Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0067, 1945-12-05.

Summary:

A public Procurator-General says, "You must not barter with farmers." At present, no Japanese can live on the scanty distribution of food. The public Procurator-General's statement should be made after three go distribution of rice is put into effect.

(Letter from a laborer in the TOCHIGI Prefecture).

It is reported that the authorities would prohibit barter with farmers. However, we have bartered with them in order that we may not die. If the authorities prohibit barter, what will our people do in order not to die from starvation? The Government should, first of all, increase the rice distribution three go and if the Government can not do this, it should resign immediately.

(Letter from GOTO in SHIZUOKA Prefecture).

The Government must, first of all, increase the distribution of rice to three go. It is absolutely necessary to increase production of industrial materials in order to import foreign rice. But, in order to work in industry, satisfactorily, we must eat three go of rice every day. If the Government does not increase the distribution to three go, our lives are threatened and, in the future, we shall have great confusion in JAPAN's reconstruction.

Without eating sufficiently, how can we increase production? The cause of our defeat exists in this point. The distribution of three go of rice is our greatest need at present, and if this can be accomplished many pressing problems will be settled and then, the black market will gradually disappear and the prices of goods will decrease. Selling rice and other products, to the Government will be more profitable. Consequently, the efficiency of production will rise controlling or punishing black markets without carrying out the distribution of three go of rice is a most foolish policy. After all, imports from foreign countries will be impossible without increased production. For, if our people do not work hard, the collateral materials will not be able to be produced. This is an earnest plea from the people of the lower classes.

(Letter from TAKEHISA CHISAKU in YOKOHAMA City).

Full Translations:

While JAPAN was waging a savage and blind war under the control of the

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ITEM 2 (Continued)

militarists there were in progress, in many countries of the world, struggles for democracy. The very character of the war became a world-wide struggle for democracy after the SOVIET UNION entered the conflict. Unfortunately, the Japanese Nation was not allowed to know what was going on outside its boundaries. Such facts as anti-Fascist co-operation among AMERICA, GREAT BRITAIN and the SOVIET UNION, during and after the war, and the remarkable progress attained by the Popular Fronts and the formation of Popular Governments in European countries, demonstrate the strangle for democracy in the world.

Under these conditions the World Trade Union Federation not only is significant as a world-wide combination of working classes, but also is showing JAPAN the way to return to the International Community.

The World Trade Union Federation includes 60,000,000 organized laborers from 56 countries. This fact shows us the great influence the organization can wield. But we should also emphasize the fact that all labor unions of the SOVIET UNION, the Congress of Industrial Organization of AMERICA, and labor unions in Latin American countries are members. We have never seen, in the history of the labor movement, a league which included so many organized laborers. The new Federation is neither a revival of the Second International nor a combination of the Second and Third Internationals, but is a new organization to include all "liberal and democratic" labor unions of the world. In contrast with the Second International, which was merely an organization of unions and was limited, in its activities, to the economic struggle, the new organization is upholding a political platform for the revival of world peace and the elimination of Fascism, in addition to defending the interests of the laborers. Therein we see quite a new guiding principle of the Federation.

After all, this is a world-wide organization of laboring classes for the democratization of the world. The most important of its missions is a systematic participation, on the part of labor, in the task of establishing genuine world peace by eliminating wars of aggression. It is for this mission that the organization has declared its absolute support of the Allied Powers' World Peace Charter and has expressed its willingness to participate in its management and to co-operate in its proper development. A world peace structure cannot fully function without the support and co-operation of the laboring classes of the world.

The new Peace Charter has already obtained support are co-operation, which the old League of Nations lacked completely. Thus, efforts for a democratic revival and for the establishment of world peace on the part of each nation has been consolidated in this international labor organization.

JAPAN and GERMANY are the only two countries which are not permitted to join. Even BULGARIA and HUNGARY, which were German satellites, and POLAND and ITALY are participating countries. These countries have not yet concluded peace treaties with the Allied Powers and some of them have not yet been permitted a formal return to the international community. But rapid development of labor unions in these countries has elevated their international status so far as to qualify them for membership in the World Trade Union Federation. This is a significant lesson for JAPAN, especially for its working classes. JAPAN is shut out of the international community and has no freedom of diplomacy and foreign trade. We are looking forward to the day when JAPAN can rehabilitate herself and stride forth as a free member of the international community. Then, who will realize this expectation? Can we rely on the official diplomacy of the Government, which represents such existing forces as the bureaucrats, the ZAIBATSU and the landlords? The answer is No: We cannot expect anything of the bureaucrats

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or the ZAIBATSU who exposed their utter incompetence in production and internal politics. True diplomacy lies in establishing solidarity with foreign democratic forces by every means, and on every occasion, through own struggle for democracy. The shortest and surest way to that objective is to win qualification for membership in the World Trade Union Federation. For that qualification we must form a nationwide organization of labor unions.

