Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0211, 1946-01-21.

Full Translation:

In order to find out about the question of women's suffrage, the Progressive Party summoned two noted women, namely, Mrs. YOSHIOKA, Yayoi, director, and Mrs. MURAOKA, Hanako, head of the Woman's Section, to hold a meeting at noon of 19 January at the Industry Club (In KOGYO).

As many as 40 women attended on that day, perhaps out of a sense of duty to Mrs YOSHIOKA. This is quite rare, since, in a woman's meeting, men such as Chief Secretary TSURUMI, Director SHIMADA and Mr. SAITO, Takao, seemed to have effaced themselves among the female veterans.

Mrs YOSHIOKA delivered the opening address; "It is an honor to have all the noted women attend, except for the Communists. We women, who have been given women's suffrage, have a duty to form a common front by ourselves. Don't you agree?"

Next Director SHIMADA spoke, "A woman minds what others say too much. Now that you have joined the same circle, I would advise you not to forget the relationship." In addition, he advised them not to be disturbed about the future of the party, which swams with war criminal suspects.

Mrs. MURAUKA made an address about her reasons for joining the party and giving up her candidacy. Mrs. TAKARA, Tomiko, and Mrs.KINOSHITA, made an address on their candidacy.

After these addresses the women expressed their own political views under the direction of Mrs. YOSHIOKA. However, those who definitely supported the Progressive Party numbered only two, namely Mrs. TAKEDA, Kiku, and Mrs. KAWAGUCHI Mesdames INOUYE, Hide, KAWAI, Michiko, and FUJIMURA, Toys, said, "As we wish to work from our own standpoint, that is, as educators, we do not support any special party". HIRATA, Kobu, HUTARI, Miyuki, said "We came here only to hear the Progressive Party's policy for women and children". YAMADA, Waka (in a satirical manner): "Previous Diet members have treated women who followed parliamentary movements roughly. When I lock back upon those days, I am deeply moved with emotion". Old members: "Anyhow, the world has become too censorious."

Full Translation:

The JAPAN Co-operative Party(KYODOTO) held a general committee meeting at its headquarters in MISAKI-cho, KANDA, on 18 January, attended by FUNADA, representative commissioner, SENGOKU, YOSHIDA, TANAKA, AKAGI, KODAIRA and other Commissioners. At the conference, there were discussions

POLITICAL SERIES: 211 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

about measures for the general election, the structure of its branch offices, the urgent food problem, the Emperor system, the democratic front, and other impending problems.

The following decisions were reached:—

• 1.The party will establish its branch offices in all prefectures during the last ten days of this month and the end of February, and each committee should decide on its own constituency before it systematically begins its electoral.
• 2.With regard to measures for the general election, the planning for the election should be accomplished at the headquarters, and FUNADA, Naka, KUROSAWA, Iorizo, and KODAIRA, Gonichi were selected as commissioners for the election; while KUMURA was chosen as the thief in charge of the headquarters.
• 3.Measures for the problems of the Emperor system and democratic front are to be published after the guiding principles of the Party's headquarters has been determined in the near future and then a conference of those in charge of the party will be requested.
• 4.As for the measures on the food problem, it has been decided to ease the stringent food crisis by some means along with measures for the self-supervision of working and farming classes and measures dealing with materials. The Party is to request the Government to solve these problems satisfactorily.

Summary:

In the Central Executive Committee of the Social Democratic Party on 16 January the formation of a democratic united front was deemed rather premature, and it was decided to delay forming it until after the forthcoming general election. However, there will be local unification with the Communist Party in small localities. Nevertheless, affairs are slowly progressing toward the sober but substantial formation of a united front. There is no doubt that the forthcoming general election will be seriously affected by the local united front presented by the Social Democrats and Communists. By the postponement of the general election, an enlightened movement by the Government and the people independly to realize the Allied political purge, order will be carried out through the general election campaign, and a movement to restore production and guarantee the people's livelihood will be gradually seen.

Democrats

The Social and Communists should extend the united front locally in this sense through the general election campaign. What are the prerequisites for carrying out the common fight of both parties in friendship and confidence on the election campaign? The Communists must be moderate in calling some leaders of the Social Democrats slovenly or fascists as in the past. On the other hand the Social Democrats should guard against such slanderous propaganda as that claiming the Communists foster social disorder and instigate violence. Otherwise tae general masses will l[illegible]respect and confidence in both parties and the formation of a popular front would be impossible.

The prime requirements for the formation of a united front are as follows: 1. Adoption of the widest possible agreement regarding the revival of the people's livelihood centering on food, clothing and shelter. 2. Co-operation in the constituencies by candidates of both parties, and 3. Arrangement of

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POLITICAL SERIES: 211 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

the number of candidates put forward by any organization; or by the organization of a united front, constituenies should automically be respected. Strong candidates must be chosen by considering the power of both parties over the masses and the number of representatives to be elected in the localities concerned.

