Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0351, 1946-02-03.

Full Translation:

Against the Communist's proposal for the formation of a joint democratic front the standing committee of the Social Democrats has decided to organize another committee to study this problem, it is reported. This decided comes as a disappointment to as us.

According to Mr. MIZUTANI Social Democrat, the objective condition has [illegible], but, the subjective condition still has not matured; therefore, this problem is to be continuously dicussed by a new special committee, confirming the previous decisions. As the Government was formally told that it should not be evasive by using answers such as "it is now discussing" or "it will take into consideration", so the attitude of the Social Democrat toward a united front deserves to be similarly blamed.

After the return of Mr. KOZAKA attitude concerning a joint front has been greatly change. The Communists have already stated, "the autocrac[illegible]of one party can not be permitted, . . . . and we are never lacking in a conciliatory spirit." Furthermore, the Party has declared, "in the common front, the minority must follow the majority." From these last words it will be interpreted that the Communists who have a small member[illegible]hi have recognized that they must obey the Social Democrats who have many more members, as far as the united front is co[illegible]corned.

Despite this compromise, the Social Democrat's view that the subjective condition still has not ripened, cannot be understood by the people, who have recognized the need for a united democratic front. The subjective condition cannot ripen without endeavour. For example, friendship never comes into ex[illegible]ste[illegible]ce, if one side always refuses the ether side's friendliness. As long [illegible]s the Social Democrats show the attitude that whatever [illegible]thers may propose, it is no conc[illegible]rn of theirs, the subjective condition will never ripe.

Of course, we must choose our friends. But if the fact that the Social Democrats have recognized the establishment of the objective condition, that is tantamount to accepting the propriety of friendship.

The subjective condition must be matured by a conciliatory spirit, we repeat. And that this is nothing but a subjective problem should never be forgotten.

EDITORIAL SERIES: 351 (Continued)

Full Translation:

Some time ago there prevailed the popular term "malnutrition" among the people. It sounded sad and gloomy toward the end of the war, hut came to sound rather gay, jovial and sometimes even ridiculous to our ears after the war. Today people can manage to live in spite of the present nigh cost of commodities although they are complaining. So it seems that people have managed to escape from malnutrition for the present. But instead of malnutrition, there appeared the word "atrophy" in periodicals after the [illegible]ar. The latter was not so popular as the former, but is still prevailing among us today. At the beginning it meant the general nation's bewilderment or absent-mindedness, but today means "a lack of policy or ability concerning administration." We often use it when we want to censure the authorities concerned for idleness. People have escaped from malnutrition for the present, but when will they escape from atrophy? Whet is a good remedy for it?

II. In a true sense of the term, atrophy means "a dying condition from lack of vigor and physical strength" but today we mean by it, bewilderment or absentmindedness. It is disorder in our mental state. If so, what is an excellent remedy for it? The remedy is "democracy". But it was democracy that brought most of our nation into atrophy soon after the end of the war. Once we believed in JAPAN's unique national structure, but democracy teaches us to respect popular will. Before the war, any criticism on our army and navy was taboo, but today we can freely discuss them. During the war, all daily necessities were controlled by the Government, but today we can buy them freely on the market. That is to say, what aspect of democracy has so far been the cause of our Nation's bewilderment.

III. Democracy is independence and autonomy. It must be independence in attitude and autonomy in action. Liberalism does not mean license. It does not mean wild instinctiveness. It is contrary to democracy if we ignore other people's welfare to buy or hoard more rice than necessary in order to protect ourselves alone from the threat of hung[illegible]r If we want to enjoy independence or autonomy, we should not ignore the welfare of our fellow citizens. Unselfishness and public spirit are necessary virtues for us if we went to reconstruct JAPAN along the line of democracy. It is by virtue of independence and autonomy instead of coercion and official guidance and also by virtue of the entire people' sauna sense that enables them escape from atrophy and advance toward democracy.

