Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0124, 1945-12-28.
Date28 December, 1945
translation numberpolitical-0544
call numberDS801 .S85
Persistent Identifier
POLITICAL SERIES: 124
ITEM 1 Discussion of Reporters on the Diet and the General Election - Provincial Newspaper. Chubu Nipoon Shimbun, -Nagoya - 18 Dec 45. Translator: N. Tachibana.
Full translation:
The 89 extraordinary session of the Diet was charged with the important missions
of solving national problem arising from
exhaustion of the resources of our country caused by the eight years of war and of
reconstructing a peaceful state based on
democracy. The question is whether or not the Diet has clarified for the people the
fundamental problems of reform of national
polity and revision of the constitution. Did the Diet endeavour to democratize Government
through clarification of war
responsibility and revision of the Election Law? Did the Diet show a firm desire to
democratize the economy and reconstruct
JAPAN through discussions on the Agrarian Law and the Labor Union Law? Is it proper
that the Diet remains as it is since the
Army has been dissolved, and officials have no capacity to rescue the people?
The people are now deeply concerned with these problems. Therefore, the political
reporters on the staff of the CHUBU NIPPON
SHIMBUN, who took charge of reports during the Diet session, held a meeting at the
TOKYO Main Office. Reporting the results of
Diet debates, we want to furnish readers, who wish to make the forthcoming general
election the opportunity to reconstruct
JAPAN, with as much information as possible.
PUJITA: "The bills amending the Election Law. Agrarian Law, Labor Union Law, etc,
which form important elements of democracy,
were introduced to the Diet. The Diet recovered freedom of speech and was offered
the opportunity to become a proper organ of
legislation. Under such conditions, had the Diet enough substantial arguments to reconstruct
JAPAN as we expected? The
investigation of this problem has important relations to the establishment of democracy
in JAPAN. I hope we will all frankly
express impressions received from viewing the Diet. At the plenary-session the representatives
of each party delivered
addresses on war responsibility, but did those members think over the question of
war responsibility seriously? Regarding this
problem, or others, I want Mr. KUBOTA to express his opinion."
KUBOTA: "The Diet session was very inactive. As for speeches, Mr. HATOYAMA, Liberal,
spoke on how democracy in JAPAN should be
managed, and Mr. NISHIO, Socialist, spoke only on problems related to living condition
This may have been a policy of the
Social-Democratic Party for the genere election, but I felt his speech had no ideological
content based on the policy of that
Party. Next, the Government had little enthusiasm, and the percentage of attendance
of members was low, owing perhaps to their
attention to the coming election. The Farm Land Adjustment Law Bill was
POLITICAL SERIES: 124 (Continued)
ITEM 1 (Continued)
laid before the plenary session on 5 December, and the Labor Union Law Bill on 11
December. It is due to the idleness of the
Government that such major bills were introduced during the latter half of the session.
The most active discussions were
focused on pursuit of war responsibility. Two resolutions of the Liberal and Progressive
Parties were also offered. The
Liberal Party said that the war bystanders and war critics were responsible for the
war, while on the other hand, the
Progressive Party thought that if all the members were responsible, so were the people.
They said that those who co-operated
in waging war were not always responsible, but leaders, who took exclusive control
of the Diet, blindly following the military
Government, must shoulder the responsibility. From the standpoint of the people, such
discussion seemed to be a question of
members fixing responsibility on each other."
TAKADA: "Those who were entitled to speak, at any rate, delivered speeche as representatives.
Mr. SAITO, Takao, Progressive,
had once been dismisse from membership; Mr. NISHIO, Social, had been in adverse circumstances
during the war; Mr. HATOYAMA had
not been in the Diet since the spring of 1943. Indeed, discussions were inactive,
but I admit that persons entitle to speak
were selected as representatives."
UEDA: "At the plenary session on the budget more than 20 committees interpellated
the Government on problems of revision of
the constitution, finance, rehabilitation of war vict[illegible]s, demobilization, food, and overall
national life, for a period of nine days since 3 December, but their questions were
useless. I expected them to demand an
explanation from the Government for war responsibility and illegal disposal of munition
goods after the end of the war, but on
this problem only one or two questions were raised. On the constitution problem, heated
and keen discussions were exchanged.
The Government explained that the contents were not as yet clear, and State Minister
MATSUMOTO gave his private opinion.
Nevertheless, this seemed to me to represent the opinion of the Government, so I think
it was actually the most important item
during the session.
"The Five year Financial Plan did not include indemnities, protection of repatriated
men, increased production of food, war
profits, or social problem. I think the Government should have been prepared for it
earlier.