Full Translation:

Home Minister MITSUCHI will bring about a great change in the bureaucratic composition of the Home Office in accordance with the retirement from office of war criminals, based on the directives issued by Mac ARTHUR'S Headquarters. Those who fall within the limits of resignation with good grace, are as follows:-

Director of the Local Bureau of the Home Office IRIE, Seiichiro; Director of the Superintendent Bureau of the Home Department OSHIMA, Hiroo; Vice-Minister of Welfare KAMEYAM, Koichi; Director of the Social Bureau of the Welfare Office KURIHARA, Minoru; Director of the Board of Health of the Welfare Office SAWA, Shigeuji: Governor of HOKKAIDO, MOCHINAGA, Yashio; Vice-Governor of TOKYO Metropolis, MACHIMURA, Kingo; Director of the Board of Education of TOKYO Metropolist TATEBAYASHI, Mikio; Director of the Planning Bureau of TOKYO, NAKAJ[illegible], Kenzo.

Also, Governor of OSAKA-Fu, ARAI, Zentars; Governor of KANAGAWA-Ken, FUJIWARA, Takao; Governor of HYOGO-Ken, SAITO, Ryo. Governor of NAGA-SAKI-Ken; NAGANO, Wakamatsu; Governor of NIIGATA-Ken, HATADA, Masafuku; Governor of GUMMA-Ken, TAKAGATA, Toshio; Governor of CHIBA-Ken, SHOETSU, Jukuma Governor of NARA-Ken, ODA. Shigenari; Governor of MIE-Ken, KCB [illegible]SHI, Chiaki; Governor of AICHI-Ken, FUKUGI, Ryuichi; Governor of SE[illegible]MA-Ken, Horita, Tateo; Governor of SHIGA-Ken; INADA, Shuichi; Governor of IWATE-Ken, MIYADA, Tamemasu;

Also, Governor of AOMORI-Ken, Kanal, Matohiko; Governor of FUKUI-Ken, MIYATA, Shonai; Governor of OKAYAM-Ken, AZUMI, Takuya; Governor of YAMAGUCHI-Ken, OKAMOTO, Shigeru; Governor of WAKAYAMA-Ken, Koike, Uichiro; Governor of KAGAWA-Ken, TANAKA, Shogo;. Governor of FUKUOKA-Ken, SOGA, Kaji-matsu; Governor of KUMAMOTO-Ken, HIRAI, Akira; Vice-Chief of the Reconstruction Board, MATSUMURA, Mitsumaro.

Full Translation:

The Realization of a General Principle.

This general principle must agree with the fundamental spirit of the POTSDAM Declaration. To accomplish this, first all militarists and War criminals must be punished and expelled. Second, a temporary democratic government must be set up composed of representatives of the various democratic parties and public bodies in order to study the measures against the imminent starvation problem, and, at the same time, an impartial general election must be held. Third, a peaceful and responsible democratic government must be chosen in the general election. Only the establishment of a democratic government which represents the real demands of the people and not those of war criminals, will enable the various democratic policies to be realized faithfully. This is the formula for the administration of occupied zones published as a decision of the CRIMEA Conference of the three great powers, ENGLAND, AMERICA and SOVIET RUSSIA in February 1945 and the democratizing formula which was agreed to by the world.

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POLITICAL SERIES: 211 (Continued)

ITEM 5 (Continued)

In the case of JAPAN, for sundry reasons, things have not happened precisely in the above order. In this country stern disposal of the War criminals and militarists now has become the important concern of the Nation. Not only do the reactionary elements exist in swarms but they are still holding political, economic and educational powers in the capitol as well as in the country, and once MacARTHUR'S directives strike at the organization, the whole working structure comes to a standstill. On the other hand, however, the Japanese nation has acquired comparatively wide political freedom, which is the realization of the most fundamental principle of the POTSDAM Declaration for eliminating obstacles to the revival and development of democratic tendencies. By this cleans, the people have obtained the basis on which they can win their own democratic duties in an extremely liberal, popular, and peaceful manner, which is the greatest harvest of the first stages of JAPAN'S democratic revolution.

In the second stage, we must utilize the above harvest to the fullest extent to organize ourselves without delay, and at the same time, by a comprehensive mobilization of the masses from top to bottom, the war criminals and militarists must be entirely driven out from places of work and areas allowing close contact with the people, in order to hasten democratic undertakings. In such a case the establishment of a temporary democratic coalition government and thorough democratization of local administration is moot essential. The reason for insufficient exercise of power from below in this country is due to the fact that the local administration which has the closest contact with the people is least influenced by the democratic trend, affording an ideal stronghold for the reactionary elements which are trying to obstruct all improvements and reformations and which are awaiting a chance of victory in the general election.

The directive of 4 January thrust a surgical knife into this canvas bringin about an important turning point in the second stage. Availing themselves of this opportunity, the second attack was evolved by the people, but the disunity of our democratic powers is entirely responsible for premitting the crisis-threatened SHIDEDAR. Cabinet to survive by reorganization.

The same tiling can be said of local politics. Should the democratic influence form a united front it will be possible, when the war criminals have been eliminated, to elect the prefectural governors by public vote, and to dissolve the equally guilty prefectural assemblies and insure that they be run by the people. In towns and villages it is much easier, because, for example, in case food and educational administration are utterly p[illegible]ralized, if all the democratic parties combine, it will be quite possible to organize food and education committees established by the people as a temporary measure and so bring about great improvements.

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