Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0086, 1945-12-18.

Full translation:

The resolution on the clarification of war responsibility has thoroughly been neglected in the current session of the Diet. We cannot find a bit of conscience even in the Progressive Party, which has unanimously passed its own resolution on war responsibility. Finally, members of the Diet have been exposed and advised to resign by Mr. OZAKI, Yukio, the eldest statesman, who is disgusted with his fellow representatives.

Towards the end of the session, however, a discussion on joint responsibility for the war has arisen among them. For instance, immediately after revision of the Election Law had passed in the House of Representatives, Mr. IMAI, Shinzo, Independent, tendered his resignation on 12 December to President SHIMADA. On the following day, at a meeting of representatives of the Independent Club, he stated that "the bill for revision of the election law has passed in the House of Representatives. It gave me an opportunity to tender my resignation in order to hear war responsibility. Now that I have resigned, I will not stand shamelessly for the coming general election."

This movement towards the clarification of joint responsibility has rapidly gained popularity. Twenty-odd members, including Mr. NISHIKAWA, Teiichi, Progressive, and Mr. OKURA, Saburo, Independent, assembled to discuss their joint resignation. They are expected to send in their resignation today or tomorrow. They will issue a statement to the effect that members of the Diet, once they resign, should bear their responsibilities and should not be candidates in the coming general election.

Extracts:

The current Diet session, scheduled to close on 14 December, will be prolonged for some days because of the Election Law. Revision Bill which is to be deliberated in the House of Peers, and the Agrarian Reform and Labor Union Bills, now under heated discussion in the House of Representatives. It is further expected that the House of Representative in view of the current political situation, will hasten to finish its study on the bills and send them to the House of Peers. Approval is expected at the plenary session to be held this afternoon.

The Progressives, who enjoy a majority in the present Diet, held a committee meeting on 13 December to decide their attitude toward the

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ITEM 2 (Continued)

aforesaid bills; they were unanimously approved. Meanwhile, the Social Democrats are expected to make their decision upon the Labor Union bill at a meeting of the Representatives belonging to the Party, to be held at 1100 on 14 December.

Thus the bills will be ready for presentation to the plenary session this afternoon. The Labor Union Bill, unlike the Agrarian Reform Bill and the Election Law Amendment, is expected to be passed without any major amendments since most of the representatives, except the Social Democrats, seen to lack opinion on it.

Full translation:

Mr. Edgar SNOW, correspondent for the SATURDAY EVENING POST, an [illegible]American authority on the Far East, and author of "Red Star Over CHINA," arrived here from MANILA on 11 December. At 1530 on the following day he called at the headquarters of the JAPAN Communist Party at SENDAJAYA, SHIBUYA, and had an interview with Central Committeemen Mr. TOKUDA, Kyuichi, and Mr. SHIGA, Yoshio. He asked them various questions on the present and future of the JAPAN Communist Party, the present coal problem, and the General Headquarters policy concerning JAPAN. The import of this interview is expected to be made public in the party organ.

Mr. SNOW, who is staying at the Press Club at MARUNOUCHI, gave his impression of his fifth visit to JAPAN as follows: "This time I have come here as a war correspondent. Going on foot through fire-devastated quarters, I was quite surprised at the changes. In the last war I followed the army, first to the INDIA and BURMA fronts, then over to the SOVIE UNION to the LENINGRAD front. For a while I was in ENGLAND, but when the war ended I was in GERMANY. After the war I went back to my country, and now I have come here by way of the PHILIPPINES where I met some Japanese Communists. In 1938 I met, at HANKOW Mr. KAJI, Yuzuru, (a veteran fighter for proletarian literature, who stayed at CHUNG KING during the war with CHINA) and Mr. OKANO, Susumu (his real name is NOZAKA, Sanji,) who fled to YUNAN, where he led the JAPAN Emancipation Coalition, Since 1928 I have visited JAPAN five times. The fourth visit to JAPAN is especially dear to me, for I married Nim WALES on Christmas Day at the American Embassy. The ambassador at that time was Mr. Grew. I know JAPAN fairly well, but all my books were placed under a ban here, very likely because I was considered anti-Japanese. I am not anti-Japanese, but I am against the Japanese Military Caste. I should like to meet as many Japanese communists and socialists as I can."

Mr. SNOW's recent works are: "People on Our Side," and "The Pattern of Soviet Power." His wife has, under the pen-name of Nim WALES, published various essays on the Chinese Communist Party, as well as some Korean folk-songs, the "Songs of Alidan."

