Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0274, 1946-02-04.

Full Translation:

Relief measures for Japanese, (abroad) which were passed at the 89th extraordinary session of the Diet by the joint resolution of all political parties, have recently become a more important and urgent problem.

In accordance with the situation, a round table conference between the leaders of the political parties and the representatives of the repatriates from overseas, was held at the parlour in the Diet building at 1400 on 2 February. The representatives of political parties were:

while the chief of the KOREA Synthetic Petroleum Company, ONDOKORO, and other representatives from the People's Release Union (JINMIN XAIHO R[illegible]EI) or the Labor League (KINROSHA DOMEI) were presented at the conference as the representatives of the repatriates, and they had an informal talk with each other, rising above their parties.

It is scheduled that they will hold another conference at 1000 on 6 February, where detailed measures for the relief of men overseas are to be deliberated centering on the plans of relief drawn up by all parties. Regarding this urgent problem, all the political parties are making a coalition on a non-party basis, and it is expected that they will encourage the government authorities, and on the other hand will appeal to MacARTHUR's Headquarters, and further stir up the people for a national movement.

ITEM 2 How to get the Democratic Front under Way - Yomiuri Hochi 3 Feb 46. Translator: Paasche.

Summary:

NODA, Takeo (Progressive): "If It Is true that there have been Social Democratic proposals for democratic front, but on the whole the Communists are absolutely leading in this field since they have repeated their offer so often. The grave danger confronting JAPAN - inflation, food scarcity and other economic problems - are indeed calling for common action through a democratic front. However, when we look at the communist proposals there are other things which come to our mind, for apart from the evils of the times there is the communist attitude toward the Emperor as well as their entire alarming ideological accompaniment. We are quite aware of the advisability of joint efforts

POLITICAL SERIES: 274 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

for coping with the known difficulties and dangers but, frankly, the recent Communist effort for a United front definitely smells of election tactics and a bid for more power, nay, of a desire to seize power eventually. All this does not prevent me from being in favor of the democratic front.

KITA (Liberal "Are you gentlemen Talking of the People's Front or the Democratic Front?"

YAMAKAWA Hitoshi (Social Democrat): "Both terms are now used inter-changeably."

NODA: "If the terms are not clearly defined they must necessarily caution us."

YAMAKAWA: "It would be well for the democratic movement if "asides" were avoided; proposals and their acceptance should become more open."

YOSHIDA (Co-operative Party): "In democratic front must be based on the grim realization that famine is staring us in the face, a fact which concerns all the people; this implies that we oust start on the front without the slightest delay; this is why we of the Cooperative Party ere now coming out with a tangible food-scheme. Much of what I see when I look around reminds me of a certain village in NAGANO Ken where group of teachers discussed the Emperor System for no less than two months; finally they too had to admit that there was no rice, so we made them shelve the topic for a while helping them to organize a cooperative Livelihood Association. Likewise, before we discuss the means and ways of setting up the front, we had better got handle the food problem and then unemployment. If we succeed in organizing an all-out attack against these ills, the democratic front will automatically take shape. What about establishing an all-party Council for coping with the food peril first of all? It is our duty to act, and our party will contribute through it's cooperative Societies, as will all parties by their special abilities, even though there be many different opinions on the Emperor System and related problems.

The greatest obstacle in the way of a working rice supply system is the fact that the farmers resent the administrative pressure from above which forces them to supply certain quantities of staple food. Therefore, the contributions must, in the future be on a voluntary basis. To make it so the farmers must supply what they are ready to give on their own accord. This will enhance the farmers' self-confidence and might lead to salvation through organized team work. At the same time such spontaneity on the part of the agrarian class would constitute the beginning of a democratic front. The many food caches in towns and villages must also be taken care of by the people, but food administration by different groups in different places will not work. The Government must set up a comprehensive organ working according to a nation wide plan; probably no party will fail to cooperate in this undertaking, but should the Government be unwilling to act fairly this would be reason enough to start a movement for it's overthrowal. The political parties of the day were brought together by politicians and for this reason have not much to do with the common people. The real political parties will be born from the election and the people's own organizations.

Full Translation:

The Government's Constitutional Investigation Committee held its conference on 26 January, and discussed the revision draft. The result was to be brought before the plenary meeting of the Investigation

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POLITICAL SERIES: 274 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

Committee for discussion, and the seventh general meeting of the Investigation Committee was held at the Premier's official residence at 1000 on 2 February. The conference was attended by MATSUMOTO, Chairman of the Committee and Minister without Portfolio, Advisors SHIMIZU, MINOBE, and NOMURA, committeemen MIYAZAWA, KIYOKIYA, KAWAMURA, NARAHASHI, ISHIGURO, IRIE, SATO, NADA, OKUMO, MOROHASHI, KOBAYASHI and OIKE.

They discussed drafts A and B formed by the conference of the Committee, and opinions were given mainly by the advisors. The result was that there were two or three points in the draft in which it was decided to amend certain words and phrases. Two or three important opinions were also given concerning other points. These amendments and opinions will he reported by Minister without Portfolio MATSUHOTO when he explains the revision draft at the Cabinet, meeting.

The Investigation Committee has just finished its task of making up the revision draft of the Constitution and is to rest for a while. But should external elements voice opposition, the Committee will hold a conference for further investigations. Minister without Portfolio MATSUMOTO intends to complete his explanation of the draft at the extraordinary Cabinet meeting to be held on the 4th, but as many opinions will be given by Cabinet members, he will be unable to finish the explanation on that day. After on understanding is obtained at the Cabinet meeting, the Minister, keeping in close contact with all quarters concerned, will have the revision draft discussed by the Investigation Committee. The draft will then be published to bring forth opinions from the general public.

Concerning the revision of the Constitution, the government finished discussions of the Investigation Committee on the 2nd. Holding a Cabinet meeting every day, it examined the draft made by the Committee, and is quickly drawing up the Government's plan for the revision of Constitution. As soon as this examination is finished, the government' is scheduled to revise the associate laws. In regards to the associate laws, the Government is going to introduce in the coming extraordinary session of the Diet, along with the revision bill of the Constitution, a new law bill accompanying the revision of the House of Peers Ordinance, a revision bill of the House of Representatives and several other law bills. These bills will be made up by the Constitution Revision Investigation Committee of the Cabinet Legislation Bureau and the secretaries of both House.

As for the Imperial House Law, Minister without Portfolio, MATSUMOTO, who is in charge of the Constitution revision, has no intention of revising it. On this problem, MATSUMOTO states that no opinion was ever advanced, during the period in which the Constitution revision was being discussed, either from the Government itself or from outside sources. Consequently, since the abdication of the Emperor must be made in accordance with the Imperial House Law or since there is the possibility of the Emperor's death, the abdication of the Emperor has not been considered in the present work of revising the Constitution.

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