Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0193, 1946-01-16.

Author Supreme Commander for The Allied Powers. Allied Translator and Interpreter Section.

Date16 January, 1946

translation numberpolitical-0799

call numberDS801 .S85

Persistent Identifier
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS
SUPREME COMMANDER FOR THE ALLIED POWERS
ALLIED TRANSLATOR AND INTERPRETER SECTION
PRESS TRANSLATIONS
No. 799 Date: 16 Jan 46

POLITICAL SERIES: 193

ITEM 1 People's Discontent and Distrust Not Abating - Yomirui-Hochi - 15 Jan 46. Translators A. Kido.

Extract:
As was fully ex[illegible]acted, the SEIDEHARA Cabinet has now totally exposed its bureaucratic nature. That the procedure and plan in nominating cabinet ministers we're a thoroughgoing anachronism is quite useless to mention here. The reason why such old men as MITSUCHI and SOEJIMA have been given important posts lies therein. Both took a conservative attitude toward the war and seem to be unaffected by the Directive. Mr. MITS[illegible]CHI, for instance, fought bravely in the TEIKOKU JIJZM (TN Rayon Industry) Case against the line-up of the fascist judiciary. However, who can conclude that Mr. MITSUCHI was not responsible for the bureaucratic fascist military policy? He was e member of the Privy Council for five and a half years, of which the late Prince SAIONJI spoke as being more harmful than the House of Peers.
Apart from such questions, will it not be too much to expect of Mr. MITSUCHI political ideas and sense commensurate with the new democratic age? The same is applicable to the new agriculture Minister SOEJI[illegible]A, The fact that he held such important posts as Chief Director or Vice Presidant of the NIPPO[illegible]SHOKEN (TN Former stock exchange) and various firms, though not a direct tool of the monopolistic combines, testifies to his having played a leading role in the wartime money market.
Both figures may be veteran statesmen, but this makes them even more likely to become conservative. If Home Minister MITSUCHI backs Finance Minister SHIBUSAWA who is lately unpopular in financial circles, the inflation preventive measures will tend to defend capital and financial circles.
It is a big question whether Mr. SOEJIMA, can take any positive steps. Progressive officials of the Agriculture and Forestry Department, having organized a staff board to start democratization of the officials may not work under the aged Agriculture Minister and may not give him full credit merely because be is their senior.
Meanswhile, Education Minister ABE alone is popular. He is too good for the present Cabinet. Through him the reshuffled, conservative SHIDSHARA Cabinet will surely get a little liberalism because of his liberal thinking. But it must be remembered that not all philosophers are good statesmen. The example of Mr. HASHIDA, former director of the first Higher School and later Education Minister, proves this.
The appointment of Director of the Bureau of Legislation, NA[illegible]HASHI to the post of Chief Secretary, the appointment of ISHIGURO to the former's post, and the appointment of Mr. ABE to the Education Portfolio somehow gives a refreshing impression. At any rate, the
POLITICAL SERIES: 193 (Continued)
ITEM 1 (Continued)
authorities must act straightforwardly and then quid[illegible]y resign after carrying out the forthcoming general election. The people's discontent and mistrust toward the Government will not be diverted. Independent, organizing actions of the people cannot and must not be neglected even for a minute.

ITEM 2 Problems In Unifying the Democratic Fronts. Part I. Special Quality of the Present Democratic Revolution - Mimpo - 16 Jan 46. Translator: N. Tachibana.

