Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0262, 1946-01-18.

Summary:

Due to the present Government's lack of policy and indifferent attitude towards critical problems confronting the Nation, the Japanese people are assigned to solve these questions themselves. The Japanese farmers made up their mind to put into effect a self-administration regarding foods and other necessities by means of the farmers' committee. The Communist Party planned to carry out a people's administration, and movements are developing all over the country in order to supply foods and other commodities by forming alliances between producers and consumers. Such administration is already being carried out in HOKKAIDO. This country was destined to a poor harvest last year, 30 per cent of the usual crops. Therefore, by way of self-defence, the farmers formed an alliance with the HOKKAIDO Labor Union, the HOKKAIDO Federal Mine workers Union, and some other 38 associations in order to exchange food for materials, machines, and fertilizers from the factories.

In our prefecture, one cannot yet observe such active administrations, but antagonism against the inability of the Government is growing steadily among the farmers. In order to overcome the food crisis, our prefecture has planned to produce 60,000, koku of food substitutes. However, the farmers waited for the promised supply of milling machines in vain. The crops began to rot, and the farmers lost their confidence. This failure to supply machines depends on the lack of materials and difficulties of continuing to operate the factories. However, a great deal of its fault lies on the part of the Government, for the latter took up temporary measures, but completely failed to improve the conditions.

The milling machines are scheduled to be distributed about the end of this month. However, it is very doubtful that we can begin work from next month, for even if we had received these machines, electric installments and equipment will not be ready. Some doubtful sources already reveal that only 100 koku, instead of the 60,000 koku, will be produced.

The Government intends to supply only half of the machines and to pay subsidies. The Government should know that the farmers don't need any money. They want machines and agricultural tools, end if they get these, they are resolved to increase food production. The Government should know that farmers cannot be persuaded by money, wine, or any bribes. It is necessary that the Government change its attitude and take hold measures for the guarantee of agricultural machines and materials.

EDITORIAL SERIES: 262 (Continued)

Full Translation:

I deeply appreciated the news which recently appeared in your paper concerning the direct connection between the autonomous townsmen organizations and farmers. In this report, I could find the germination of the powerful constructive ability of the people who objected to the go-slow Government officials. I had been impatient with the paralyzed state of Government offices, but more so at our lack of measures to deal with this situation. At that time, when I read the above-mentioned news, I felt the march of the revived Japanese people. We undoubtedly will make our way through the power of our autonomous organizations.

Concerning the movement for the emancipation of the people or defense of the people's livelihood, I remembered SANO Manabu's essay "Toward the Movement of Dual Rights," in the New Year's number of the "KAIZO." In the essay, SANO advocated the organization of a people's committee in opposition to bureaucratic organizations, and concluded that all problems of the people's livelihood should be solved democratically by the people.

The rights of the people have been already recognized, but the majority of people have not yet found the means of using them The Diet is too narrow to be the instrument for developing the will of the people, Having read the essay of SANO and the concrete examples in your paper, I was very pleased. I, therefore, recommend all persons of the same sentiments to read the above-mentioned essay.

(NIHEI, Aizo.)

I am the son of a poor farmer. The farmers of our village have completed rice distribution for sale to the Government. I received the bounty for the rice just at the end of the last fiscal year. Actually, it was only ten per cent of the total sum of the bounty, which was 40 yen per koku, and that meant I received a small portion of 1944's bounty at the end of 1945.

What a business delay this is! Properly speaking, the bounty should have been paid on the day when I completed the offering. Nevertheless, it was delayed for a year and then there was only ten percent! It is natural that the farmers' offering of rice is becoming increasingly disappointing when such an attitude is adopted by the Government.

(TSUKIJI, GUMMA.)

I think that the best method for improving the rice supply is to pay a bounty in the shape of fertilizer and farm implements, but they should not be delivered after the rice has been handed over. The Government officials and the leaders of villages are corrupted to such an extent that they cannot be trusted if the bounty is not delivered to the suppliers on the spot in exchange for the bags of rice.

(FUKUDA, NIIGATA.)

The Government Ministers' tour of the countryside, and the special distribution of "sake" are better than inaction. The special distribution of "sake," without discrimination between the diligent and the idle, Will have negative results. The special distribution of the rice bounty should be made first to the diligent farmers with fertilizers and farming tools. The only measures for the improvement of the rice supply is, after all, to reward, the honest farmers with the bounty which their diligence deserves. (TAKAGI, Seiichi, SAITAMA.)

- 2 -

EDITORIAL SERIES: 262 (Continued)

Full Translation:

The democratic movement in JAPAN has advanced from infancy to adolescence as a result of the return of Mr. NOZAKA. At least the childish issues will be eliminated.