SATO: "During the explanation of the Government at the plenary session on the budget,
Finance minister SHIBUSAWA seemed to be
a man of culture. State Minister MATSUMOTO also impressed me favorably. How were you
impressed with him in the Diet,
UEDA?"
UEDA: "The Finance Minister's explanation was quite honest and sincere. The State
Minister also answered sincerely though he
was thoroughly questioned. The Agriculture and Forestry and Education Ministers knew
the interpellators' feelings well, as can
be expected of politicians, so they replied cleverly, but their answers were meager
in contents."
KUTSUNA: "What is your view on the Election Law Committee, KOKARA?"
KOHARA: "The importance of the current Diet session lay in three bills, and I envisage
a system which clearly alters the old
constituency. Another thing I expected is that Diet members would let their so-called
liberal and generous attitudes be
reflected in the Diet, thereby getting rid of militarism. Also, I wanted the members
of the Diet to play an adequate part in
building a democratic country by deliberating frankly on various questions, but instead
they clining to their party
feelings.
"The Liberal Party's restricted plural ballot system profits majority parties by
reducing the constituent field of minor
parties. Such was the opinion of the Diet members on the Election Law Amendment. The
cases of
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POLITICAL SERIES: 124 (Continued)
ITEM 1 (Continued)
by-elections and questions on OKIWAWA-Ken were neglected, but because of opposition
raised by the House of Peers, it was
agreed upon that a by-election, re-election, or special election, as in OKINAWA can
be accomplished by the single ballot
system. This demonstrates the impropriety of the Restricted Plural Ballot Bill proposed
by the House of Representative
"In the debate on the present Election Law, the opposition between the old and new
powers was comparatively less than in that
of the other two major bills. The course of the investigations clearly exposed the
party feelings. Diet members betrayed their
attitude of wishing to be considered innocent while rebuking others as war criminals.
The general election being near at hand,
the committee meeting was attended by two out of some 20 members. Even these two committee
members remained there reluctantly,
and the press drifted away gradually during the meeting."
KAMOI: "The Election Law should be considered as an ideal bill and by no means should
be treated as a matter of party policy.
To make amends for not having complied with the nation's wishes during the past War,
we should propose a bill more progressive
than that of the Government's."
KOHARA: "The general election is near at hand. The original bill permit election
campaigns before they are officially
sanctioned. These campaign[illegible]will be carried out mostly by the Communist Party."
KAMOI: "There is fear that old constituencies will be encroached upon by the Communists
while the Diet is in session."
KOHARA: "Therefore, in order to prevent such encroachment, it is considered wise
to regulate early election campaign movements
as does the existing law."
KUTSUNA: "The formation of the three big political parties is welcome, but if they
maintain the old system of party interest
and policy, will not a democratic government and the national interest be injured?"
KAMOI: "Viewed from the atmosphere of the plenary session and the Budget and Election
Law Committee meetings, the political
parties are lacking in ability and policy. I have come to the conclusion that they
fell far short of my expectations. After
the outbreak of the conflict with CHINA, the Army suppressed political parties entirely,
and members of Diet moved at the
Command of the military, quite forgetting how to speak for themselves. The result
is that now no members of the Diet are able
to think of an adequate policy. A parliamentary government may be restored by democracy,
but men's minds cannot be converted
within a night.
"After all, the present consists of great national confusion, and members of the
Diet also being members of the Nation, are
likewise confused in thought. It is therefore unreasonable to expect too much from
them, though I do not mean to excuse them.
The present political parties have been organized with a view to the coming general
election. The Progressive Party,
especially, has been designed with a desire to come into political power again. Chief
Secretary TSURUMI said, 'The Party
members have attended the Diet a week or 10 days after the formation of the Progressive
Party, and it was impossible for them
to have made full preparations for the Diet.' This can also be said of the Liberal
Party. Only the Social-Democratic Party has
an appropriate ideology and has had some experience. Therefore, it is making good
progress, having clarified the Party's
fundamental policy previous to the formation of the Party. The Liberal and
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POLITICAL SERIES: 124 (Continued)
ITEM 1 (Continued)
Progressive Parties, "being unable to cast off their old shells, were quite unable
to do the right thing.
"To which party should the people give their votes? Under the present circumstances,
there is no other alternative but to vote
for an able man rather than for a party. Today I asked Mr. HATOYAMA about the policy
of the Liberal Party, but he said the
policy was not yet fixed. After all, the Nation as such should vote for new able men
or men with appropriate political power,
who may form the real future of political parties."
