Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0070, 1945-12-13.
Date13 December, 1945
translation numberpolitical-0305
call numberDS801 .S85
Persistent Identifier
POLITICAL SERIES: 70
ITEM 1 Student's Opinions on the Emperor System and Political Parties - Asahi Shimbun - 9 Dec 45. Translator: S. Sano.
Full translation:
Student opinion at the TOKYO Imperial University on the principle causes for defeat,
the Emperor system, and political
parties, since 4 December have been studied by the university's Sociological Research
Association. The results are now being
prepared by Mr. OGATA, Kunio, assistant professor, and others.
Details regarding the Emperor System and opinions on political parties were disclosed
on 8 December to be as follows: (The
total number of students polled was 1131. This figure is estimated to be 40% of the
student body.)
Question: What is your opinion of the Emperor System?
- 1.Answers: A. It is beyond discussion. 139 votes; 12 per cent
- B.Continuance on condition that it be modified. 452 votes; 40 per cent
- C.Must be continued on that it be basically revised. 400 votes; 35. per cent
- D.Must be abolished. 71 votes; 7 per cent
- E.No opinion. 69 votes; 6 per cent
In general, supporters were overwhelming in the majority. It is worth noting that
B is greater than C, but C is greater than B
in the literature and Law Departments.
Question: which political party do you support of the following?
Nippon Progressive Party
Nippon Liberal party
Nippon Socialist Party
Communist Party
Specific figures have not been disclosed as yet, but the Nippon Socialist Party is
overwhelmingly favored and the Liberal
Progressive and Communist Parties follow in that order.
POLITICAL SERIES: 70 (Continued)
ITEM 2 Two Main Opposing Currents in the Reform of the ([illegible]) Upper House - Tokyo Shimbun - 9 Dec 45. Translator: J. Weiller.
Full translation:
There are two. conflicting currents of thought on the question of reorganization
of the House of Peers, The proponents of one
are Imperially nominated members who are radical reformists, and backers of the other
are so-called conservatives, mostly
Peers.
Since the establishment of the House of Peers System Investigation Committee on 10
October, composed of 30 representatives of
the various denominations, with Marquis HOSOKAWA in the Chair, only two meetings have
been convened to now. The committee
excuses its inactivity by declaring that it will assume a stand as soon as the Constitution
Revision takes shape.
According to Viscount OKOCH, conservative:
- 1.Reform of the Upper House along democratic lines does not mean that the Upper House should be converted into another Lower House. The function of the House of Peers must be that of a safety valve for the House of Representatives. It cannot be denied, of course, that the core of the Diet is the Lower House, but at the same time the Upper House's opinions will certainly supply the Lower House with food for thought. As in business concerns, the Upper House functions as an auditor, while the Lower House is a director.
- 2.The component elements must be experienced persons of various fields. If, due to reconstruction, the men of experience are to be mixed together with elements in the Lower House, the dual house system would be veritably destroyed.
- 3.Reforms must be carried out impartially.
- 4.Some have put forward a demand to abolish the name of the House of Peers, but it is a trivial matter.
Viscount OKOCHI's opinion is diametrically opposed to the reforms advocated by the
other camp in the House. Anyway, amidst hot
arguments for and against the reform or total abolition of the Peerage System in the
Upper House is talking its natural course
toward reconstruction.
ITEM 3 General Ugaki and Various Parties - Asahi Shimbun - 9 Dec 45. Translator: S. Kawasaki.
Full translation:
General UGAKI, Kazushige now has appeared to be a likely candidate for the presidency
of the Progressive Party of JAPAN. But
recently, the Ethnological Research Society, the Young Men's Association of JAPAN,
the World Culture Advancement Society, the
People's Prosperity Alliance, the Water Reed Society, and the Construction Alliance
revealed their attempts to organize a new
party, supporting General UGAKI in a position different from that of the Progressive
Party of JAPAN.
A conference was held 8 December in MARUNOUCHI Hall of the TOKYO MARUNCHI Building.
Mr. HATTORI, Hideaki, former MINSEITO
member of the House of Representatives, was nominated chairman. Future plans were
then discussed. Representatives from each
participating group will be organized into committees. A draft of the new party
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POLITICAL SERIES: 70 (Continued)
ITEM 3 (Continued)
platform and declaration of principle has already been started.
ITEM 4 Liaison Organ - Asahi Shimbun - 9 Dec 45. Translator: S. Kawasaki.
Full translation:
Liason Between MacARTHUR's Headquarters and Imperial Household Requested by Allied
Headquarters.
General Headquarters of the Allied Forces has ordered the Japanese Government to
set up a responsbile government organ to
facilitate instructions to the Imperial Household.
General Headquarters has explained that the directive was not issued because the
Imperial Household has not carried cut its
instructions. It was devised to establish a formal government liaison organ between
General Headquarters and the Imperial
Household.
ITEM 5 Busy with Maintenance of Old Order; No Zest for Democracy - Yomiuri Hochi - 10 Dec 45. Translator: N. Daasche.
Summary:
The parliament, summoned in the face of the rising tide of democracy, and in the
midst of economic hardships is still wasting
time with desultory talks that have little to do with the people. Instead of buckling
down to the important task of
investigating war causes and sabetage by the present Government, officials, and financiers;
instead of establishing a
democratic parliament by a new Election Law, and a Trade Unions Law as the principal
step towards democratization of
industries, and an Agricultural Adjustment Law as the first step towards dissolution
of feudalistic land tenure; instead of
diligently and sincerely attending to those tasks, the parliament indulges in futile
debate, even though one half of its
allotted time is already spent.
The deliberations on War Guilt were lacking in determination and enthusiasm, and
were more attempts at passing the buckwith an
eye on the coming elections. This applies equally to SAITO's interpellation and the
bills brought forward by the parties.
Finance Minister SHIBUZAWA's "Economic Revival" speech was nothing but a reactionary
attempt to push taxation and rescue
measures for chauvinistic capitalists by talking about economic reconstruction. Considering
the time-lag between the opening
session and the introduction of the vital bills, (with the exception of the Election
Bill) the question now raised is: "What
real interest is the present Cabinet showing in the process of political and economic
democratization?"
One would expect the Diet to critize and censure the Government for its antipathy.
Instead the Diet is busying itself with
praising the Emperor System, which constributes only one part of the problem of Constitutional
reform or with other side
issues. All parties are as one in their efforts to uphold the old structure and on
this point there is apparently no real
difference between the Socialist Party and the rest, even though the Socialists profess
to represent the masses. In other
words, the Diet is combine which cooperated in the war efforts of the militarists,
bureaucrats and plutocrats, and is new
deliberately ignoring the instructions of Allied Headquarters, subscribed to by the
people, namely, the liquidation of
feudalism
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POLITICAL SERIES: 70 (Continued)
ITEM 5 (Continued)
and imperialism. This in spite of the fact that the Diet is clearly aware of popular
sentiment.
The present Cabinet, tied up with the old ruling group, seems to agree with this
attitude, welcoming the sabotage of
progressive legislation by the Diet. The fate of the Land Bill, which has come to
grief, seems to have much to do with this
state of affairs. All this bears out the fact that the present Government and Diet,
having a share in the responsibility for
war and standing for the old ruling strata, are lacking in will and ability to shed
light upon the war guilt question or to
bring about democracy. The inborn reactionary qualities of the Diet and Government
are now generally recognized. It is high
time the elections bring about a new order.
DISTRIBUTION "X"
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