Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0237, 1946-01-27.

Full Translation:

In doing away with the traces of bureaucratey in the Ministry and in creating a new atmosphere, Hone Minister MITSUCHI seems to have been much troubled over his personnel administration. In formulating the drastic policy for changing officials, he seems to have intended to appoint important figures among civilians; however, only five were finally appointed from among them.

Among the newly appointed governors, ten are bureaucrats on the reserve list, three are public and technical officials, five are officials of the various ministeries, and ten are young Government officials. The fact impresses us that there still remains a strong bureaucratic smell.

Considering, however, that a prefectural office was hitherto treated as only a branch department of the Home Ministry, we must admit that some effort has been made. A prefectural office, although still a branch department, is no longer a part of the Home Ministry alone, but of every department of the Government.

The Home Minister did not want an impossible appointment and tried to find a prefectural governor who was under 60 year old and could take an active part in politics. One characteristic revealed in this change is that a men of practical power can, by eliminating the fixed idea of administration by conference, get nearer to the people.

On the other hand a traditional bureaucratic idea that the Ministry of Justice is all-powerful, was so ignored that SUGIYAMA (NAGASAKI), a technical officer, TANIKAWA, Director of the Police Bureau, and HARU (IWATE) were selected to take seats in home administration. This will probably be said to constitute a new step in personnel affairs of government officer. Moreover, in anticipation of a change in Home Ministry, the following; men were appointed: KORI As director of the local bureau: OMO (AOMORI), YOSHITOMI (KOCHI), and SUZUKI (SHIMAE), all of when graduated in the year 1915 as prefectural governor; TOGANATE, as director of the Bureau of Personnel; TAKANO, as director of the Archives and Documents Section; and IKEDA, as director of the Accounting Section.

Besides the prefectural governors, eight young officials were appointed to the rank of CHOKUMIN. It is noteworthy that an official of ability, such as MASUHARA, the director of the TOKYO-TO Housing Section, will be promoted to a high rank (CHOKUNIN) instead of remaining his old position.

POLITICAL SERIES: 237 (Continued)

Full Translation:

A total of five member have retired in the Welfare Ministry. These were liable under the recent purge directive. They are: Vice Minister KAMEYAMA: three bureau directors, TAKAHASHI (Labor Administration), SAWA (Sanitary), and KURIHARA (Social); and Vice-President of the Protection Board, SUDO, Their successors were appointed on Friday.

Taking into accent the abolition of the Protection Board and the Public Health Bureau, which is to be realized by the Ministry's organization reform before long new Vice- Minister YASUI has been appointed director of the Public Health Bureau and vice-president of the Protection Board. Mr. YASUI, Seiichiro has been appointed vice-president of the Protection Board, director of the Control Bureau of the Protection Board, director of the Public Health Bureau in the Welfare Ministry, and director of the Public Health Bureau in the Welfare Ministry, and director of the Relief Bureau of the Protection Board.

MR. KATSUMATA, Ni[illegible]ru has been appointed director of the Sanitary Bureau in the Welfare Ministry. (Formerly he was technical inspector-general and director of the Temporary Quarantine Bureau of the Welfare Ministry).

Mr. KASAI, Yoshitomo has been appointed Director of the Social Bureau in the Welfare Ministry. (Formerly he was chief of the General Affairs Section of the Minister's Secretarial Office and also chief of the Secretarial Section).

Mr. YOSHIDA, Chuichi[illegible]has been appointed director of the Workers Bureau in the Welfare Ministry. (Formerly he was chief of the Auditing Section of the Minister's Secretarial Office).

Mr. A[illegible], Toshio, has been appointed technical inspector-general and director of the Temporary Quarantine Bureau in the Welfare Ministry (Formerly he was a technical expert in the Welfare Ministry).

Mr. YOSHITLAKE, Koiichi, has been appointed director for the Labor Administration Bareau in the Welfare Ministry, (Formerly he was Governor of TOYAMA-Ken).

