Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0264, 1946-01-18.

Full Translation:

As a result of the joint statement issued by NOZAKA, Sanzo and the JAPAN Communist Party, we believe there is a definite possibility for the formation of a united people's front of those who have been watching JAPAN from abroad for the past l6 years and those who have been observing it from prison for the past 17 or 18 years. However, since there are some noted, Communists outside of the JAPAN Communists [illegible]cannot say whether the party is able to become a party which embraces all communists in JAPAN. Further turns and twists will complicate the situation even more. In this regard, there is an important significance in forming a democratic popular front comprising a broader stratum of the people which has been proposed by YAKAKAWA, Hitoshi, veteran leader of the proletarian movement, who has really grasped the actual situation.

The Communist Party, at present, has no journalistic brilliance like that which has risen to prominence in society from the masses in former tines, but it has the social foundation to become "a political party to be loved by the people" as NOZAKA said. The attitude of the masses on the problem of the Emperor System has greatly changed in a month or two. In the joint statement, they discriminate between the abolition of the Emperor system and the continuance of the Imperial Family. It is, therefore, to be said that the attitude of the Communist Party remarkably approached that of the Social Democratic Party which was clearly expressed in the party's statement recently issued on retaining a democratized Emperor system.

According to the statement, the social Democratic Party does not take up the theory of the people's sovereighnty, but asserts that the sovereignty belongs to the State. and a part of the democratized administrative power is to be imparted to the Emperor, but the greater part of the power, which is the nucleus of government, is to be transferred to the Diet They are thinking of making the position of the Emperor resemble the constitutional position of the King of ENGLAND. This, of course, differs essentially from the abolition of the Emperor system as a state system. As to the position of the Imperial Household which is to become similar to the Royal Family of ENGLAND, the most difficult problem is the expression of such an idea in the Constitution.

It is not a contradictory idea as to the actual power of government, to say that the state system of ENGLAND has a royal family but no king. The King of ENGLAND has no power to veto legislation. It is, therefore, understood that the King should sign his name even on a bill which would sentence him to death, when it passed Parliament. In fact, Parliament let the last King of ENGLAND abdicate the throne. As the constitution of ENGLAND is statutory, the position of the King who has no sovereignty has uncotradicting actuality. So to speak, the King of ENGLAND is not "a sacred obstacle" to democratic administration.

EDITORIAL SERIES: 264 (Continued)

ITEM 1 (Continued)

However, in JAPAN, if a democratic Emperor system is patterned after that of ENGLAD) in the new Constitution, the State will become a republic. How does the Social Democratic Party solve this difficult problem? This is the most important point. By the solution of this problem, the gap between the social Democratic Party and the communist Party will be bridged, but we can find the problem of the Emperor System in the Constitution the reason why the Social Democratic Party refused to join the united front proposed by the communist Party.

Full Translation:

With their comrade Mr. NOZAKA, Sanzu, just having returned home, the JAPAN Communist Party has suddenly change its former attitude in order to moaify its platform and make its tactics realistic. This conversion seems to be a first step for its success, and it can be imagined that the other parties, especially the Social-Democrats and Liberals, will be affected so much that they will not be allowed to remain indifferent. The Communists, changing their original platform calling for the abolition of the Emperor system, did not disclose their views on the continuation of the Imperial Household.

At the sane time, the Communists showed themselves so generous' that they are willing to compromise with other parties in the formation of a joint democratic front, instead of a popular front in the narrow sense. This change in the Commun[illegible]attitude can be considered the signal for a new trend in the Communist movement in JAPAN, sweeping away the misunderstanding that the former leaders were narrow-minded and exclusive.

The Japanese Communist leaders had until now made the overthrow of the Emperor system their slogan end expressly inserted it into their program. They stressed and emphasized it at every opportunity and struggled against all opposition. In the abolition of the private property system, the fundamental and universal principle of communism, the Japanese Communists are strangely very indefinite in their attitude. Meanwhile, the Communists have consistently demanded the abolition of the Emperor system, and this has been most characteristic of the Communists. This has strangely impressed the people since the Communists have always demanded the abolition of the Emperor System. It has been understood that the overthrow of the Emperor system effects the abolition of the Imperial Household. At least, the former Communist leaders did not make their attitude clear in distinguishing between the Emperor system as a State institution and the Imperial Household:

In greeting, Mr. NOZAKA recently, however, the Communists issued a statement aimed at making a clear distinction between them. They declared that it is the Emperor system as a State institution which the Communist expect to overthrow, while the continuance of the Imperial Household should be determined by the democratic will of the people. It may be said to be a very wise policy of the Communists to seriously modify their traditional views on the abolition of the Emperor system by giving it a new interpretation.

We can regard this turn of the Communists as the first step for their success in politics. We can feel the change in the attitude of the Communists brought about by their experience in political tactics and their prudence. We observe their caution in showing their plans for the continuance of the Imperial Household to the Nation.

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 264 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

The Communists, striving to solve the pending difficulties are now willing to form a joint democratic front to muster men under their banner. They propose to act with broad-mindedness and not adhere to the idea of the popular front in the limited sense. The Japanese Communists suddenly changed their attitude to one that is, generous, liberal and calm. They have given up their former impatient manner, in which they regarded everyone as an enemy and which was mixed with the spirit of revenge and class consciousness. Therefore, everyone will be astonished at the suddenness of the change in the attitude of the communists. The joint front, the Communists says, will be formed by the agreements recognized in general by each party. The Communists stated "Each party or person may bee free within the basis of the joint program. "Each party may comment on the others in the spirit of friendship while compromise among the parties will be required if necessary".

The above statement recently issued by the Communists will doubtlessly be effective to clear away the misunderstanding of those who regarded the communists as a group of theorists and dreamers, devoted to academic discussions without regard to actual problems. In observing the new leaders of the Communists volunteering to compromise with other parties and advocating friendly criticism by others whose independent situation will be recognized, we are deeply interested in the new departure of the Communists. we feel as if a new Communist Party has been born in JAPAN, By their new departure, the [illegible]will be a very realistic force in the political world of JAPAN.

On the other hand, the Communists must try to be loved by the people. As Mr. NOZAKA said in his return to TOKYO, the former leaders neglected to get the love of others, but wore absorbed in having their revenge. If the Communists go on in such a manner, they will never succeed. Is much left to be desired by the Japanese Communists if they examine themselves? We expert that the communists will make a new departure underthe new leader, with the liberal idea that a principle nay be held firmly while respecting that of others, and we expect that they discuss politics with generous and broad-minded attitudes.

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