Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0090, 1945-12-19.

Full Translation:

The preciding problem facing the Progressive Party has become extremely urgent, and the voluntary representatives conference held on the 15th was thrown into chaos. In spite of the fact that TSURUMI, Chief Secretary of the Party, declared the other day at its representatives meeting that the president would, be determined by the end of the Diet session, the president has not yet been chosen though 14 December, the last scheduled day of the session, had already passed. Representatives demanded that the problem be settled immediately. But this was merely the surface of the affair underneath, the truth was that around the presidential problem there hung the atmosphere of a party revolt.

A group composed of NISHIKATA MATSUDA, MIYOSAI, FUJII, and BABA, who had been busy interviewing Finance Minister SHIBUSAWA manifested their opposition against present staff members of the Party for their responsibility in failing to solve the presidential problem. If the problem is not settled by the end of the session, they intend to force the staff members to resign their posts, or depending on who is recommended as president, they may leave the Party and inaugurate a new one themselves before the general elections. This is the true state of affairs now. Toward the realization of this purpose, a committee consisting of members was formed for the selection of a president at the voluntary representatives conference the other day. Thus they demonstrated their attitude of no confidence in the staff members of the Party.

On the other hand, such Party leaders as Chief Secretary TSURUMI, SAITO and ICHIMIYA, firmly insisted that UGAKI should be recommended as president. As the result of negotiations with UGAKI, it seemed that he and the Party agreed perfectly in political ideology. On the night of the 15th a managers' meeting will be held, at which this problem will be discussed and final decision will be made. Accordingly it is predicted that the president of the party will be UGAKI.

However, TANABE, TAKAHASHI, and SAKUTA insist on recommending MACHIDA for president, and, in consequence, a certain amount of difficulty is presumed before this opposition is overcome and UGAKI is finally chosen.

Extract:

Baron SUZUKI, Kuntaro, President of the Privy Council, and successor to Baron KAHIRAUMA, settled down at OKAMOTO's residence HONGO-Ku, NISHIKAIA-Machi, after the ceremony of installation by His Majesty, the Emperor. Then, he was interviewed by a reporter and answered certain questions. He had lived alone at his home, gardening in fine weather, and reading on [illegible]days. However, he is again in the center of exciting political circles. "Why, "he was asked, "did he accept such a important must?"

Baron SUZUKI said, "Although I finished a long service and retired

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from the political world, I could not resist accepting this position as successor to Baron HIRANUMA".

"You mean there was no suitable person other than yourself?" The reporter asked.

"Well", SUZUKI sain, "I am at a loss for an answer to such question. I frankly believe that JAPAN will be in a bad way in the future. Though I am old I must do what I, can. Therefore, when I received this offer from TOKYO, I accepted."

"Have you any ideas concerning the problem of rights of the Privy Council, or the one of its maintenance and abolition?"

"No, I have not. However, it the Japanese Government operates with the Diet as its center, it is only natural that the rights of the Privy Council be restricted, I think. Is not impossible that I may be the last President of the Privy Council, is it?

"When we observe that the SHIEHARA Cabinet, is urged on only by the Supreme Command, we wonder whether the Cabinet really desires the reconstruction of JAPAN. What do you think, Baron SUZUKI?"

"Since we are living constantly changing days, we can not help but feel at a loss as to how to begin our affairs. However, this was bound to happen and we must be ready to help each other out."

"In the problem of war responsibly," the reporter said, "Prince NASHIMOTO has already been imprisoned. It is reported from the UNITED STATES, that the war responsibility of the Emperor has continuously been dismissed. What do you thin of this?"

"Again, I am at a loss as to now to answer. However, when I saw, the morning, paper of 14 December, in which a photograph of His Majesty, the Emperor, accompaneid by the Empress, going to the Imperial Palace of the Empress Dowager, I was so glad, that tears came into my eyes. It is awesome to relate that the Emperor whishes to become acquainted with the people as much as possible, I think".

Full Translation:

Allied Headquarters ordered the Japanese Government to present all the records and documents concerned with the following six noted incidents which occured between 1932 and 1940. These documents contain the records of police or other investigations, plus the records of trials of those who were connected with the incidents. All of these must be submitted by 1200 19 December.

The KETSUMEI-DAN Incident was organized by INOVA, Nisho, and 13 men in February 1932. They planned and excuted the overthrow of the old influ-

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ences of the political parties, the plutocracies, and privileged classes. KONUMA, Masashi assasinated UNOUE, Junnosuke on 9 February, and HISHINUMA, Goro assassinated DAN, Tokuma on 9 March. The plots were exposed at that time and all the members were arrested by 21 March of the same year.

The incident of 15 May involved Army and Navy soldiers in active service and 47 civilians who, dissatisfied with the conditions of the Nation and inspired by dangerous thoughts, what and killed INUKAI, Tsuyoshi, the Premier at his official residence, and tried to cut off all lights in TOKYO. Speedy and systematic actions saved the situation. The emergency cabinet formed was headed by Admiral SAITO, Minoru.

The JIMPEITAI Incident followed the KETSUMEI-DAN, and 15 May incidets. It was planned by AMANO, Tetsunosuke, a reserve Lieutenant Colonel, MAIDA, Torao of the Patriotic Labor Party, and 45 other men. They aimed at the immediate reform of the Nation but failed. They planned to carry out a coup d'etat by attacking, the Ministers while they were meeting in the cabinet. Bombs were to be dropped on the Premier's official residence and the metropolitan police Board Office by Lieutenant-Commander YAMACTUCHI, Sabino at 1100 on 7 July 1933. However, this plot was exposed before it could be carried out.

In the NAGATA Incident, Lieutenant Colonel AIZAWA, Saburo, attached to the Formosan Army was dissatisfied with the personal administration of the Army by Lieutenant-General NAGATA, Tetsuzan, Cheif of the Bureau of Army Affairs. AIZAWA frequently requested NAGATA resignation, but it was never obtained. On August 1934, AIZAWA called on NAGATA, at his office and after a heated argument AIZAWA killed NAGATA with a Japanese sword.

The Incident of 26 February was headed by Captain NOHARA, Shiro, and other young army officers who desired national reform. This group planned to abolish the privileged classes, namely, the GUMBATSU who had disturbed the dignity of the EMPEROR. Early on the morning of 26 February 1936, they attached the Premier's official residence, the name of Admiral SAITO (Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal), the home of General WATANABE (Inspector General of Education), the home of General MAKINO, (former Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal). The home of Admiral SUZUKI, (the Grand Chamberlain), and that of TAKAHASHI (the Finance Minister). They used 2400 soldiers, a detachment of the 3rd Regiment of the Imperial Guards, and others.

As a result, SAITO, WATANABE, and TAKAHASHI were killed; SUZUKI received a serious wound, and Commander MATSUO, the cousin of Premier OKADA, was killed instead of the Premier. Though the group intrenched itself at important places in NAGATA-Cho, KOJIMACHI-Ku, this incident was suppressed after three days by the determined efforts of the military forces without bloodshed.

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