Full translation:

The Labor Union Bill was submitted to the plenary session of the House of Representatives on 10 December and interpellations have since continued in committee. Interpellations will probably end on 14 December

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ITEM 4 (Continued)

and this bill will be laid before the plenary session on that same date, if possible. The draft submitted by the government is not likely to be revised in the Lower House.

At the Labor Union Bill committee meeting on 13 December, Mr. KOBAYASHI, Tetsutaro, Progressive, asked, "1. In case of employees who are also union members and each has one or two shares of stock, may the union be called a labor union?" 2. "In cases where the employer intends to buy out the union by means of having each employee acquire a few shares of stock and then making them his friend, how will we prevent such incidents?

In reply Welfare Minister ASHIDA answered, "1. So long as they are not representatives of the employers, even if they have stocks, the union may be called a labor union." 2. "In case capitalists take various measures to buy out the union, the Labor Committee will determine whether it is a pure union or not. Therefore, I think it possible to prevent such cases."

Mr. NOBUMASA, Yoshio, Liberal, asked about the number of people to whom the Labor Union Law applies. In reply, Director of the Labor Administration Bureau TAKAHASHI of the Welfare Ministry answered, "at the termination of the war there were 30 million people engaged in various occupations. 15 million of them were engaged in agriculture, foresty, and fishing, 15 million in mining, industry, commerce, transportation, public service, and independent occupations. Seven million out of the latter group of 15 million are employers, therefore approximately eight million people are affected by this law."

Then, Mr. SATSUMA, Yuji, Progressive, interpellated about the relation between the Labor Union Law and Allied Headquarters. In reply Welfare Minister ASHIDA said, "Since general Headquarters ordered the government to democratize the industries of JAPAN, the Labor Union Bill has bema enacted, but the revision right of the Diet is not restricted at all. However, if the results of revision are contrary to the aim of the POTSDAM Declaration, the Allied Powers presumably issue directives concerning them."

Full translation:

Looking at present day Japanese life, one can not avoid the impression that the Nation as a whole is still unable to divorce itself from an easy going attitude. The Government is constantly in a state confusion due to a series of Allied directives issued for the enforcement of peace terms embracing dissolution of the ZAIBATSU, apprehension of war criminals, etc. The Diet members are accusing one another of war responsibility, each forgetting his own.

In spite of a surplus of labor, train service has been cut down due to the shortage of coal. Is reconstruction of a new JAPAN, a mere empty cry? Isn't our feeling of defeat toc dull and shallow? That is the impression we have gained from observing Mr. TAJIRI, Chief of Political Bureau of the Foreign Office, whose painful task is that of pest war liaison.

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ITEM 5 (Continued)

A part of TOKYO still remains intact and we are living, somehow or other, but who would have imagined this during last summer when we were filled with the tragic presentiment that the whole nation would perish on the battlefields of the homeland, the landscape painted crimson with our blood? The reality was contrary to our expectation, and from this fact, an easy going attitude seems to have sprung. As soon as we were guaranteed individual rights and liberty. Some began laboring under the impression that all they need do is talk democracy and AMERICA will take care of the rest. Is that not what symbolizes today's JAPAN? If so, it is an astounding optimism, and, at the same time a terrible delusion. When national mentality, built on such an illusion, confronts the reality of defeat, much confusion is bound to arise. Unless the people are courageous enough to look squarely at the real facts and establish a correct view of the world, the trouble will only grow worse. Isn't facing the facts most essential? Reality is nothing more than our defeat.

Nevertheless, instead of calling it "defeat" we are calling it "termination of war." In spite of the fact that AMERICA says "occupying forces" we say "garrisoned troops." These may be trivial, but from such trivialities we can perceive that JAPAN is not feeling the defeat. It is not merely the termination of war, but defeat in the war-JAPAN has surrendered unconditionally. Consequently, between the Allied Powers and JAPAN no relation exists except that of the one issuing orders and the other obeying them.

We cannot overlook Mr. PAULEY's statement regarding reparation. He stated that the present plan will open the way for a future full of honor dilligence and peace for the Japanese, but that the Japanese should never forget they will be given last place among the nations JAPAN has trampled under foot. The system of control to which defeated JAPAN will be subjected naturally will be exceedingly strict and severe, allowing not a particle compromise. What the people need is a firm determination to go ahead courageously, however rough the way may be. Only our ardent endeavors can save the country.

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