Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0029, 1945-11-28.

ITEM 1 Total Abolition of the Peer Members - Yomiuri Hochi - 18 Nov 45. Translator: J. Weiller.

Extracts:

Total Abolition of the Peer Members

The Government is preparing a draft of the Election Law Reform, which when approved by the Diet will affect an impartial general election, in which it will be submitted to the people. In conjunction with the election a fundamental change in the House of Peers is being projected. The essentials of this epoch-making revision are the wholesale reorganization of the members of the Imperial Princes, Peers, Highest Taxpayers, Imperial nominees and Scholars. The Imperial Princes will be considered separately, but the peers and highest taxpayers will be abolished, leaving the composition of the House almost entirely Imperial Nominees.

It is a contradiction of JAPAN's democratization, demanded in the POTSDAM Declarations, to leave the peerage system, under which inheritance or wealth assures certain people of office.

Therefore this system must be totally abolished, and replaced by one wherein the House is composed of men of learning and experience who have done meritorious services to the state.

Method of Choice -

1.Continue the present system of the Imperial nominees.
2.Recommend members from various localities.
3.Adopt the Imperial nominees as career representatives. (TN - permanent members)

In the case of recommendations from localities, the system of election by a prefectural assembly or chiefs of towns or villages should be adopted. The electors will be limited to about two from each prefecture (in all about 50). The carrier representatives will be limited to twenty or thirty and will be chosen by representative associations, such as the Imperial Academy, Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Agricultural Societies. Their term of office will be limited, to four years. Though the peer members will be abolished altogether in principle, in case a peer of high reputation is recommended as a member, means of his being nominated will be considered.

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POLITICAL SERIES: 29 (Continued)

ITEM 1 (continued)

With such an outline in mind the Government is now studying the question and as soon as it develops a tangible plan, it will submit the bill to the special session of the Diet following the general election, as the bill cannot be completed in time for the 89th extraordinary session of the Diet.

ITEM 2 Office - Holders of Progressive Party - Yomiuri Hochi - 18 Nov 45. Translator: N. Tachibana.

Extracts:

The following offices of the JAPAN Progressive party were named at a meeting of the directors held on 17 November in their office in NISHI GINZA.

Vice-chairmen of Policy - Formulation and Investigation, UEDA, Kokichi, NAKAMURA, Sannojo, TANAKA, Mitsugu, and FUJIMOTO, Sutesuke.

Directors; AKOSHIMA, Shunji, ITO, Goro, OTSUKI, Shunji, KOBAYASHI, Tetsutaro, TAKAGI, Norio, NAGUMO, Shosaku, NANJO, Tokuo, NAKANISHI, Toshinori, YAMAGUCHI, Sohei, and YONEDA, Yoshimori. Vice-chairmen of the Representatives Conference; SUGA, Hiroshi and SAKAMOTO, Ikkaku. vice-chairmen of Ordinary Representatives Conference; SHIMIZU, Tomesaburo, and ISAKA, Toyomitsu.

General Affairs Section: Chief, HANEDA, Takeshiro. Assistants, KAWAZOE, Takashi and ANDO, Satoru.

Party Affairs Sections: Chief, NODA, Takeo. Assistants, SAKAI, Toshio and ITO, Kiyoshi.

Canvassing section: Chief, YORIMITSU, Yoshiaki. Assistants, YAMADA, Junsaku and KOSAKA, Takeo.

Information Section: Chief, NAKA[illegible]URA, Umekichi. Assistants, WATANABE, Takeshi and KAMIO, Shigeru.

Current—Affairs Section: Chief, SATO, Yonosuke. Assistants, ONO, [illegible]Ichizo, and NAKA[illegible]URA, Yoichiro.

Inspection Section: Chief, NARISHIM, Isamu. Assistants, MUNEMAE, Kiyoshi and SATO, Yoshio.

Youths Section: Chief, NISFIKAWA, Teiichi. Assistants, UDA, Keichi and OKAWA, Mitsuzo.

Standing managers: IMANARI, Tomenosuke, KATAYAMA, Kazuo, SAKUMA, Michio, HAMANO, Seigo, TAMOTSU, Toshishige, KAWAGUCHI, Hisashi, NODA, Masanobu, TAKAHASHI, En[illegible]aburo and IGARASHI, Kichizo.

Managers: HORIUCHI Kazuo, OSANAI, Takehide, UEMURA, Takeichi, TANABE, Tokugoro, OMURA, Naoshi, YANAGA[illegible]A, Sozaemon, YOSHIKAWA, Daisuke, YAMADA, Takeji, OKADA, Keijiro, KUKI, Monshichi, KOSHINO, Yujiro, SAKUMA, Wataru, MAOKA, Jiro, BESSHO, Kiichiro, KURODA, Iwao OKI, Kura and MOMOHARA, Shigeta.

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POLITICAL SERIES: 29 (Continued)

ITEM 3 Director of Naval Affairs Bureau Changed - Asahi Shimbun - 18 Nov 45. Translator: N. Tachibana.