Summary:
The present democratic revolution in JAPAN differs from that of other countries in former days to a great extent. Clarification of this difference is the foundation of all the problems today. In former days, in RUSSIA, the main power in revolution consisted of only workers and farmers and leaders came from only the labor class and parties. They could not fail to upset the Emperor system revolutionarily and so produced the SOVIET Republic. The revolution was carried out at one stroke. The Duma was an indispensible component of the Emperor system, so it was impossible to democratize the Duma separately.
But at present the small bourgeoisie and small and middle capitalists also can take part in the revolution, and other democratic parties as well as the Communist Party can became the leaders. Our aim is to establish a common democratic republic, and the destruction and construction are going on side by side in the revolutionary cause. The Diet is being separated from the Emperor system.
Great destruction as well as great construction is involved in the establishment of a democratic coalition Government. Self-government in local administration can be completed by appointing the prefectural governor by election and by electing members on a democratic basis to the prefectural assembly, and municipal, town, and village administrations. The economic reconstruction, which workere are carrying out voluntarily as their main purpose, is not only rehabilitation of material damages caused by the war, but also destruction of the old economic system. But the extent of construction is really far behind that of destruction. The old government system has been out to pieces, and the people have not as yet filled those gaps with their own forces. This is not because our enemy is strong, but because we are weak. Why does our reconstruction not proceed any further in spite of the fact that the old economic control system is being destroyed? This due to the present conditions whereby democratic influences are scattered and consequently it is impossible to democratize political, economic and cultural organizations with united aims and policies by banishing war criminals and militarists. This is why the organization of a united democratic front is the first step for every action and it is now being demanded by the people.

ITEM 3 Popular Front Spreads - Yomirui-Hochi - 16 Jan 46. Translator: H. Kato.

Summary:
By the rise of a popular front formation more impetus will be given to the development of a farmers' movement. The popular parties, including the left wing of the Social Democratic and the Communist Party, are already extending a joint popular front embracing the peasants' movement in various districts including AOMORI, YAYAGUCKI, SAITAMA, GUNMA, IBARAGI, MIE, GIFU and other prefectures. Now, when it is high time to form a democratic front, the Popular Relief Federation comprising the Communist Party, the Social Democratic Party
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POLITICAL SERIES: 193 (Continued)
ITEM 3 (Continued)
the Farmers' Association, the Labor Union and the Co-operative Union was formed with the radical members of the Liberal Party and the intelligenzia participating in order to encourage an active relief movement. This event has opened the eyes of the central authorities to the difficulties of the problem of a unified front.
The successful formation of the Federation is due to the agreement of the representative of the various prefectural unions to the proposal of AWAYA, Yuzo, representative of the Labor Union, "The campaign for popular relief will be accomplished only by the consolidation of the whole people." The Federation will take active measures with the popular slogan, (l) Popular control of provisions, (2) Fair and impartial distribution of goods corcealed and disposed of by the Army, (3) Immediate dissolation of the Industrial National Service Association and the Labor Association.

ITEM 4 Staff Changes in the Home Ministry - Asahi Shimbun - 16 Jan 46. Translator: S. Sano.

Extracts:
Because of the resignation of throe staff members of the Home Ministry, the Government has selected sucessors in addition to the now Minister MITSUCHI, and decided to appoint Mr. OMURA, Seichi, former vice Educational Minister as vice Home Minister; Mr. FUJINUMA, Shohei, a member of the House of Peers, as chief of the Metropolitan Police Board; and Mr. TATIKAWA, Noboru, governor of YAMANASHI-Ken, as director of the Police Bureau. These changes were made public on the day of appointment, 15 January.
As Mr. HIROSE, Hisatada, Chief of TOKYO-To, intimated his intention to resign sometime ago, Mr. FUJINUMA, Shohei was appointed to the post in addition to being Chief of the Metropolitan Police Board. After careful consideration by the Governments in view of the importance to TOKYO-To, the investiture by the Emperor was held in the Imperial Palace at 1850 hours of 15 January.
Orders of the House Ministry
(15 January 1946)
Appointed: Governor of YAMAFASHI-Ken, SAITO, Noboru, (Former vice governor of KANAGAWA-Ken)
Dismissed at their request: HIROSE, Hisatada (Formerly the chief of TOKYO-To); SAKA, Chieaki (Former vice Home Minister); TAKANO, Genshin (Former Chief of the Metropolitan Police Board); KOIZUMI, Goro (Former Director of the Police Bureau).

