Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0191, 1946-01-18.

Summary:

The attitude of the Social-Democrat Party toward the joint statement of the Communist Party is watched with keen interest by all quarters. Concerning this, MIZUTANI, Chozaburo, Standing Central Executive Commissioner of the Party, spoke as follows on the 14th:

"Mr. NOZAKA, who has met with thousands of difficulties and hardships for the sake of the proletarian classes, has come back to vanquished JAPAN from his 16 years of exile. We have been looking forward to his return, expecting a great deal of stimulation. He did not fail to come up to our expectation. We were impressed most by his talk on board his train, in which he said, 'The Communist Party must try to gain the love of the masses! This is the wisest advice to the Communist Party, which is rather hard to put across to the mass of the people. Not only is this good advice to the Communist Party, but also it is a lesson to our Social-Democratic Party, which claims to be a party for the masses, by the masses, and of the masses.

"He, NOZAKA, lost no time in publishing a joint statement with the Communist Party, and revealed his opinion with regard to the Emperor system and the organization of a popular front. AS to the Emperor system, the Communist Party has been simply crying for the overturn of the system, without giving any explanation for it. He gave his explanation of this problem saying. 'The Emperor system should be abolished as a national system, and the continuance of the Imperial Household should be determined by the will of the Nation.'

This opinion quite agrees with the conclusion of the Investigation Committee of the Constitution, which is led by TAKANO, advisor of our party. There are, I presume, not a small number of our party members who support his opinion. The Social-Democratic Party insists that the Emperor should be left as at present with part of his sovereignty, and that his status be decided by the vote of the nation. NOZAKA's opinion is like this to some extent. In proposing the popular front, the Communists have hitherto been insisting on the overthrow of the Emperor system and the establishment of a democratic government. NOZAKA thinks that the Social-Democrat Party must be united with the Communist Party, with a common platform and policy as the point of agreement. This is, I think, a great impetus to this movement. The Communist Party said that it would propose a joint front with our party a hundred times or even two hundred times. When we consider the proposal by YAMAKAWA. Hitoshi, who is interested in the Communist Party, the organization of a popular front will surely take place in the future in some form or other.

POLITICAL SERIES: 191 (Continued)

Extracts:

The Social-Democrat Party, most vehement in requesting the resignation of the current Cabinet for its conservatism and lack of political leadership, is to hold a meeting of the central executive committee at the head office of the Party early tomorrow morning. The points to be discussed at the conference, at which more than one hundred committee members are expected to attend, are as follows: (l) Measures for the election campaign to win a majority; (2) Slogans to be adopted for the campaign and the reexamination of practical policies; (3) Adjustment of the actual situation between the head office and the branch offices in regard to the formation of a joint front with the Communist Party; (4) Election of a party head; (5) Clarification of the attitude of the Party towards the Emperor system.

Contrary to the original objective of the central office, aiming at the preparation of the election campaign, the selection of the party head and the formation of a joint front with the Communist Party will probably take up most of the discussion. As for the president problem there exist two opposing opinions among the Party members, the one insisting upon the necessity of making final decision for the nomination of the Party president in view of the present favorable situation of the Party, and the other asserting that the chief secretary system now in operation under KATAYAMA is quite satisfactory for carrying out Party affairs. Being comprised of groups of various interests, further development of the problem is expected to be an important influence upon the future of the Party.

The formation of a common front, with the Communist Party does not fail to offer us a problem of great interest. Since some local branches have reportedly already effected a coalition with the Communists, being strongly opposed to the indecisive attitude of the head office, heated discussions are expected to take place. Furthermore, with the return of NOZAKA, the veteran communist, some modification of the program of the Communist Party is likely to be made, while a group of Social-Democrats, headed by YAMAKAWA, Hitoshi, famous critic of social problems, is going to hold a welcoming party in honor of NOZAKA. All in all, the party is forced to clarify its attitude toward the problem of coalition with the Communists.

Summary:

During the recent political crisis the Progressive Party desired a Cabinet reorganization, while the Liberal and Social Democratic Parties demanded its general resignation. The Government, affirming the supreme importance of executing a general election, has adopted the attitude of getting around the crisis by a reorganization. Each political party from its standpoint is paying much attention to the Cabinet's future policies and measures.

