Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0252, 1946-01-31.

Extracts:

In accordance with the two directives which Allied Headquarters issued on 4 January, the Government has finished the measures for the dissolution of the right wing associations (UYOKU DANTAI), while, the Imperial Ordinance regarding the banishment of militaristic leaders from Government and public positions, is being carefully considered at the Cabinet meeting. The details of the measure which indicates those who are liable under the directive, will be made public in the near future after consultations at the Privy Counsil.

Full Translation:

Education Minister ABE, made an important speech proposing the effective use of Cabinet meetings, at the regular Cabinet meeting held on 29 January. The following is the outline of his speech and all Cabinet Ministers unanimously agreed with his opinion.

Most Cabinet meetings in the past were very formal, when each Minister would read the decided and agreed on items under his jurisdiction and would obtain the consent of other Ministers as a formality, and hardly any tame would be allowed for the exchange of ideas among Ministers regarding serious political problems.

This is certainly insufficient for the Cabinet meeting at the present emergency when the Government is facing various problems like the Emperor System, the Constitution Revision, inflation, the food crisis etc. To tide over these crises, it is a most urgent necessisty that at Cabinet meetings all Ministers should frankly exchange their opinions and clarify the attitude of the Government regarding serious political problems.

Especially, with regard to the Emperor system, though it is shown to be a fundamental principle of the maintenance of Constitutional monarchy, as the Premier told the press recently, yet the formula of government by the Emperor or the position of the Imperial Household have not been made clear as yet. Therefore, the educational authorities are still groping in the dark. For this reason I am sure, it will be a most urgent policy for the Government to decide promptly to make an announcement regarding it's attitude towards these problems.

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At the meeting, chief Secretary NARAHASHI spoke in the same terms, "Extraordinary Cabinet meetings are to be held frequently beside the regular Cabinet meeting for the frank discussion of important national policies." This was also agreed to. In accordance with these decisions an extraordinary Cabinet meeting is to be held immediately at 1000 on 30 January, and various problems relative to the Emperor System are expected to be studied at the meeting.

Anyhow, it is worth noticing that a new departure was taken in the Cabinet meeting by Education Minister ABE's initiative.

Full Translation:

More Than 1,000 New Candidates Democratic Influence Increasing

The general election which constitutes the first step in the democratization of JAPAN has at last been scheduled to be carried out on 31 March. Since the 89th Extraordinary Session of the Diet was dissolved on 18 December about three and a half months will have passed before the general election is held. The purge directive issued by General MACARTHUP's Headquarters on 4 January have swept away all the former guiding powers in political circles, and democratic influences have begun to rise with tremendous strength. Due to the postponement of the general election, the situation has considerably changed from the time the last session of the Diet was dissolved.

The Progressive Party, which was the largest one in the last Diet session has suffered a serious blow, since the majority of its leaders have been affected by the 4 January directives. As if to fill up the gap thus caused, the Liberal Party seemed to achieve a marked development, while the Social Democratic and Communist Party bade fair to gain in influence throughout the country. The Social Democratic Party is now especially favored with a fine opportunity of aiming at becoming the first party in JAPAN. The progressive Party has the misfortune of losing more than 100 members, that is to say, those who are affected by the purge directives and those who have made up their minds to resign their candidature of their own accord, in place of these retiring members, the Progressive Party intends to run new men as candidates.

The Liberal and Social Democratic Parties are not backward. They too are planning to put forward such new men as are likely to be elected without fail. Up to the present, those new men whom the parties expect to stand as candidates far all constituencies in the country number upwards of 1,000. When viewed from this point, the postponement of the general election and MACARTHUR's purge directives may well be said to have furnished new men with the best opportunity of running as candidates.

Comparatively speaking, the Independent Party has many new candidates throghout the country. The reason for this is that, in the recent political situation, since the existing parties are clamorously antagonized, there are many new candidates who are thinking of deciding their attitude as to which party to belong when they have reviewed the situation after the general election.