Full Translation:

Vice-Admiral HOSHINA, Zenshiro, director of the Naval Affairs Bureau of the Navy Ministry, was ordered to go on duty with the Navy Ministry and Rear-Admiral YAMAMOTO, Yoshio was appointed as his successor.

MIZUSAWA, Kenzo, vice director of the General Business section of the Damage Insurance Central Society, and chief of the Planning Section, was appointed secretary of the Finance Ministry (3rd class official), and was ordered to serve with the Planning Section of the Minister's Secretariat.

NAKAYAMA, Jin liaison official of the Central Liaison Office, became secretary of the Prime Minister (5th class official).

ITEM 4 Former Foreign Minister MATSUOKA Attempts Suicide - Yomiuri Hochi - 18 Nov 45. Translator: N. Tachibana.

Extracts:

Former Foreign Minister MATSUOKA, Yosuke, Signer of the Tri-Partite Alliance, made an unsuccessful attempt to commit suicide early this week in his villa at IZU. According to an unofficial report, he took poison.

ITEM 5 Civilian Aviation Abolished; also Training and Research - Asahi Shimbun - 19 Nov 45. Translator: A. Kido.

Extracts:

On the 18th the office of the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers issued a directive to the effect that Japanese aviation, aerial training and research connected with aviation shall be prohibited. The directive aims at the total extirpation of all possibilities of JAPAN's air forces being rebuilt for any aggression in the future.

Items prohibited by the directive are:

1.Training of pilots and engineers, designing, construction, adjusting, flying of airplanes, and training therein.
2.After 31, December 1945, no individual or group is allowed to study, experiment, produce any airplane, or to purchase, own, or operate any airplane engine.
3.Teaching, studying, and experimenting in aeronautical science and aero-dynamics, as well as in other matters concerning airplanes and balloons, or manufacture of model-airplanes, are strictly forbidden. Unless specially permitted by the Supreme Allied Command all the official or semiofficial organizations connected with civil aeronautical companies associations, and aviation are to be dissolved by the end of this year.

The Japanese Air Transport Company, with its capital of 117,000,000 yen, besides the JAPAN Air Association, Public Communication Air Association, The Great Eastern Air Research Station, Central Air Research Station, and any aviation subsidized by newspaper offices are to be banned.

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POLITICAL SERIES: 29 (Continued)

ITEM 5 (Continued)

Officers, personnel, technicians, research students, pilots, engineers and instructors of the companies or organizations to be dissolved according to the directive, are to be registered and reported to the Supreme Allied Command by the end of this year.

ITEM 6 Interview of Finance Minister - Yomiuri Hochi - 19 Nov 45. Translator: S. Ono.

Extracts:

Mr. SHIBUSAWA, Minister of Finance, who is now visiting OSAKA, held a conference in the afternoon of the 18th with leading financiers, at a luncheon party given by the OSAKA Branch of the Bank of JAPAN. Those present at the party numbered about seventy and included HURUTA, Toshinosuke; TSUDA, Shingo; KATAOKA, Yasushi; OKANO, Seigo; OKABASHI, Rin; TERADA, Jinkichi; HORI, Tomochika; and KASUGA, Hiroshi.

They are reported to have discussed problems of reparation, maintenance of currency, stock dividends, and the taxation system. The minister was to leave the city early next morning for NAGOYA.

ITEM 7 Deliberation on Important Bills - Asahi Shimbun - 19 Nov 45. Translator: N. Tachibana.

Summary:

The first extraordinary Diet session of the SHIDEHARA Cabinet is at hand. Three parties have finished their organizing, and are making preparations for the Diet session and the general election. The most important bills presented before the Diet are the bill amending the Election Law, the Trade Union Law, bill, and the bill amending the Farm Regulation Law. All parties agree on the fundamentals of these bills but are not in complete accord with respect to specific provisions.

All three parties (Progressive Party, Liberal Party, and Socialist Party) are showing their dissatisfaction regarding the restricted list system in the bill amending the Election Law, and it is supposed that the reform of the farm system will be opposed strongly by many members who are landowners. Moreover, internal affairs are very unstable because of the acute food shortage, the housing shortage, the unemployment problem, and so on. The Government is taking measures to meet these problems, but is unable to allay the present feeling of worry in the part of the people. In fact, some political circles desire the SHIDEHARA Cabinet to retire on the ground that it is unable to meet this chaotic situation. This atmosphere of distrust will surely be reflected in the Diet. Discussion in the Diet, which has now won freedom of speech will naturally criticize the Government freely. Therefore, conditions inside and outside the Diet will harass the SHIDEHARA Cabinet.

The Government is threatened with an important crisis. In view of the seriousness of the situation, the Government, which is preparing for the meeting of the Diet and endeavoring to reform the general elections, is determined not to dissolve.

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Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0029, 1945-11-28.