Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0229, 1946-01-26.

Extracts:

The committee Meeting for establishing the Social Education Association in KOCHI Prefecture was held on 12 January at the Council room of the JOTO Middle School and was attended by the chief of the domestic Department (NAISEI BUCHO) of the prefectural office and others. Mr. MASUMOTO, the chief of the domestic department, was recommended as the president, and Mr. KAWABUCHI and IBIZUKA as vice-presidents. Permanent secretaries will be chosen from representatives of each field of the college and high school, middle and young mens' natural schools and the press. After deliberation regarding the budget and the work of the Committee, the meeting adjourned at 1800.

Full Translation:

Prime Minister SHIDEHARA, who is now convalescent. Therefore he attended the Office for the first time on 21 January since the reorganization of the cabinet. He proceeded to the Imperial Palace on the sane day. He was received by the Emperor, who expressed his thanks for his recovery.

Full Translation:

In order to hear opinions regarding the whole administration of agriculture and forestry, Agriculture and Forestry Minister SOEJIMA on 21 January, invited six people to his office. They were Messrs. ISHIGURO, Tadaatsu; SENGOKU, Kotaro; NIMI, Yasu; ANDO, Kotaro; KODAIRA, Gonichi and NASU, Ko.

Full Translation:

The Home Office has decided to submit the revised bill for the Local Election System together with the Revised Members of the House of Representatives Election Law to the extraordinary session of the Diet after the general election, and has begun to form a revised bill dealing with the prefectural system, municipal system, and the corporation system. The gist of the revised local general election system is the expansion of franchise as laid down in the provisions of the municipal system and the corporation system. The 25 year age

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ITEM 4 (Continued)

required for eligibility under the present law is lowered to 20 years and women are to be given citizenship. The members of the House of Representatives Election Law gives voting rights to those who are over 20 years old and candidacy rights to those who are more than 25 years old. Any disparity of age is of no import. In the case of citizenship, it is usual for them to be no disparity of age. Therefore, concerning a local Diet - it is expected that for members of prefectural assembly and the members of a municipal town and village assemblies, the age for candidacy will be 20 years. Moreover, when the opportunity arrives for imparting citizenship by the revision of the municipal system and the corporation system, in order to democratize the local self-governing system, they will bring about the increase of the rights of municipal, town and village assemblies and at the same time will reduce the supervision by governors.

Full Translation:

In a strong protest move of the Social Democratic and Communist Parties against the Government plan to assure the prompt delivery of rice by the farmers, the Communists have decided again to propose the immediate formation of a united front with the Social Democratics to break the deadlock over a popular front. KUROKI, Shigetoku, spokesman of the Communist Party, stated: The SHIDEHARA Cabinet's plan to use compulsory measures against starvation will do nothing except provoke the antipathy of the masses and cause a breach of public peace. In view of the urgency of taking measures for the food crisis, the Communists hope to establish cooperation with the Food Crisis Action Council, KANTO Districts Association (for Overcoming the Food Crisis) all democratic parties and bodies. The Communists first hope to present a united front with the Social Democrats who are taking leadership in the movement. To overcome the current food crisis, a mere popular movement is unsatisfactory, but little hope is held out for the compromise with the present Government. Consequently, the Communists demand that the Cabinet resign en bloc and a true democratic government will be set up.

Full Translation:

Since the Diet session the belief had become almost general that the SHIDEHARA Cabinet, being a temporary solution, would transfer its powers to the parties swaying the parliament after the general elections, but hitherto the premier did not share their views, with the result, that an atmosphere of uncertainty prevailed. However, during a recent press conference a conspicuous change became apparent in the Premier's attitude. He now seems to think that the most fitting time for the resignation of his cabinet will be after the bill for constitutional reform has been dealt with by the special Diet soon to be elected. This seems to be borne out by two of his replies: "A bill for constitutional reform should be laid before the Special Diet after the elections. The political situation prevailing after the elections cannot be foreseen now, but should a party emerge capable of shouldering political responsibility it should naturally be entrusted with it, and I hope such a party will come into being as quickly as possible." During the Emergency Diet the premier had stated that he would resign if the predominant party, after the elections, proclaims opposition

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to the Government. Now his attitude has become more active and democratic and is a far cry from his former reactionary intention to dissolve the Diet if necessary. We will not go far astray in the assumption that this change in the premiers view is due to external circumstances following the Allied purge orders and the postponement of the poll. At any rate the premier is now positively supporting the resignation idea although he is very anxious to handle the problem of constitutional reform himself at all costs and will therefore not resign of his own accord until after the issue has been dealt with by the Diet. The question of whether the newly elected parties will be able and ready to take over responsibility will likewise be answered only during the parliamentary discussions. It is a matter of course that the cabinet would have to withdraw willy nilly should a majority decide on a non-confidence vote against it.

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