Full Translations:

Since the date of the general election is fixed, let us sound the

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leading political parties about their preparations for it and their prospects in it.

The Social Democratic Party - Concerning the problem of a democratic front, this party held a conference of its standing executive committee. Although had been there some disturbance among its members, the news that the date of the general election is fixed is giving something decisive to the attitude of the party, and the relation between the party and a democratic front together with the general election has become delicate. HIRANO, Rikizo, headquarters chief who is planning measures for the election, spoke as follows; "Now that the election date is fixed, all our objectives have become clear, Our party has already published a list of 161 approved candidates. Furthermore, we are going to hold a conference on the 1st of next month, and investigate the qualifications of the remaining 158 recognized candidates. As a woman candidate we recognized YAMAZAKI, Michiko, and we shall recommend KATO, Shizue (second constituency, TOKYO) and SUGAWARA, En (IWATE). The nation's trust is concentrated upon our party, and we are sure to become the foremost majority party. Along with the progress of the election, we expect to hold a members' meeting at important cities, and clarify plans for our party, hoping for a fair and square judgment by the whole nation.

The Communist Party - "Election is nothing but everyday combat" is the downright attitude of the Communist Party towards the general election. This party has been holding the opinion that the date of the general election should be postponed since last year, and that it should be held after the downfall of the present Cabinet, Now that the date is fixed, we will establish a democratic front immediately, endeavour to overturn the SHIDEHARA Cabinet, and await the general election at the hands of the people. As for our measures for the election, we do not take recourse to such illicit methods as to get followers by means of false slogans or mere promises. We try to allow our measures, policies and characters to permeate the whole people by solving the urgent problems of the day. Of course we are not heedless of being elected, but our opinion is that the number of candidates elected is not the only criterion of estimating parties.

The Co-operative Party - The JAPAN Co-operative Party has no provincial organizations. This is no small drawback to the party. Accordingly the party has been making every possible effort to form provincial branch offices during the month before the fixing of the date of the general election. Besides its KYOTO branch office already formed, it will shortly establish branches in HOKKAIDO, NARA, NAGANO, YAMAGUCHI, KOCHI, EHIME, SHIZUOKA, TOCHIGI, IBARAGI, and CHIBA Ken. At present the party has 43 recognized candidates. In a few days it will approve of 13 candidates in HOKKAIDO, eight in NAGANO Ken, and TOCHIGI Ken which is under the direction of FUNADA, Naka, will put forward four or five candidates, 140 or 150 in all, and we expect to have 70 or 80 candidates elected.

The Progressive Party - This party has on the one hand published its measures for the food problem, and the prevention of inflation, and on the other it has decided to request the Government to solve the urgent problems of the day, establish fundamental plans, consider the advisability of supervision by factory workers, and the superintendence of foodstuffs by the people. The party will hold a general meeting on 30 January, to discuss the problems mentioned above, and to bring the results before the Government for execution. The party adopts the attitude that the problem of relieving Japanese abroad and other problems should be solved by joint effort of all parties and factions. At first the party

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expected to put forward 170 former representatives and 200 new men. But there are about 70 former representatives who are affected by the purge directives, and it will fill up their vacancies with new men. "One woman candidate in each prefecture" is the principle of this party. At present there are ten recognized woman candidates, and 14 or 15 applicants for candidacy.

The Liberal Party - Our party expects to run about 350 candidates, and and we are sure we shall be able to have nearly 200 candidates elected. We shall publish the names of approved candidates when the date of the election is announced. We are to hold a general meeting on 31 January reinvestigate our promises to the nation, bring them before the general meeting to be held on the 4th and 5th of next month for discussions, and then publish them all over the country, for the purpose of developing a grand national movement. Our views on the Emperor System and other problems are fundamentally different from those of other parties, so that, needless to say, we cannot take part in the democratic front.

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