TAKADA: "WADA and TOHATA are members of the Research Association (KENKYUKAI). Can
we anticipate a steady rehabilitation of
JAPAN through the bill proposed by this Association? They say that prospects would
be favorable to tenants if the feudal
system was overthrown by cutting down the property of land-owners to three or five
chobu. What do you think of this,
SATO?"
SATO; "In the last Diet there was an interpellation just like your question. It is,
I think, a very significant subject. Of
what type will the future agriculture of the world be? What will become of farming
in JAPAN if all the agricultural products
in the world increase? In fact, this question has not been taken up as yet. The following
interpellations made by Mr. IRE,
Hajime, and KONO, Ichiro, in the last Diet: 'What is the policy on future prices;
'What will become of formers if the price of
agricultural products suddenly falls, though at present a bale of rice costs from
2,000 to 3,000 yen on the black market? In
such a case, a farmer, who has bought land on the basis of annual payments for 24
years, must suffer in paying his
installments. Japanese farmers cannot be happy only because of the Revised Agrarian
Land System Law. We cannot forge ahead if
the problems of prices and management are not dissolved, and if the agricultural authorities
are not prepared to meet the
problem.'
To those questions, the Agricultural and Forestry Minister replied, 'The only thing
we can do at present is to take up the
best expedient measures possible.' The Minister was then warned to establish an overall
agricultural administration.
KUTSUNA: "By the same token, it is quite right to give workers the right of collective
bargaining so as to realize economic
democracy. It is stra[illegible]that there have not been such rights before this."
ONO: "Everyone recognizes that the labor movement in JAPAN is 100 years behind that
of the rest of the world. The epoch-making
Labor Union Law Bill was taken up by the Government along the lines of a directive
from Allied Headquarters. The outline of
the Bill was settled at a cabinet meeting held on 4 December which, however, restricted
the rights of workers on strike. At
Allied Headquarters, the item restricting the rights on strikes was not approved.
It was then deleted, though the Government
wanted to keep the item. Then the bill was submitted on 11 December. However, the
Progressive Party and some others opposed
the bill from the point of view that in order to democratize JAPAN, industry must
be re-established; and it must be done under
a management which satisfies capitalists, while labor unions would stand in the way
of this objective.
"On the other hand, the Socialists unanimously approved the Bills once the restriction
of the rights of the laborers on strike
was cancelled. The Progressive Party, which opposed the Bill in the beginning seemed
to have abandoned its 'opposition after
learning the intentions of the
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POLITICAL SERIES: 124 (Continued)
ITEM 1 (Continued)
Allied Headquarters. None of the Progressives attended the special Committee meeting
opened on 11 December. Finally, two of
the Socialists attended, but none of the Progressives or Liberals were seen in the
committee. As for the Government, it seemed
to be astonished to find the Bill broader than the original draft.
KUTSUNA: "According to various members of the Diet and Government, it is the directive
of General Headquarters that matters
most, and it is realized that it is impossible to protect specially privileged people
now. How did members of the conservative
House of Peers feel about such severe criticism, HIRABAYASHI?"
HIRABAYASHI: "The House of Peers is still very sluggish. In their interpellations
we could find nothing enthusiastic."
KUTSUNA: "The Army has collapsed, and bureaucracy is now declining. After all, we
have to rely upon parliamentary action for
our democratic polity. The past Diet was not good, but this does not mean that the
Diet system is bad in itself. What is your
opinion on the politics of JAPAN before the forthcoming general election, KAMOI?"
KAMOI: "I have studied the Diet since the SAITO Cabinet, and I find that the Diet
has been becoming increasingly inert, year
by year, ever since the political parties were 'knocked out'. The lack of enthusiasm
is, however, only on one side of the
Diet. On the other side, we see something very active. I felt hopeful about the last
Diet, expecting some new activity."
KUTSUNA: "Tell me, what has impressed you the most in the last Diet session, HANDA?"
HANDA: "The gravest impression I received in the Diet was the helpless depression
of the committee of the House of Peers after
the reform directive from the Allies was issued. I can assert that a basic reform
must be made in the House of Peers. At the
same time, we must be careful to select representatives in order to assume a better
future for the House of Representatives.
In this sense, all the people must make more efforts to judge fairly political and
economic problems. This should be done not
only for schools or for the educational system, but for JAPAN itself. It is the people's
duty. We must improve ourselves with
a view to being happier in a more cultured, democratic land. All changes must raise
all levels of our nation, culturally,
socially, and politically."
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