Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0193, 1946-01-16.
Date16 January, 1946
translation numberpolitical-0799
call numberDS801 .S85
Persistent Identifier
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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