Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0207, 1946-01-20.
Date20 January, 1946
translation numberpolitical-0857
call numberDS801 .S85
Persistent Identifier
POLITICAL SERIES: 207
ITEM 1 Letters To Editor Show Lively Interests in Vital Subjects - Yomiuri Hochi -19 Jan 46. Translator. K. Onishi.
Full Translation:
Letters to "The CRIES," our readers' column, from all parts of the country amount
on an average to some fifty or sixty a day,
and they directly reflect the trend of public opinion. However, because of space only
a very few of them appear in "The Cries"
column and many heated discussions worth reading are left out, for which we make sincere
apologies to the readers who send
them.
We intend to make the best use of our readers' opinions as far as possible here by
classifying 369 letters which we received
between January 1st and 11th, and we will show you the new year trend of public opinion.
The majority of these letters is concerned with the problem of the Emperor System,
numbering 62, that is about 20 per cent of
the whole. Many of them expressed pros and cons stimulated by the radio round table
talks on this problem, but they show how
the problem of Emperor System is attracting more and more attention among the general
people. Of these those for the Emperor
System number 26 while those against it number 25. This approximate parity between
those for and against when compared with
the fact that those for amounted to 90 per cent in the public opinion investigation
made by TOKYO Imperial University some
time ago, shows how to the foundation of the Emperor System is rocking with the progress
of time.
Of those for, 21 support the Emperor as the object of traditional belief, five support
the Emperor System democratized, and
two wish for the present Emperor's abdication and for the installation of the Crown
Prince on the throne. Of those against 13
conclude that the Emperor System hinders the development of democracy eight state
that the Emperor is responsible for the war,
two deny the System on historical grounds, and two are opposed on the grounds of sentiment
against the prerogative powers of
the Imperial Household, Five are neutral; four of them propose a plebiscite to decide
whether to maintain the Emperor System
or not; and three others withold criticism until the problem has been studied more
scientifically.
Second place is taken by letters concerned with war responsibility and they total
51. 20 of them blame the financial and
military cliques, the bureaucrats and others for war responsibility, and a good many
of these letters even go as far as to
give the names of particular individuals, of which 14 accuse the men around Mr. KAN
KIKUCHI, two the Emperor and two, Admiral
YONAI. Some of them discuss men of letters and also women.
Third comes those involved with the problem of the treatment of demobilized soldiers
and the account for 21 letters. Eight of
them warn the public that they should not be resentful of those demobilized. Five
wish to get information concerning the
demobilization of men abroad. In connection with the purge directive for professional
soldiers, three
POLITICAL SERIES: 207 (Continued)
ITEM 1 (Continued)
student-soldiers filed complaints end they disclose serious problems present here.
Fourth is the group of letters complaining of the difficulties of living and numbering
20 in all. Seventeen of them complain
in general about the difficulties of living due to the soaring prices of goods. Five
bombed-out, four repatriates and three
families that have lost soldiers, respectively wrote of their difficulties.
The fifth group consists of 19 letters dealing with the problems of the education
system. As many as 13 of them discuss reform
of the education system, making such propositions as the restoration of the five year
system in middle schools and the
abolition of the system of principals' and secret reports on those pupils applying
for higher-grade schools. One of them
treats the problem of improving teacher's conditions and another urges measures for
aiding bombed-out students. One letter
made a curious proposal for the abolition of square caps for college students "to
clarify the responsibility of university
students".
The sixth class consists of a group of letters blaming the incompetence of the Government
and numbers 18 in all. Six of them
demand the resignation of the SHIDEHARA Cabinet, and another six eagerly desire the
resignation of high-ranking government
officials, and these two items occupy the greater portion of this group.
The seventh is the problem of farming villages and consists of 17 letters. Of these,
the overwhelming majority comprise
letters complaining of the unsatisfactory method of rice distribution, and next come
attaking the staffs of agricultural
associations.
The eighth group consists of 14 letters concerned with food rationing, eight of which
blame men engaged in the rationing
business and its organizations, and five of them censure the Government is measures
for dealing with food problems.
Among others noteworthy topics, 13 letters deal with problems about women; two of
which advocate birth-control, and five
demand the emancipation of women. Of 12 letters arguing about politics, eight supported
the Communist Party and four opposed
it. In addition to these, seven letters deal with labor problems such as demanding
improvement in conditions, etc, and five
advise the necessity of intensifying measures to prevent the aggravation of inflation;
eight treat of the problem of a
national language and letters, and recommend vertical writing from left to right;
three proposed the revision of the national
anthem. In view of the present transport difficulties, five find fault with the railway
men's attitude towards
passengers.
Generally speaking, it is a wonder that not a single one of them has taken up unemployment
which is an extremely large social
problem, and we feel much interest in this, because it reflects the state where the
unemployed have become [illegible]of their own unemployment. (Investigated by our Investigation Board)
ITEM 2 Reform of the House of Peers - Yomiuri Hochi - 19 Jan 46. Translator: S. Ono
Summary:
Owing to the Allied directive which directs that a general election be held at a
date later than 15 March, the regular session
of the next Diet will begin about the middle of April.
The reform bill of the House of Peers Act, which formerly was scheduled to be submitted
to an extraordinary session of the
Diet, prior to the presentation of the bill for constitutional revision, can now he
passed with drastic changes, owing to the
expected prior enactment of constitutional reforms.