Full Translation:

The formation of a Strong popular front will be never realized merely through the good intentions of one party. It is the first consideration for the Communist Party to carry out its projector programs quickly according to its duty. To our regret the Communist Party is still wedded to its old inherent principles and cannot get rid of TOKUDA'S or SHIGA'S way of thinking. The self-complacent and hard-headed manner of that party has not only diminished the peoples interests in it, but also, prejudiced the people against the party.

The first of the notable expressions to TOKUDA's or SHIGA'S mode of thinning is adherence to his part's opini[illegible]on the abolition of the Emperor System. The second is the thoughtless quibble about what is called a lynch scandal or a tough gang case. The third is plainly

- 2 -

EDITORIAL SERIES: 351 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

demonstrated by its repellent attitude towards the Social Democratic? Party which rejected its overtures for a united struggle, because the Communist Party disclosed openly its plans to estrangle the party from the general public and enlist the people under its own banner.

I thi[illegible]that if the Communist Party should study the source, substance and evil of TOKUDA's or SHIGA's viewpoint as I have advised and should sweep away such ideas, the Communists would promptly be loved and supported by the people to realize the formation of a strong popular front. In my opinion it is a matter of joy that Mr. NOZAKA has modified his party's tenet on the abolition of the emperor System. Consequently the Communists must have partly considered their opinion as well as TOKUDA's or SHIGA's to be wrong. In this point, this modification has important significance.

Following this modification, it is necessary for the Communists to publicize the truth of the lynch scandal or the tough gang case, and at the same time trace its origin. The ought to punish those responsible and correct their mistaken ideas thoroughly. On the contrary it is a grave mistake, to repeat the petty argument that those matters were made up by the police. They should rid themselves of their gloomy atmosphere and be loved by the general public. Furthermore, another radical problem is how they should deal with their old revolutionary idea of using force.

The key to the development of a strong popular front lies in the gener[illegible]and conscientous attitude of the Communist Part towards the above problems. By FU[illegible]U[illegible]TO, Kazuo in CHIBA Ken)

Communist Party and the Public

Since Mr. [illegible]OZAKA's home-coming, everyone pointing out the past conduct of the Communists says that they must be loved by the public. I am a new member of the Communist Party. I [illegible]ant everybody to correct thoroughly his manner of speaking as if the reason that the Communist Party is disliked, was [illegible]ue[illegible]t the party itself.

I was student soldier. Seeing now the demobilized ex-servicemen of my age live, people will understand readily how severely they have been affected by the defeat. Then I believing that good administration alone, will give peace and prosperity to the people, have joined the Communist Party. Since then my love for the party has become more dear. I found that the real source of the "dislike of the party" comes from the people who do not like the party.

I told my parent my mental state of my joining the Communists Party. He advised me as follows; "The political situation in JAPAN is too chaotic. I understand you, but, in my [illegible]oinion, you had better postpone your joining the Communist Party, because I am afraid that you would be in danger when the stat of things changes".

After a while I called on my classmate and received the same advice. I knew that many promising youths were arrested for being reds and their parents, families, and relatives were bitterly worried. Therefore I have brought up my children carefully lest they should become reds," said his mother to me.

- 3 -

EDITORIAL SERIES: 351 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

Hereupon I found the actual fact in the modern life of the people. The drastic words and deeds of the former communists did not terrify the people. In other words, under the Emperor System the authorities oppressed or killed many people who were falsely accused of being reds. This is the fetal gap between the Communists and the people. In the phrase "dreadful communists" is expressed all the peoples instincts against power.

In the farming districts none of the policemen, village leaders, or others who searched with sharp eyes for reds, are still maintaining their position. As a result of the unqualified release of Communists after our defeat, everybody has understood that communists are not criminals. It is, however, natural that simple farmers should not love she Communist Party, because they were, by the authorities, compelled to hold the impression that communists were evil. We communists must reflect on ourselves and make every effort to remove this wrong idea from the people. (By SHIRAKAWA, Jiro, a student in TOKYO).

DISTRIBUTION "X"

- 4 -