Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0044, 1945-12-03.

Full Translation:

Although we are not opposed to the view which holds the present session of the Diet as merely the first step of post-war reconstruction, we believe our representatives should first of all concentrate their efforts on the solution of such burning questions as the lack of food, unemployment, housing and inflation. The Election Reform Bill, Labor Union Bill, and Land Ownership Reform Bill should also be considered with the object of helping the present situation. They must examine what measures the government may take under these circumstances.

We believe the cabinet will not continue longer than the next general election, for a body which has lost the people's confidence can not long exist. Even its continuence up until the election is extremely doubtful. Under the circumstances, it is nonsence for members of Parlianent to attack the Cabinet. To lead the cabinet to take drastic measures in the present crisis is the point at which the Members of Parliament should aim. We believe it is worth spending the whole session of 18 days on a discussion of the drastic measures which need to taken. If they merely spend this precious period in campaigning for their own parties or in controversies about past politics, the people will come to hate them.

They must know it will have a grave effect upon the coming election. The general public which was betrayed by politicians in every case, will have no interest in mere faithless promises or impracticable arguments. They will never be satisfied with mere resolutions, as were so frequently attempted in times past.

Full Translation:

General MacARTHUR is permitting JAPAN to import food, cotton, salt and patroleum. Of course, the total amount of imports will not exceed JAPAN's export capacity. It is reported that the government has already offered General Headquarters an export plan which includes fabrics worth 1400,000,000 yen, chemicals worth 360,000,000 yen, Machinery worth 460,000,000 yen, and works of fine arts worth 200,000,000 yen. However, we can not expect to see the plan realized soon if we leave the matter solely to the Government. We, ourselves, must tackle the question.

It is regrettable that the state of collapse which befell our country

EDITORIAL SERIES: 44 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

after the war has lasted so long. Now, mere desk theories for reconsturction dominate our wishful thinking. It is all very well that controversies over "who is responsible for the war" go on in the street, but we believe that the urgent business at present is to work, not discuss. One who does not work should not discuss. Tasks are to be found everywhere. For example ruins and rubble are still left untouched.

While the people are indulging in discussion, mass starvation is becoming more of a reality every moment. To avoid such a disaster is the prerequisite for the reconstruction of our country. Therefore, we are delighted to hear the news of General Headquarters' permission to engage in foreign trade. Even if we import to the limit of our ability to export, starvation still threatens us unless we give up the bad habit of leaving everything to others.

We have never undertaken sweeping measures to solve the food problem. We have tried nothing other than letting the people live as long as possible on small rations, by an impartial distribution of the total national food crop. The Government is reported to be planning to revise the law for food administration, to eliminate the black market and to increase the prices paid farmers for farm produce. Since barter of rice for fertilizer, implements, clothing, etc. as well as their sale, other than to the Government, is prohibited, farmers are discontented. But the farmers must suffer inconveniences for the sake of their fellow men. Indeed, "The present crisis," said Premier SHIDEHARA, "can be resolved only by understanding and sympathy between consumers and producers."

Full Translation:

The administrative speech of the Prime Minister which was delivered before the Imperial Diet yesterday was, frankly speaking, unimpressive we are highly dissatisfied with his speech because it is his cabinet which must meet the present difficult situation. At this time, when JAPAN must make a great change in order to construct a new country, the mere indication of the questions of the hour, and stressing the necessity for their solution, shows an utter lack of comprehension of our political situation. While the speech may be praised from the point of view of rhetoric, its implications are limited if it is only a business report and the feeling cannot be avoided that it is very spiritless. The speech should have been filled with resolutions to provide solutions at this time of great change after the war. It lacked concrete measures which the present situation demands.

Of course, the present Cabinet is merely temporary until the forthcoming general elections are decided. Nevertheless his lack of concrete plans leads us inevitably to suspect the Prime Minister of not facing his political responsibilities. What is needed at this time in our country is not vague programs but the conviction and practical capacity to deal with the situation.

In this connection, the Government should have clarified its opinion about those bills which have already been submitted to this session of the Diet, as well as the specific and efficient plans which should be put into effect through these bills. We definitely expect that some stand should be taken at least, in his responses to the questions

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 44 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

of the members of the Diet.

The funds of political parties must be disclosed to the public. It can be said that the corruption of any political party aims from the mismanagement of its funds. This is not only true of JAPAN, but is an evil to be found in all the nations of the world. Even ENGLAND, whose adminstration of its parlement and of political parties is one of the best in the world, is not excepted. Therefore, it can be said that the importance of a political party depends not only upon its platform, but also on whether its funds for the carrying out this platform are honestly and democraticly handled. A party having the best platform, but without honesty in the handling its funds may be compared to a person with full knowledge and capacity but lacking in character.

New political parties are being formed one after another and are making preparations for the forthcoming general elections. Each of them is busy in formulating its platform. It is obvious they will need a great deal of money for the election campaign. I can not but wonder if any of the parties has made public its financial state. I also wonder at the fact that this seems to be of so little concern to the people. Perhaps, most of the party men may argue that there is no black market dealings in political affairs, and that a party's funds are but a collection of contributions and the sharing of expenses. Nevertheless, great contributions towards political parties (without which none can survive) were rare, and the contributors always seem to be the same people. This is expecially noticable in the cases of SEIYUKAI, MITSUI, MINSEITO, and MITSUBISHI.

We, the people, know, only too well, that connections with the above-named interests will naturally result in controls by said interests for said interests. To distribute the burden of expenses among the party members, is had because control is determined by the size of the contributor's share. The two political bosses, KUHARA, Fusanosuke and NAKAJIMA, Chikuhei, are good examples of this. Even in the old Proletarian Party, the members who contributed large sums to the party's funds, held special privileges within the party.

Party members must realize that if they intend to make their party thoroughly democratic, they should completely change and democratize the weight which a man's gold has in determining party policy. Only thus can public confidence be inspired, and unless this is done, there can be no more talk of "democratic" political parties, and still less talk of the construction of a new JAPAN. This is the one major issue on which our people should vote in the coming elections. If we can count on their voting wisely on this vital issue, we will gain infinitely more than we could from half-hearted, descriptive speechs utterly lacking in frankness and forthrightness.

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