Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0083, 1945-12-16.

Full Translation:

There are only two days left for the current session of the Diet, and the prolongation of the session is inevitable. The Government is considering how many additional days will be necessary.

Pursuit of war criminals and the directive to emancipate farmers within a certain time limit have given strong impetus to the Diet and debate is in progress. The bill amending the Election Law has passed the plenary session of the House of Representatives in the form sponsored by the Progressive Party. It was sent to the House of Peers the same day. In the House of Peers, it was put before the plenary session at 1015 hours on 12 December and Misses OBARA, Naoshi (DOWA KAI) and TAGUCHI, Hyoichi (KENHKYU KAI) interpellated. The budget was sent from the Lower House to the Upper House on 12 December. The plenary session of the Upper House on the budget is to be held on 13 December.

The bill amending the Farm Lands Adjustment Law is also to be sent to the Upper House in the near future. There after, the Lower House wall focus its attention on the Labor Union bill. Thus the center of discussion in the Diet has been transferred to the Upper House. Of course, as the Upper House is now involved in reforming itself, we cannot expect great speed. It is necessary to pass the bill rapidly in view of present conditons. Discussion and approval of the three important bills (Election Law, Farm Land, and Labor Union) which is the aim of the current session of the Diet has become certain.

Extracts:

TSURUMI: "I believe questions of foreign policy will play a big role in the forthcoming elections. JAPAN must recover the confidence of The World. Words like 'patisfism' or 'democracy' have different meanings for different people but there, must be a meaning attached to them which makes for international goodwill wand causes people from other lands to co-operate with us. Since We in JAPAN, totalling 80 millions cannot live on agriculture alone we must seek other people's co-operation and help. We must import foreign foodstuffs. Also, bringing back The Japanese abroad and coping with unemployment are matters concerning us and The World alike. JAPAN'S relations with the world depend on her relations with The UNITED STATES. 'Pacifism' must be based, on economic and philosophical interpretation. I doubt whether The World will trust a Japanese Liberaism which is as yet without rational foundation, since not even the notions 'man' and 'man's dignity' are understood by the Japanese matter.

POLITICAL SERIES: 83 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

Extracts:

I doubt whether a people like The Japanese, who have never under-stood or experienced freedom, can comprehend it's meaning however often the word is repeated to Them, Terms like political and relipious freedom; apparently well understood in The World at large, remain a Mystery to the people here. Consequently it will not do to Try and appeusc The World menentarily by shouting 'freedom' and 'peace', so as to be able to ask for rice and ships and the return of the Japanese abroad.

MIZUTANI "The American New Deal is of great interest to us. But we must bear in mind that it was not ROOSEVSLT who made the Now Deal, it came because the Democratic Party received the Support of the leftist workers, but The Progressive Party in JAPAN is not supported by the lefist workers and peasants. Therefore it is a fallaty to think that our progressives can put a New Deal across just because the Democratic Party was successful in AMERICA".

Summary:

It was decided on 22 August that the Japanese should assemble in JURON a place located at a point 17 miles away from the center of SINGAPORE, little known, even by those who have resided there since the pre-war period. In this small place 8,000 people were ordered to assemble and build their quarters within a week. The majority of us were of the opinion that we had better wait until the British came, while others insisted that it would be impossible to construct barracks with a capacity of 8,000 people within a week. With desperate effort, however, the barracks were completed by the end of August. Then we started our life eating rice and other provisions which we had been brought with us but the greatest problem was where to obtain drinking-water. After wells had been dug in vain, we finally damed up a river, and used the water. This river-water was used for washing as well as drinking. Farming was also started for the purpose of self-supply. However, we found it more difficult to wash our fatigue clothes than to do farming labor.

Among the ailments, beri-beri was most prevalent, then came tooth-aches and venereal diseases. Three, hospitals and more than a dozen physicians were provided for the population of 8,000. Consequently the health conditions were almost satisfactory. The British authorities dispatched a guard which assumed the duty of guarding and watching the internees.

An inspection of private properties was held on 14 October and as a result, cameras, photo-lenses and leather articles were confiscated. Delivery of milk began in November. It was a pleasure for us to go out to town to receive the milk, as this broke up our monotonous life in the barracks after 26 November we could completely rely on the rations delivered by the British authorities. The rice ration was increased to 280 grains (2 go approximately) per day.

As for the cultural facilities, a lecture meeting and a society for research of national sciences were held almost everyday. In newspapers, we had "SHINDO", which was issued daily in mimeographed forms, and The World Weekly was published every Saturday by the British authorities.

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POLITICAL SERIES: 83 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

Summary:

Our greatest pleasure was to hear the news from home after finishing a day's labor. We liked to read indulgently the news regarding repatriation. When we read the War Minister's announcement to the effect that the repatriation of Japanese residents from southern areas would be completed in August, 1949, we felt as if we were being tossed into Hell. "We want to go home, no matter how bitter life is there," was the feeling of all Japanese residents in Southern areas.

"It was 4 September when I left the city of SINGAPORE," continue the correspondent "the next day His Majesty's Ship 'SUSSEX' made part, on which a formal surrender was signed by General ITAGAKI and the British delegates. For three days commencing 2 September, the Chinese national flags were flown throughout the city. Dr. LIN, Won-ching, the president of the Chinese Residents Association, made a plea to the British authorities requesting that "the treatment of Japanese be done on a humanitariais basis." Following this Mr. CHEN Chia-Kang, who had flown back from JAVA on 6 October, also made a plea for abolishing the sale of opium, acknowlegement of the value of war-notes, and increasing the current price of rubber which was 36 cents per pound. Mr. CHEN'S aim is to increase the current rubber price by three times, he also insisted that if the value of war-notes is not to be recognized, then the reconstruction work in MALAYA and SINGAPORE might be impossible, as the notes have already ready become the currency of Chinese residents. While the war-notes possessed by Japanese were confiscated and burnt in JURON.

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