Press translations [Japan]. Economic Series 0312, 1946-01-27.

Summary:

The reform of the agrarian land system, a drastic revolution to all agra[illegible]ian villages, perhaps has had more effect on our prefecture than on any other, since ours is the foremost rice-producing prefecture and at the same time most typical of the landlord system. What do the 1,000,000 farmers in our prefecture think of this democratication of agrarian villages?

Strange to say, the most conspicuous trend is that it is the tenant farmers themselves, not the landlords, who are more inclined to hesitate in accepting the new agrarian law, which promises to break down the privilege of landlords and to emancipate farmers from their slavish fetters. Although some landlords are willing to offer their land to [illegible]the fact that the majority of the latter do not want to become landed farmers impresses us with a feeling of unrest for the future of this reform. No money to buy farms, fear of a decline in the price of rice in the future, etc. may account in some measure for this trend, but more important is the fact that farmers still cherish their so-called tenant farmers disposition. They think it is of no advantage to them to be land holders, if farm rent can be paid in money and not in rice as has been the practice up to now. Hence, they prefer to remain tenant-farmers, saying it is a more carefree way of living. Since they cannot rid themselves of such an old-fashioned tenant-farmers disposition, it is not an exaggeration to say that it is the farmers themselves who are checking their emancipation; the democratization of agricultural villages can never be achieved without their co-operation.

The farmers in our prefecture have lacked an independent spirit, being bound by old conventions, while domestic simplicity characterize the agrarian life. But they must now bear in mind that the coming reformation includes the breakdown of long-established traditions and customs to some extent.

According to our prefectural authorities' policy, the Agricultural Association will buy one third of the 60,000 chobu of farmland in three years after the 1945 fiscal year, and the other two thirds is left for the farmers to purchase with their own funds. But in case the farmers will not buy it, more than five cho and two tan (the maximum allowed to the landlords) will remain in landowners' hands, and the feudalism in agrarian villages will not be completely swept away.

Farmers must get rid of their old tenants' disposition at once, and wage their co-operative offensive under the banner of the emancipation of farmers and the democratization of agricultural villages. The town and village agricultural farm land committee are due to be reorganized in the near future, and the staffs of the Agricultural Associations will be re-elected. Tenant farmers must be ready to make use of this opportunity. The farmers must rise up in the coming agrarian revolution. No matter he the system is revised, it is of no avail without the desired results. We want farmers to awaken in the face of the epoch-making revolution in agricultural villages.

EDITORIAL SERIES: 312 (Continued)

Full Translation:

The Government has resolved to strengthen its control over rice delivery. The JAPAN Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party have protested against this move, and the All JAPAN Agricultural Economic Association has also opposed it along the same lines as the aforesaid parries. Sine, the rice crop this year has not yet been consumed, if rice delivery goes well the people will be able to subsist on it.

Now the Communist Party, the Social Democratic Party and other progressive political parties, as well as some economic bodies, have stood against the Government's compulsory measures for race delivery, and have uniformly advocated autonomous common control in the hands of producers and consumers. Accordingly, the urgent counter-measures concerning rice delivery should be taken as joint action by these parties and bodies. other words, at present there exists the objective situation in which these parties and bodies can organize the common front to tide over the food crisis by better means than the Government's compulsory measures.

Some time ago, the Communist Party advanced a proposal to the Social-Democratic Party requiring the organization of a united front between the two parties, which are fighting for a common aim, but the Social Democratic Party refused the proposal for the reason that, since the subjective condition have not yet been established, the party could not accept the proposal before the general election. We can understand the feeling of the leaders of the Social Democratic Party, who would not behave submissively toward the Communist Party because of their being thrown off their guard by the leaders of the Communist Party in the past. When we observe their past, it is also conceivable that the Communist Party, hither had been kept at a distance by the people, and that its leaders would frequently quarrel with, and part from the leaders of the opposite parties. They had a hatred toward the betrayers of their own party because of their lack of a conciliatory spirit.

It must not, then, be overlooked that the leaders of the two parties may be unable to go hand in hand because of their careers of fighting in the past, but the younger members of the parties, who are devoting themselves to the fight for the people, have already been reconciled with each other and have substantially organized a united front. In provinces, there may also be a political mud-slinging contest between the local leaders of the parties, but the advance-guard fighters, who are running about like mice for the organization of the labor union and the farmers' union, have already joined hands. They pay no attention to the upper leaders who are addicted to discussions on the united front. Mr. NOZAKA, Sanzo, who returned from abroad recently, advised the JAPAN Communist Party that it should become a party to be loved by the people. However, it seems that, except for the upper leaders and those connected directly with them, the advance guard elements of both the Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party, who are busy in fight every day are broad-minded and have in some districts, already made a democratic front.

It can be said, therefore, that while the upper leaders are bickering with each other over their sphere of influence and prestige, among the people the organization of the united front against urgent problems is no in progress. This trend tells that the ground work, on which the united front can be organized against the common aim between the Communist Part the Social Democratic Party, and other progressive parties and bodies, is now ready. However, it will be difficult to bring into an organized movement this united front, owing to the sense of form which shows only in connection with parties and bodies. We hope that this united front

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 312 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

will be brought into such an organization as, for instance, the Foodstuff Control Federation, incorporating all parties arid bodies, and that a real democratic popular front will be organized. In short, the Communist Party, the Social Democratic Party, and other parties and bodies should stand for a certain concrete object, free from all prejudices. For this purpose, the leaders of the Communist Party, the Social Democratic Party, and all other participating bodies should co-operate with each other with a more broad-minded attitude. At present, we should all reconcile and co-operate with each other to achieve the reconstruction of a peaceful JAPAN, giving up narrow-mindedness to expand the strength of the party. To organize 95 per cent of the masses of laborers into a democratic front, the advance guard elements are required to find fresh and broad-minded progressive people among the masses, and form a common cause with them.

ITEM 3 Noble Deed By American Soldier - Asahi-Shimbun - 25 Jan 46. Translator: Y. Naruse.

Full Translation:

According to an American newspaper, a scholarship fund in memory of the late Robert JOHNSTON, an American soldier who died fighting in the PHILIPPINES in this war, has been set up in AMERICA. His parents, who received $ 10,000 as their dead son's life insurance money, have offered the sum to Lafayette University under the will of the deceased. When we hear the intentions of the late Mr. JOHNSTON for this money, we are inspired with a feeling of reverence.

This money, the late Mr. JOHNSTON hopes, will first be used for a scholarship for a Japanese student, and if no qualified person is found, it is to be offered for the same use to Chinese, Korean or Filipino students. Then, if no suitable person is discovered, he wants this fund to be given to white students, who wish to engage in missionary work in the Orient.

Although those who return good for evil are never uncommon, the late Mr. JOHNSTON'S mental state was so pure that he did not know enmity but only affection. It is the same attitude as that of Generalissimo CHIANG Kai-shek who declares that he will return righteousness for force. We must now well understand the noble mental state now existing in the minds of the Americans and the Chinese.

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