Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0060, 1945-12-06.

Summary:

Since the arrest of General TOJO and others in compliance with the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers' directive of 11 September, the number of war criminal suspects has reached 218. Orders were issued on 1 December to the Japanese Government for the apprehension and surrender of 59 more high ranking Japanese war suspects, with Prince NASHIMOTO heading the list. It is noted that this is the most sweeping arrest order ever issued for the roundup of political and governmental officials, heads of the once mighty ZAIBATSU, the press, members of right wing groups, army and navy officers etc,.

The naming of Prince NASHIMOTO, Morimasa, an Imperial prince and former Ministers HIRANUMA and HIROTA, Koki, created a great stir in political circles throughout JAPAN. It was made clear that the apprehension of war criminals by Allied Headquarters is not limited to the apprehension of overt warmongers but includes a thorough breakdown of the military clique which supported them.

The list of those to be arrested included representative figures of each circle during the war. HIROTA, HONDA, TANI, and AMABA, who took upon themselves the duties of wartime diplomacy; ARIMA, ANDO, and HO[illegible]HINO, who destroyed political parties, IKEDA, GOGO, FUJIWARA, AYUKAWA, NAKAJIMA, TSUDA, and ISHIWARA, who were the economic leaders in collaboration with the ZAIBATSU during the war, are all named on the list.

Political figures greatly affected by the new directive included many leaders of the Imperial Rule Assistance Association. In particular, the Progressive Party which is descended from the Imperial Rule Assistance Association, is completely panic striken and in state of wild dissension. Future development will bear watching.

Extracts:

The present Extraordinary Diet, which is composed of parties formed in anticipation of the coming general election, has shown very little action and has greatly disappointed the people and the Allied Authorities. Moreover, both Houses seem to have been much agitated by the Allied announcement of its war crime suspects on 3 December. It is tragic-comic for the Parties, which submitted resolution on war responsibility, to be seized with panic in fear of the Allied next announcement of war criminals. It shows that they have no incentive

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or convictions in connection with their work in the Diet.

At a meeting of the Imperial Emergency Ordinance Committee of the House of Peers, a member, following the Potsdam Declaration, stated, "If a directive of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers is absolutely authoritative, the Diet cannot disapprove a bill which is submitted by the Government by command of the Supreme Commander. Thus, the rights of discussion are restricted."

To this opinion, Minister without Portfolio MATSUMOTO replied, "An order of the Supreme Commander would sometimes include legislation not limited to administration. I think, however, that the Allied orders will not be unfair."

A special meeting of the Committees was held on 3 and 4 December. It is a matter of course that the rights of the Diet on discussion are to be restricted when that discussion opposes the will of the Allies. It is foolish for the House of Peers to take up such a problem since it had already restricted itself by accepting the Potsdam Declaration.

The directives of the Allies are issued along the lines of the Potsdam Declaration, and since the directives aim, in the long run, to democratize JAPAN, the Diet, if it wishes to democratize JAPAN, is not restricted at all. Actually, the Allied authorities are both good and powerful assistants to JAPAN, making it possible for the Diet to discuss the democratization of JAPAN more easily. If a bill submitted by the Government in conformity with a directive of the Supreme Commander was thought by the representatives to be disagreeable to the people, the Diet might veto the bill. In such a case, the Government, which considers the directions of the Allies absolute, may dissolve the Diet and again appeal to public opinion. At worst, the Government would be compelled to resign. It stands to reason that in such a case the people would not strongly disapprove the directives of the Allied authorities which aim to democratize JAPAN. It is nothing but a display of the impotence of the present Diet that the House of Peers sticks needlessly to the problem of the rights of the Diet on discussion.

Full Translation:

Baron HIRANUMA, Kiichiro, the President of the Privy Council, has decided to tender his resignation before he presents himself in answer to the Allied Headquarters directive concerning his apprehension as a war criminal. He is expected to convey his wishes to the Government in a day or two. In view of the importance of his position, the Government intends to decide upon a successor immediately following formal acceptance of the resignation. The successor will have to be a person entirely free from war guilt and at the same time he must be a man fit for this responsible position.

The Government's idea of a reconstructed Privy Council is one composed of politically important men as councilors so that it would be restored

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to the dignified advisory position it once held. In view of the abolition of the Board of Privy Seal, the recommendation of a successor to the position of Premier will not be made by the President of the Privy Council along with the Speakers of the two Houses of the Diet. Therefore the presidency of the Privy Council is regarded as a heavy political responsibility. The Government, taking this point into consideration, is attaching much importance to candidates' statesmanship and experience and filling the vacancy by merely promoting the Vice-President, as was the practice in the past, will not be repeated in the future.