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POLITICAL SERIES: 207 (Continued)
ITEM 2 (Continued)
The formulation of a reform bill, providing for the abolition of members of the Imperial
Household titled personages, and high
tax papers, together with a charge in the fired numbers and method of collection of
the members by imperial nomination, is
expected to be carried out. Change of the name of the House if necessary, is also
expected.
According to the provisions of the former bill of reform, princes of the Imperial
Household, on reaching the age of thirty,
were qualified to a seat by Imperial Command, while titled nobles, on reaching the
same ago, were eligible for the seat on
nomination by their peers. Their entire exclusion; therefore, from the House is welcomed
as a most effective step toward the
elimination of feudalistic elements.
ITEM 3 The Allied Headquarters Favors Voluntary Pursuit of War Criminals - Yomuchi [illegible]- 19 Jan 46[illegible]. Translator: N. Tachibana.
Full Translation:
Lately they voluntary pursuit of war criminals or movements for banishing them are
being means in Government [illegible]companies [illegible]publishing world and many other [illegible].
At an interview with a group of reporters on 18 January, a [illegible]of [illegible]Allied
Headquarters admitted this tendency being very [illegible]and suggested the following:
"We think it a very [illegible]that the KODAN Publisity Company and others have [illegible]begun to [illegible]and [illegible]war criminals voluntarily. We know that in many
fields [illegible]has lately been a general inclination to do nothing will Allied Headquarters issued
the
necessary directives. The government, economic, and social fields are that way, too.
Some serious Japanese people very much
regret such a tendency a Allied Headquarters is very satisfied with the attitude of
positive and voluntary reorganization by
the Japanese people themselves, It is good for the Japan so people ho begin to act
voluntarily before Headquarters issued
directives to them. Superficial actions, however, are useless and reforms must be
thoroughgoing. Allied Headquarters will be
favorably disposel only towards a truly voluntary clean up of war criminals.
ITEM 4 Formation of A New Party Union - Asahi Shimbun - 19 Jan 46 Translator: S. Kawasaki
Full Translation:
Among many minor political parties numbering more than 40, a tendency to form a new
party union has appeared recently. As its
first step, the representatives of 14 parties including the Constitutional Young Men's
Party (RIKKON [illegible]-To), gathered at MAISICHI Hall, YURAKU-CHO at 1400 en 18 January and formed a new
party union. They
resolved the following four items as a slogan for a joint compaign. Overthrow of the
former power; renovation of they
Emperor's System; public election of the Prime Minister: and the [illegible]to of systematic economics. The
league, from now on, will call for the participation of each minor political party,
Moreover, the league has row been
arranging the procedure; with which the formation of the row united party will be
promoted.
The following officials have been appointed. 1. A representative manager YAMATO,
Kadoshigo the Constitutional Young Men's
Party (RIKKEN - SEINEL[illegible]TO). 2. Standing secretaries KAWANO, Rinjiro (the Japan Republican Party);
TAKAHASHI, Kensuke (The Japan Good Life Society (NIPPON - MEISEI-KAI): YOKODA, Shunzo,
The Social Industralists Party
(SHAKAI-SEISAN - To); and RITEI, Yutaka, The Social Democratic Party (SHAKAI-MINSHU-TO).
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POLITICAL SERIES: 207 (Continued)
ITEM 5 Hopeful Advancement Toward Popular Front - The Mimpo - 19 Jan 46, Translator: S. Kawasaki
Full Translator:
In answer to the denial of a popular front by the Central Executive Committee of
the Social Democratic Party, the Communist
Party made public its reply on 17 January and emphasized the necessity of a united
front. The Social Democratic Party again
declined. Judging from the asserations of the two parties, it is remarkable that the
Communist Party has changed from its
former attacks on soma leaders of the Social Democratic Party, and now gently insists
on the main objective of a united
front.
The Communist Party agreed to the formation of a united front which has been advocated
by Mr. YAMAKAWA, Hitachi, and to a plan
for an intermediary meeting. The Party is of the opinion that a development of the
ideas of Mr. YAMAKAWA should made rather
than a united front advocat [illegible]Communists [illegible]. It may be called a faithful
attitude towards [illegible]formation of a united front. Lodging from the statement of the Social Democratic
Party with regard to its agreement with the views of Mr. YAMAKAWA the problem of a
united front, which was becoming very
difficult sense to be finding a method of being a settled by having Mr. YAMAKAWA stand
between the Communist Party and the
Social Democratic Party.
In reply to the Communist Party the Social Democratic Party has not denied the existance
of the about compaign of the [illegible]branch offices of the two parties. The present Central [illegible]of the Social
Democratic Party should be [illegible]from [illegible]classes. Due to the rapid formation
of the party. From the viewpoint that the party has been organized mainly [illegible]members of the House of
Representatives, the question is whether or not the intentions: of the Central authorities
will be the intentions of the whole
Party.
Therefore not with standing the denial of the Central authorities, the joi front
wil become mere active through the actions of
its lower sections. With Mr. YAMAKAWA as the [illegible]the union the two parties should be made by the
leaders, and should be fairly satisfactory. Apart from the fact that the Social Democratic
Party has new urged the
announcement of the principles and tenets of the Communist Party, the Social Democratic
Party says that "'Waiting for the full
growth of subject and subjective conditions, the Party will go hand with the Communist
Party as soon as possible." It will be
letter to say that it is a very interesting expression of the Social Democratic Party
with regard to the ones with the present
united front rather than to say that the attitude of the party is equiveal. In spite
of the denials of the Social Democratic
Party, it may be said that the prospect of the united front are not unfavorable.
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