Progressive Party:- The party which has lost its voice in the political situation by the recent purge directive, while approving the reshuffle measures, is showing plea-

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POLITICAL SERIES: 191 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

sure at the appointment of Mr. MITSUCHI, Chozo, as the Home Ministor. He is to be in control of the coming election. Depending on Premier SHIDEHARA's impartial personality and fair and reasonable political insight it is desirous for the Government to execute a general election which may fairly reflect the popular will, according to the import of the Allied Headquarter's directive, and accelerate the establishment of democracy.

Liberal Party:- Though the Party was demanding the resignation en masse - this does not necessarily mean that it will take up an opposition stand because of the reorganization, but will continue in a co-operative attitude. By the reorganization, the Progressive Party has lost two members, MATSUMURA and TANAKA, while the Liberal Party not only has the Welfare Minister ASHIDA still in the Cabinet but by the transfer of NARAHASHI and the appointment of MITSUCHI, who is on friendly terms with HATOYAMA, its President, it has greatly increased its influence in the Government. Consequently, the party will advance one more stop forward from co-operation to a positive attitude, expecially in urging the Government to execute urgent policies for allaying social unrest and accelerating rice deliveries.

Social Democratic Party:- While it opposes the organization, it is rather surprised, not only by the appointment of MITSUCHI, who is isolated from current social sentiment, but by the appointment of SOEJIMA, ignoring agrarian conditions and farmers' sentiments when the food situation is so critical. It holds the opinion that by such a reorganization, the Government can never overcome the food crisis end secure the people's needs and therefore has come to the conclusion that without the Social Democratic Party the country can never be saved from its current strained condition. With this idea, in mind, it will face the general election with the idea of obtaining a majority as its objective.

Communist Party:- From its policy of achieving a popular front government, and in view of the reactionary attitude of the Cabinet in appointing MITSUCHI, who may be ranked as a JUSHIN, the Party will thoroughly attack the cabinet.

How can the SHIDEHARA Cabinet execute a strict and impartial general election if it stands in such a relation to political parties? Apart from the decline of the Progressive Party, what advantage will the reorganization bring to the Liberals and what effect will it to the advent of both the Social Democrat and Communist Parties? The future trend of affairs is worthy of our careful attention.

Full Translation:

What is essential to the laying of a democratic line of battle is the co-operation of the Social Democratic and Communist Parties. Regarding the relations between these two parties, the Communist Party has proposed three times a plan for co-operative activity, but each time the proposal was refused by the other party.

Mr. NOZAKA is emphasizing that "both the parties should stop speaking ill of the other, and forgot the past." On the

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POLITICAL SERIES: 191 (Continued)

ITEM 4 (Continued)

side of the Socialist Party too, a fooling of good will is entertained towards his wide personal experience and his future role. Mr. NOZAKA is also expected to plan an alignment of these two parties as the first step toward forming a democratic front.

What governs the future of the democratic front are objective situations which, however, are turning out in their favor. In particular, regarding the problem of Emperor System, it was declared in their joint statement that although they insist upon the abolition of the Emperor System as a national system, the question whether or not to retain the Imperial Household, apart from the national system, should depend upon the will of the people.

This settles the conflicts which have so far existed between them and the Social Democratic Party on the question of the Emperor System, and at the same time very much increases their ability to appeal to the sentiments of the people.

Full Translation:

The Government hitherto has been of the opinion that the prefectural governors, who have concurrently held the posts of chiefs of the local branches of Imperial Rule Assistance Association, will not come under the category of the directive regarding the removal of the militaristic leaders from public offices. However, the chief of the Board of Affairs and the chiefs of the Imperial Rule Assistance Manhood Association will come under the above-mentioned category. This attitude of the Government has been based on the political idea that the change of the prefectural governors should be avoided if the circumstances will permit.

However Home Minister MITSUCHI revealed his opinion about this problem at his first meeting with the press on 13 January; "I would not take any evasive measures concerning the latest directive issued by General MacARTHUR's Headquarters. I will carry out the change of the prefectural governors as soon as possible. Consequently, the public election of the prefectural governors may be late in its realization."

If the opinion of the Home Minister is that of the Government, it follows that most of the present prefectural governors will be dismissed. The development of this problem has attracted general interest.

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