Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0254, 1946-02-01.

Full Translation:

At the ordinary Cabinet meeting held on 29 January, Education Minister ABE emphasized the necessity for the clarification of the Government's attitude toward the problems of the Emperor System, democracy, and other critical current problems to do with education, and called upon the other Ministers to take this into their consideration.

This proposal from Education Minister ABE was unanimously approved by the ministers who were then present. It was then decided that various problems such as those concerning the Emperor System and democracy should be thoroughly discussed with Education Minister ABE as chairman in order that the Government may decided on concrete plans concerning then. The ideas based on their decisions by the Government can be carried through.

After the adjournment of the Cabinet meeting, Education Minister ABB continued to talk with NARAHARSHI Chief of the Legislative Bureau on concrete measures for putting the idea into effect.

Summary:

With [illegible]OZAKA's welcome meeting as a turning point, the much talked about united front of the Communist and the Social Democratic Parties has advanced toward realization. In spite of this trend, there still exists in the Social Democratic Part some elements which are intent on keeping the labor unions and the farmers' unions within the party's influence. Opinion is gaining round among the masses that such attempt to monopolize labor or farmers' unions by any one party will ultimately end in the disruption of the united front of laborers and farmers.

As evidence it is cited that besides the social Democratic Party's expression of the opinion that it should bring its full weight on the JAPAN Farmers' Union, which is to be formed soon, the seats of the executives of the or anizing committee of the Union are all occupied by Party members, making the union look as if it were the Party's own. In view of such an attitude, the organizing committee in TOKYO, KA[illegible]AGWA, TOCHIGI, CHIBA, SAITA[illegible]A and IBARAGI have [illegible]public[illegible]hed statements to the effect that while supporting KURODA's statement they give warning against the Social Democratic Party's monopoly, and they are watching the movement of the Party leaders.

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ITEM 2 (Continued)

On the other hand, in order to unify the fronts, local labor unions conferences are being formed which will ultimately seek one vocational labor union. However, as the organizing meeting of the Labor Union Federation is in the hands of the Social Democratic Party's leaders, it is apt to be regarded as liable to become [illegible]branch of the Party.

At an organizing meeting of the Federation of KANAGAWA Kan, MATSUOKA, Komakichi and DOI, Naosaku of the Party declared that as there are bodies under the Communist Party's leadership in the Labor Union Conference, the Federation should be formed by those who support the Social Democratic Party, thus expressing views antagonistic to the unification of the Labor front. Against this attitude, the KANAGAWA-ken Labor Unions Conference issued a statement urging a reconsideratic of the stand taken by a certain action of the Party.

Summary:

Through the Allied directive ordering the political purge in JAPAN for eliminating unsuitable persons from public services, the general aspects of the forthcoming election have been entirely changed. The most remarkable fact is that the number of new candidates surpasses that of former times, although most of them have been denied candidacy by the directive. The following is the gist of the facts which MAINICI collected on the general aspects of the election through its correspondents in the eastern provinces of the country.

1. TOKYO

With most of the former figures banned from the election, a striking advance by the Social Democrats and the Communists is predicted. Among female candidates are the following: HANI Motoko; KIUCHI, Kyo; KATO Shizue; and HUKUCHI, Eumiko. The following eight candidate have gone through the legal procedures enabling them to run in the election:

2. KANAGAWA:

In the factory districts of the KEIHIK area, the Social Democrats and the Communists are most active. The Liberals, who had intended to grasp the mastery of the Ken, were badly affected by the directive. It is therefore expected that they will, to keep up their old influence propose a coalition with the Progressives.

7. SAITAMA: According to rumor, about thirty candidates are running in the electio[illegible]including 24 to 25 new men.

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ITEM 3 (Continued)

4. [illegible]IBA

They [illegible]revailing influence of conservatism, strongly supported by farmer an [illegible]ishermen, seems difficult to uproot. Prospects, therefore, for the Social Democrats and the Communists to cut successfully into the old-established sphere of influence of the older parties are not brigh The younger generation meanwhile, newly endowed with the right to vote is apparently reluctant to exercise its right. The majority of female voters are expected not to vote.

5. TOCHIGI:

The Progressives, although they suffered greatly from the directive, still exercise considerable influence in the election campaign, while a slight advance in the influence of the Social Democrats is expected. About thirty candidates are likely to run in the election.

6. SHIZUOKA:

A rumor is prevailing that some eighty candidates are preparing for the coming sl[illegible]ction. The Social Democrats and the Communists, taking up the problems of food and war damage rehabilitation, are most active in the election campaign. The Progressives and the Liberals, however, are holding the majority of the Candidates, and are not to be disregarded.

7. GUM[illegible]A:

With most of the former Representatives barred from holding seats in the Diet, new figures make up a large majority of the total number of candidates. The number of candidates ascertained at present is: Progressives, eight; Liberals, five; Social Democrats, seven; Communists, three; and Independents, unknown. TANAKA, Tomiko, of the MIPPON Women's Party is the only woman candidate to run.

8. NAGANO:

The Progressives, most heavily struck by the directive, retain only one candidate, free from the political purge. The Liberals, with, twelve candidates formally recognized by the Party, are eagerly attempting to attain the majority, while the Communists and the Social Democrats are no less [illegible]ager to drive a wedge into the territor; of the older parties.

The total number of candidates, including those of minor parties, is said to amount to less than forty.

Extracts:

On the occasion of Mr. [illegible]OZAKA'S home-coming, the demand for the formation of a united democratic front is being pressed on all sides. Whether such a trend will bear fruit or not, however, depends upon the formation of a united front of the Social Democratic and the Communist Parties, An early solution of this question cannot be expected. The Social Democratic party, striving to become the victorious party in the forthcoming general election, will eventually

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ITEM 4 (Continued)

realize the formation of a democratic front after the replenishment of the party influence in the Diet. But the Communist Party is insisting on the immediate formation of a united front. The differing attitudes of the two parties will probably evoke some difficulties in the future.

The co-ordination of these parties may have been caused by the emotional opposition among the party leaders rather than by the decisive opposition of the party organizations. The growing labor strife everywhere is now demanding the formation of a united front. For this purpose the Social Democratic Party must participate directly in the living struggle of the masses of the people, and in the local organizations of the Social Democratic party a united struggle is being conducted with the lower organization of the Communist Party.

The Communist Party should strive for the formation of a united front by way of arousing the people's interest in politics. Such a tendency is growing rapidly also in the party since the home-coming of Mr. NOZAKA, whose statement: "Unification of a wider democratic front rather than the so-called Peoples' front" is an important suggestion. Following the suggestion of Communist movements in CHINA and FRANCE, those in JAPAN are bound to put weight on the controversies in the Diet. Especially in view of a democratic revolution in JAPAN to take place as a part of the Chinese revolution, Mr. NOZAKA's claim stressing the organization of a "party that should be loved by the masses of the people" may be considered worth listening to. This point was reiterated on 24 January by Mr. NOZAKA in an interview with the Labor Newsmen. At the same time, Mr. NOZAKA expressed his desire for forming a democratic front composed substantially of workers and farmers. It is also worth noticing that Mr. NOZAKA believes the formation of the United front should take place before the general election.

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