It was only natural that, as a communist, NOZAKA insisted upon the abolition of the Emperor system, but he made it clear that the continuation of the Imperial Household should be decided by the people. He emphasized that the popular front should be developed into a unified, democratic front on a larger scale, with parties holding a spirit of compromise and flexible policies. Armchair theorizing has reached the state of practical administration.

Needless to repeat, democracy is a system administered by the majority. While the opinion of the minority is not disregarded, it is normal for all questions to be settled by the majority. Such being the case, any communist's position, no matter how fair it may be, has little possibility of approval by the Diet because the communists are weakly represented.

To unify the political fronts by recognizing all existing parties implies that the communists accept the vote system in the Diet, where all parties are bound to reach decisions. Naturally, parties exert every effort to obtain as many seats as possible in the Diet, so it becomes necessary to gain public support. A party, then, must become popular with the public.

In the past, the communists were regarded as tough gangs. This impression should be eliminated, and the communist be accorded better treatment in recognition of their legal status.

It is admirable that Mr. SHIGA and Mr. TOKUTA adhered to their principles during their long, cruel incarceration, but because of the fact that they have been isolated from the real society, and have not been directly in touch with international situations, they impress those who are not realists. While Mr. NOZAKA is one of those who escaped from JAPAN in the past, he has an abundance of personal experience in actual communist administration in SOVIET RUSSIA. The prospects of the communist movement in JAPAN has become more hopeful because of the co-operation between these two different factions. It will be a great contribution to the development of the democratic movement in JAPAN.

Full Translation:

A great deal of courage and decision is required of a person who takes the seat of agricultural minister under such conditions as exist at present. Does the new Agricultural Minister really have both of these qualities? It is true that everyone admits an extremely unbalanced food condition throughout the entire 1946 rice year. Except for those, however, who now face the actual reality of food shortage, no one can understand why there is heard the loud cry over a food crisis and why citizens are on the verge of starvation less then three months after harvest.

Admitting that the year's crop has turned out to be an unusual failure—spoiled by bad weather—and the actual yield of rice amounts to as little as 40,000,000 koku, still we can never believe that this year's rice has all been consumed already. If supply end distribution of rice are to be carried out smoothly, it is hardier possible

- 3 -

EDITORIAL SERIES: 262 (Continued)

ITEM 4 (Continued)

that starvation menaces the cities. Accordingly, the most urgent question lies in a favorable rice supply and its fair and efficient distribution. Of course, we do not deny that farmers harbor many kinds of discontent which are going to burst at any moment, but it is also obvious that so long as any measures are not adopted, the rice supply will become all the more critical. For this reason the agricultural minister is required to have much courage and decision, as we have mentioned above.

There is a voice in the Agricultural Department against the new minister, SOEJIMA, taking the post, and his reputation among the people is not so good. However, hard a man of great fame may try, he cannot settle the food problem, the most difficult of all questions, and in this regard, the new agricultural minister's situation is extremely difficult. Mr. ISHIGURO, Ex-agricultural minister, said that he was prepared to be hated by the people when he was appointed to that post, Is the new agricultural minister going to cope with and settle this food problem with enough courage and decision?

****

The Munitions Industry Account Investigation Committee is going to be established, and is expected to investigate and deliberate on the compensation for losses and adjustment of accounts concerning the munitions industry as contracted by the Government during the war. It will also decide upon detailed policies for indemnities. As the Governmental policy for munitions indemnities is not yet revealed, it is really regrettable that the factory owners continue to sabotage production, giving this moot point as an excuse.

The authorities concerned are studying the required amount of munitions indemnities, and we suppose that an outline is already clarified. Of course, the authorities must decide upon a policy and amount of compensation from a financial viewpoint after closely investigating the claims of munitions indemnities as well as considering those of overseas enterprises. We hope for an entirely satisfactory attitude of the authorities in this regard.

Perhaps everybody felt surprised upon seeing three property tax draft bills disclosed on 10 January, because the private property tax amounts to more than a half of the property tax of 100,000,000,000 yen, while the corporation property tax is unexpectedly small. If the enterprise indemnity for munitions companies is to be paid from a greater part of the tax revenue collected, even from the ordinary people, the problem has a great bearing on the people. This problem of munitions indemnities has hitherto been the object of discussion only by the intellectual classes, but the authorities must not fail to realize that now it has become an actual problem of the masses of the people. On this occasion of the beginning of the Munitions Industry Account Investigation Committee, we express our ardent hopes that the persons concerned will meet the situation squarely.

DISTRIBUTION: "X"

- 4 -