation:
Recently, I asked an American soldier, "What are your plans after returning home?"
He replied, "Besides enjoying my married
life, I want to study hard for about a year in the university from which I graduated.
I've forgotten everything during my
military career. Discharged veterans in AMERICA receive Government assistance of $90
a month toward school expenses."
In JAPAN, the universities are rehiring banished professors. Democracy in universities
should not be limited to this act; the
university system should be made available to the public. Universities should give
an opportunity to those who went to
continued studying for a year after graduation, even though many years have passed
since graduation.
This is a problem concerning not only the universities but the whole educational
system. We urge Mr. ABE, the new Minister of
Education, to exert himself toward fundamental reforms in the education system. He
should encourage the publication of
cultural material, even though the Home Ministry and the Commerce and Industry Ministry
interfere by restricting management
and materials.
DISTRIBUTION "X"
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