Mr. KAMIYAMA, Akira, has been appointed director of the Insurance Bureau in the Welfare Ministry, (Formerly he was director of the Second Economic Department in the prefectural Government in OSAKA.

Full Translation:

In view of the fact that there is a favorable trend toward the organization of a democratic front, 13 parties under the League of New Parties (SHI[illegible]TO REM[illegible]EI), which was organized on 18 January by 16 minor parties made a joint statement of 24 January to the effect that they supported the democratic front as a whole.

Statement:

We, members of the League of New Parties, make clear our attitude toward the organization, and make a vow that we will try to overcome the present difficult situation. As a whole, we support the plan of organizing the democratic front, but we make the following conditions: Let it be a democratic front which includes and truly attracts the people, without their being held by any special political influences.

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POLITICAL SERIES: (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

Therefore, whoever the advocate may be, let him select [illegible]mmittee-men impartially from each party and each group and di[illegible]policies with mutual understanding and co-operation. If such preparation are made, we will not spare any efforts in co-operation.

The League of New Parties: The Constitutional Youth Party (RIKKEN SEINEN TO); The JAPAN Republic Party (NIPPON KYOWA TO); The Social Productive Party (SHAKAI SEISAN TO); The JAPAN Bright Life Association (NIPPON MEISEI KAI); The Social Democratic Party (SHAKAI MINSHU TO); The Constitutional Social Democratic Party (RIKKEN SHAKAI MINSHU TO); The JAPAN National Party (NIPPON KOKUMIN TO); The National Republican Party (KOKUKIN KYOWA TO); The Self-governing Imperial Sub[illegible]'s Party (JIJI KOMIN TO); The Constitutional Labor Party (RIKKEN [illegible]TO); The Moderates Association (CHUDO KAI); The JAPAN Labor Party (NIPPON KINRO TAISHU TO).

Full Translation:

In the list of proposers of the National Welcome Meeting for Mr. NOZAKA, which was projected by Mr. YAMAKAWA, Hitoshi, we find many Social Democrats who have joined it as individuals. However, if the proposer's committee itself becomes the preliminary committe for the formation of a democratic united front, these members of the Social Democratic Party cannot remain in it. This is matter of loyalty to their own Party, which [illegible]refuses to co-operate with the Communist Party. Under these circumstances, thee Social Democrat Party is compelled to take a definite stand on this problem.

On the other hand, both parties strongly opposed the compulsory measures on food administration recently taken by the SHIDEHARA Cabinet. Then, there has arisen a powerful voice demanding the formation of a united front between the two, capitalizing upon this particular point. Upon this the Communist Party is expected to make a proposal in the near future.

In order to decide upon an official attitude in regard to the two above-mentioned problems, the Social Democrat Party held a meeting of the Standing Committee on 25 January. At the meeting, it was decided that the Party and Party members should follow the plans reached at the Central Executive Committee meeting held on 16 January. Consequently, any measures taken against Mr. YAMAKAWA'S advocacy of an immediate formation of a united front, will be taken with this end in mind.

The Standing Committee meeting on that day, however, was attended only by such persons as Messrs. KATAYAMA TAKANO, HIRANO, ASANUMA, and SUNAGA. Mr. KATO, SUZUKI (Shiga), and KURODA, who represent the leftist clique within the Party, were all absent. Moreover, MR. MIZUTANI was not even notified about the opening of the committee meeting. Thus, the above one-sided decision by the rightist staff will probably cause a number of inquiries. Members belonging to the leftist group maintain the opinion that the Party should not assume an indifferent attitude to Mr. YAMAKAWA'S policy under the present conditions, and that it should be prepared with an answer before the Communist Party makes its request. Also, that it should co-operate with that Party insofar as the food problem is concerned. The delicate situation of the Social Democrat Party will be watched for the time, being with keen interest.

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