ITEM 5 Various Parties' Reactions to Joint Statement - Mainichi Shimbun - 16 Jan 46. Translator: K. Murakami.

Full Translation:
How do the political parties the joint statement on a united front prepared by the Communist Part and Mr. NOZAKA? In the Social-Democratic Party, some members have already exhibited reactions to the statement, causing complicated circumstances within the party. The Liberal Party assumes the attitude of a spectator, while the Progressives say that it is hard for the party to support a front which rejects the monarchy.
We asked the parties about their attitude to this joint statement. The reaction of the Social Democrats to the statement is regarded with keen interest. How will the Central Committe meeting which
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POLITICAL SERIES: 193 (Continued)
ITEM 5 (Continued)
is to be held on 16 January solve this problem? Apparently there will he animated arguments on the subject. Mr. NOZAKA, who returned from abroad, paid Mr. MIZUTAMI, Chozaburo and Mr. SUZUKI, Shigezaburo a visit of courtesy on his return on 15 January, at headquarters of the Social-Democratic Party. Mr. MIZUTANI and Mr. SUZUKI were favorably impressed by him. Some members of the party, however: still hold a poor view of the last Communist campaign to break up the Social-Democratic Party.
Mr. NOZAKA will have a conference with Mr. KATAYMA, Chief Secretary and some other members of the Social-Democratic Party, at 1400 hours of 19 January. The formal attitude of the party will be decided after the meeting.
Mr. SANO, Gaku, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party; says, "I dare to point out the weaknesses of the Communist Party of JAPAN in the past. It was too international, forgetting its own country. That is, it was too estranged from its own nation. It has abided by the class division, the class-for-class principle neglecting national problems. There was struggle within the party; it was not democratic.
"However, when I read the joint statement and Mr. NOZAKA's words, I felt the past weaknesses were substantially corrected. Above all, I felt a deep significance in his words, 'the Communist Party to be loved by the people'
"At present, the Japanese, are in the throws of agony. If we Japanese want to relieve ourselves from hardship, we must carry out the democratic, national revolution in a strong combination of laborers, farmers, city dwellers, and intellectuals, overthrowing the privileged classes. Toward this objective, I believe we should form a council with a three plank platform: the establishment of national sovereignty; economic security; and establishment of a revolutionary democratic coalition cabinet from the popular front. I should like to assist in forming the united front in this way. I know, however, that there may be room for argument on whether the national soveriegnty is to appear in the form of the republican system or of the Emperor system. Such problems should. I think, be left for each party to discuss freely. We only struggle for democracy. We only endeavor to strengthen our power.
"We must understand that the front should be formed by the masses. We must exclude support from outside as well as private transactions. The first slogan of THOPEZ, French Communist, on his return to his vanquished fatherland, was 'rehabilitation of national life'. He succeeded in forming a popular front by understanding national problems. On the contrary, Communists in the BALKAN countries failed due to their high theory, which neglected national problems. We should learn from those examples."
Director MAKI[illegible]O, of the Liberal Party, stated, "It is pretty hard to form a popular front based on the joint statement of Mr. NOZAKA and the Communist Party. We believe it will be unsuccessful. Moreover, it is a pity that the project will be unfavorable to the Social-Democratic Party. As for our party, we prefer silence. We are not prepared for any new movement."
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POLITICAL SERIES: 193 (Continued)
ITEM 5 (Continued)
Mr. NAKAMURA, Umekichi, representing the Progressive Party, said, "There are two ideas on the democratic front: one which insists upon sovereignty being in the hands of the people; the other aims at thoroughgoing democratization under a monarchial system. As for sovereignty being in the hands of the people, we cannot agree to it by any means, because, the Progressive Party absolutely supports a constitutional Emperor system. We believe that if the sovereign power of the Emperor is exercised through the Diet, which represents national will, we can thoroughly realize democratization of this country."
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