Full Translation:

The Socialist Party sent out a circular on 4 December to its various local branches in the name of its Central Standing Executive Committee, reconfirming the Party's basic attitude toward the Emperor System and toward the Communist Party.

Emperor System: We adopt the doctrine of personification of the State which provides that sovereignty resides in the State, and we support the Emperor. The Emperor's prerogatives should be greatly curtailed according to the democratic spirit, and we intend to set about the realization of democratic socialism under a democratized Emperor System.

Communist Party: We do not stand for a united front with the Communist Party, nor do we stand with them in the daily debates, nor in labor disputes, nor in tenant-farmers' disputes. In case of a proposal from the Communist Party for a united front in connection with individual local questions, we will decide our attitudes at our headquarters or through an inter-prefectural joint meeting, depending on the merit of each case.

Full Translation:

Among those named by Allied Headquarters as war crime suspects on 3 December, were six members of the House of Representatives, NAKAJIMA, Chikuhei; SAKURAI, Heigoro; OTA, Masataki; IKEZAKI, Chuko; SHIODEN, Nobutaka; and SASAGAWA, Ryoichi. The rumor that "There will be more arrests of many members of the Lower House in the near future," came as a great shock to the various parties.

At the time the Progressive Party was being formed, Mr. TSURUMI, Yusuke, its representative, visited Allied Headquarters nearly every day and discussed matters relating to its construction and future policies. The party has tried to make itself fully aware of the Allied Headquarters' wishes; the change of personnel and the actions of the party have been carried out along those lines thought acceptable to Allied Headquarters, Though the deeds of men like MACHIDA; OMA; MAEDA; YAMAZAKI; NAKAJIMA; and KANAMITSU greatly contributed to the formation of the party, due to its desire to satisfy Allied Headquarters, the names of these leaders were never introduced as important members of the party.

Therefore, it is truly a surprise that Mr. OTA, Masataka, Chief of the Investigation Association of Administrative Affairs, has been named

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as a war crime suspect. The arrest of Mr. NAKAJIMA, Chikuhei, who did not join the party formally but in reality has close connections with it, greatly shocked the party because of his important position.

Both the Liberal and the Social-Democratic parties have apparently maintained their calm; they are anticipating new members who will secede from the Progressive Party to join either the Liberal Party or the Social-Democratic Party. Some members of these two parties in constant fear of being named as war crime suspects, can not conceal their uneasiness. As for small political parties, the Japan Nationalist Party has been fatally damaged by the naming of Mr. KODAMA, Yoshio. The arrest of Mr. SASAGAWA, Ryoichi, has been a great loss for the Nationalistic Union.

Extracts:

With the coming general election at hand, the proper enlightenment of the public on political affairs is a matter of urgent importance. In view of this fact, the Education Ministry is said to be prepared to open a nation-wide political education movement to encourage public interest in politics, so as to create a lively interest in the election. To accomplish this purpose, the Ministry will set up lecture meetings in every GUN to teach suitable persons how to give lectures to the general public. Intellectuals, professors of universities, colleges and normal schools both private and governmental will be asked to attend these training programs.

The lectures will be given sometime around the middle of this month at the latest, total number of lectures will be around six. The lectures will cover a wide variety of problems, such as explanation of the main points of the revised Election Law, and the significance of voting. Teachers of primary and middle schools, and other suitable persons will be chosen to attend these training lectures, and will themselves later take the post of lecturers at meetings to be held for the purpose of politically enlightening the voters in general, both male and female.

The lectures for the public will be held, any time before the end of the year, covering two to three hours each. School buildings of primary schools, the number of which is estimated at about 20,000 for the whole country, are expected to be utilized as meeting halls. In addition to this, the following steps will be taken: 1. The dispatch of lecturers to cultural and industrial groups, when requested; 2. Grants of subsidies to cultural organizations for the promotion of political education; 3. Use of the radio and the magic lantern for promoting public education; and 4. The distribution of pamphlets on political problems.

At the same time, other neighborhood associations are encouraged to hold meetings of citizens, under the guidance of suitable persons, such as well-informed intellectuals. In view of the character of these meetings, the persons in charge are asked to take utmost care not to be suppressive in their guidance. Discussions and questions should be encouraged to facilitate political education. Political education is the key to national happiness.

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