Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0180, 1946-01-14.

Summary:

At present we do not know when the general election will be held. Consequently, the date of the next extraordinary Diet session is still pending. If the Diet cannot beopened in March, it is debatable whether the next budget will follow that of the preceding year or whether the Government will decide the budget on its own responsibility, though this is rather unconstitutional.

At present we must not only make an estimate of the next fiscal year's budget, but also the supplementary budget for last year. Under such curcumstances, it is said that, if necessary, emergency measures may be taken under the first application of Article 70 of the Constitution.

In the last fiscal year approximately 1,200,000,000 yen went as expenses for war damage repairs, the repatriation of Japanese from overseas, etc. These are, by their nature, most urgent expenditures. Nevertheless, there is very little left of the emergency fund to meet these demands. Thus, it is considered inevitable that, if the Diet cannot approve the above supplementary budget by the end of March, the Government will take emergency measures.

Article 70: When the Government is in immediate need of taking measures to secure the public welfare, and cannot convene the Imperial Diet due to home and foreign affairs, the Government is authorized to take necessary financial measures by Imperial Order. In this case, however, the Government must submit the matter to the following Diet to be approved therein.

Article 71: If a budget is not decided on or cannot be compiled in the Diet, the Government follows the budget of the preceding fiscal year.

Full translation:

The government comments that, as announced before, governors who were the heads of local branches do not come under the category of "leaders of local branches of the Imperial Rule Assistance Association" in the SCAP directives. According to the Government, the leaders who were in the positions of leadership are the chiefs of Affair Bureaus of the local branches and the heads of the Imperial Rule Assistance Man hood Association (SO[illegible]ENDAN).

POLITICAL SERIES: 180 (Continued)

Full Translation:

As the result of reorganization, the new members of the Cabinet are Home Minister MITSUCHI, with the portfolio of Transportation Minister, Education Minister ABE, and Agriculture Minister SOEJIMA. In spite of the retreat of officials and Progressives, no substantial change has taken place in the Cabinet. There is nothing worth mentioning about Home Minister MITSUCHI and Education Minister ABE, but as for Agriculture Minister SOEJIMA, vigorous censure is cropping up here and there. His appointment is considered in defiance of the present momentous provisions problem. The blow was strongly felt, especially on the part of the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry. Such being the case, the situation is still fraught [illegible]ith danger.

Full Translation:

The Progressive Party, which attended the 89th extraordinary Diet session with an overwhelming majority of 270 odd members, was rather upset when the Diet was dissolved. Moreover, the Party was greatly frightened by the Allied directive issued on 4 January. Compared with the Liberal and the Social-Democratic Parties, which are actively taking advantage of the situation, the Progressive Party is very much depressed, in contrast with its attitude in the last Diet.

Nevertheless, when the Party found that the political situation involved reorganization of the cabinet, which is favorable to the Party, it prepared a statement on 11 January, which stated, "We Progressives want to take charge of the present critical situation with the trust of a majority of the people. Therefore, we think that there is immediate need of establishing a new party cabinet." The statement was shelved, however.

Two rebellious groups arose within the party after the directives were issued, The mainstays of the Party say that it is true to relimber the Party by readjusting the personnel, as the main staff of the Party is affected by the Allied directives. This group numbers mere than 20, including NODA, Takeo; NAKAMURA, Umekichi; ITO, Goro; KOYANAGI, Makiye; NAGUMO, Shosaku.

On the other hand, 52 or 53 new men, who want to run in the coming general election, headed by TANABE, Tadao, YAMAMOTO, Takeo, and MURAI, Hachiro, formed "The Progressive Club " within the Party. Greatly angered at the attitude of the main staff, the say, "We cannot but think that the present leaders of our Party are not qualified to take charge of the present political situation. If necessary, we want to expel the executive members." Anyhow, the two groups seem to wish to reform their party. We can see their sincerity in their opinion that the Progressives can be successful only when they have a deep consciousness about the reality of the war defeat.

Extracts:

Through the week-long political unrest, government officials idled away their time, while farmers neglected their deliveries to the Government; ultimately the Cabinet's final decision to reorganize was made known.

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POLITICAL SERIES: 180 (Continued)

ITEM 5 (Continued)

Even though most people, absorbed in daily matters, do not seem to have an interest in politics, still their mistrust of the Cabinet can well be gleaned from what they say. Let us examine local opinions.

FUKUI-Ken: Since we can no longer rely on the Government, every one of us is trying to get on by his own efforts. All the farmers as well as other citizens desire a cabinet which will settle the food problem.

AICHI-Ken: Whatever new ministers enter a cabinet, it may not demonstrate its political ability under these circumstances. War sufferers' relief and the settlement of the problems of housing, feul, and food are the first things to be handled.

KAGAWA-Ken: Black markets are becoming livelier day by dry end the people's daily problems are becoming more serious in proportion. How can we trust a government, which has taken no steps to probe the matter?

KYOTO-To: The political unrest can be attributed to sabotage in every circle. As every policy remains very obscure, neither formers nor tradesmen know what to do to overcome their difficulties.

IBARAGI-Ken: Most people do not expect effective measures to be taken by the Government for war sufferers and for the shortage of food. They are indifferent to the Cabinet's attitude and have no interest in the coming election.

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