Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0113, 1945-12-23.

Full Translation:

The following suggestions and precautions were issued by the Home Ministry at the conference of the prefectural police chiefs throughout the country, held on 21 December, in order to explain to them the procedure for the elections based on the revised Election Law. Items outlined:

• 1.The importance of driving home the meaning of the Election Law revision in the electing of members to the House of Representatives: Be careful to teach the poeple all about the revised Election Law and never err or fail in supervision election campaigns.
• 2.The question of principle in supervising the election of the members of the House of Representatives: In supervising election campaigns be careful in your speech and behaviour so as not to be suspected of interfering in the election. Stress such evils as buying votes, obstructions, etc., which might prevent free and fair election campaigns.
• 3.The matter of election news and other reports: Collection of news by the police regarding conditions of the election is prohibited in order to abolish a political police and establish a bright, democratic JAPAN.
• 4.The problem of strengthening the facilities of criminal police. Several matters to be attended to: a. In an election argument, never interfere except in special cases, and give information to candidates when they report their candidacy only with regard to official and essential information.

b. The matter of guidance before the announcement of expenses: Since the list of voters is to be confirmed on 31 December, the announcement of legal expenditures will be delayed. Therefore, try to guide the candidates in advance by means of showing them privately the normal expenses based on the number of voters when they report their candidacy.

Following the conference of the chiefs of the Internal Affairs Section on 20 December, the Home Ministry held a conference of the prefectural police chiefs at the home office at 0900 on 1 December. Chiefs of the police affairs department, prefectural police chiefs, and chiefs of the criminal affairs sections throughout the country, except those of OK[illegible]Ken attended the meeting. Arrangements were made to maintain controls during the forthcoming general election. Home Minister HO[illegible]RI gav[illegible]instructions to the effect that the Election Law was revised this time so that general will of the people

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ITEM 1 (Continued)

might be freely end fairly expressed. Next, Home Vice-Minister SAKA and Director of the Police Bureau KOI[illegible]I explained the directives, instructions, and laws with regard to practical supervision and replied to some questions. The conference adjourned at 1730.

The Home Minister's stressed the following points in his instructions: 1. Strict prohibition of behaviour likely to be construed as intervention in the election. 2. Use of measures for control of any breach of the Election Law.

Furthermore, the chiefs of the criminal affairs sections, who attended the conference the same day, met in a conference on 22 December to arrange their affairs. They deliberated on the concrete principles of measures for the election from the viewpoint of preventing and exposing offences against the Election Law.

The Home Ministry also held a discussion for election affairs managers of the whole country at 1000 on 21 December. Chiefs of the local sections attended the conference and heard the chief of the local Department of the Home Ministry IRIYE explain the election, interpellated him, and prepared thorough measures to help realize a fair election.

Extracts:

The Home Ministry recently made an explanatory announcement regarding current regulations on election campaigning through documents and correspondence. The gist of the announcement is as follows:

• 1.Measures Permissable: a. Letter of recommendation sent by mail. b. Handbills sent by mail and/or tucked in newspapers and advertisements in newspapers, indicating rallies to be held. Contents of these, however, are strictly limited to a photograph and a description of the social standing and profession of the candidate. c. Letters of greeting to announce, one's candidacy. Leaflet on one's political views; letter of recommendation and bills to announce rallies to be sent by mail. d. Posters of newspaper size to announce rallies are permitted without limitation as to number, although contents are subject to regulations, e. Posters and sign-boards to indicate the whereabouts of the campaign office and the place of rallies are free from regulation, both as to size and number. f. Posters to be placed on the inside of a building where rallies will be held are free from regulations as to size, number, and contents.
• 2.Measures forbidden: 2. distribution of letters of greeting and announcenent of candidacy in the form of pamphlets, handbills, and advertisements in periodicals. b. Distribution in the streets of letters of recommendation and handbills to announce rallies. c. Distribution in the streets or house to house canvass by letters announcing one's candidacy and the pamphlets describing one's political views. d. Advertisment in periodicals and handbills tucked .in the periodicals, describing anything other than the announcement of a rally. e. Posters and sigboards describing items permitted in document form. f. Signboards describing other than the location of campaign office or rallies. Incidentally, the size of posters indicating the location of a rally was revised, on 21 December, to 55 centimeters by 41 centimeters from the former 82 centimeters by 55 centimetres.

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