Animated by this hope, all workers in every trade and industry should make haste in organizing their own labor unions. It is the duty of the working class to have the Japanese nation sincerely rejoice in their soliderity and friendship with foreign countries. In its long history of 2,500 years the Japanese Nation has never felt this kind of Joy.

Full Translation:

Because of the great increase of passengers on trains running between CHIBA and OCHANOMIZU all cars are very crowded. This overflowing could be greatly alleviated if trains ran at regular intervals. Railway authorities should investigate evening traffic condition and take measures to improve them. Traffic efficiency is needed to help boast public morale and rehabilitation.

Full Translation:

On 23 November at the NISHIOKUBO and other town associations in the YODOBASHI ward, members of the Association and the Security and Defense Group (KEIBO DAN) volunteered to work for three or four days in the public service. They were to move, for 500,000 or 600,000, men, army equipment consisting of uniforms, blankets, boots, socks, etc., which had been secretly retained at the TOYAMAGA Fielf.

Those connected with the food association first brought home a tremendous amount of army goods in their "go-carts." Then member's of the train associations and the Security & Defense Group, after stealing the goods in their carts, hid them in their homes.

TSUMATA, a member of the ward assembly living in HIGASHI OKUBO stole a horse cart.

To our surprise, the chief of the YODOBASHI Police Station and the chief of the Security & Defense Section stole blankets, clothing and boots provided for 50 or 60 men. We want a thorough investigation made of this injustice.

(From a person living in YODOBASHI).

Full Translation:

I am a nurse working at OPPAMA KYOSAI Hospital in YOKOHAMA. At the end of the war, the head administrative official of this hospital, the Supervisor of Boarding (MAKANAICKO) and KAJII, a member of the Boarding Section, carried home rice, canned goods, and other food staples in sufficient quantities to last them six years.

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ITEM 5 (Continued)

Of late, at every rice distribution day, they have carried off three to five bales of rice to the home of a certain person named ASAKURA who lives near the hospital. After that, the Head Administrative Official, the Supervisor of the Boarding Section, the person called KAJII, and OKAMURA, a chaffeur go to the house to secure the rice. This type of injustice very often takes place in our hospital, and it has become a common topic of conversation. However, as the director of the hospital as well as the police have received various kinds of food from the Head Administrative Official and from the Head of the Boarding Section, the nurses and workers have been compelled to be silent. The homes of the head administrative Official, of the head of the boarding system and of KAJII are filled with goods belonging to the government. KAJII has one of the members of the Boarding Section as his concubine, and he is constantly with her - neglecting his duties. At least three times the concubine, with her father, carried off blankets, matresses, and canned goods from the hospital to their home in the country.

On the other hand, the nurses do not have places to visit if they leave the hospital. Even though we seldom desire to leave in any case we cannot carry our lunches with us. If we go out and return to the hospital at night we very often cannot have supper.

We the nurses, don't mind this injustice but in the near future 100 demobilized soldiers are to enter the hospital from foreign lands. In spite of their entering the hospital, the boarding situation is the same as always. The cooking and the small quantity of food are so notorious that anybody, even a naval workman, hates our hospital.

Even if we speak of our desires to the Head Administrative Official and the Head of the Boarding Section they only protest to us. We are greatly concerned about such conditions for the future, and we hope that at least the rice distribution will be corrected.

Full Translation:

Prime Minister SHIDEHARA made a speech on general administration at the opening of the Extraordinary Session of the Diet. He stated the policies which the Government wished to carry into effect in comparatively few words.

Most of this speech merely listed facts hitherto known to the public. We were somewhat disappointed because he did not refer to any new policies. Yet if we examine closely the Premier's speech, judging from the description of his policies, etc., we can know the direction in which his administration is proceeding, and we can guess on which policies he will lay the most stress. The Premier first pointed out the necessity for an impartial election which "secures the function of reflecting the people's will" and for democratizing politics, as the most important policy second only to acceptance of the POTSDAM Declaration. Surely it is the most important task of the SHIDEHARA Cabinet, and it is apparent that Premier SHILEHARA intends to effect the dissolution of the Diet and call a general election with the complete approval of the Cabinet.

Can the Revision of the Election Law be deemed justifiable? Particularly, the Restricted Plural [illegible]allot System for large electoral districts has raised any objections for it is thought to be merely a device whereby the bureaucrats still in office will, have a better chance to retain their positions.

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ITEM 6 (Continued)

The Government must devise more appropriate measures to meet the situation.

Next to the democratization of politics, the Premier referred to drastic revisions in the field of education. The aim of education must be "service to the nation or to society through the completion of the individuals character," moreover, a democratic country must be based upon the ''nation's firm spirit of freedom and independence."

"The realization of liberalism is possible only with the consciousness of each individual to his responsibilities, "he remarked. The Premier especially stressed social education and national morality. There was nothing new in his discussion, yet it is surely a most appropriate warning to the nation at present.

As was stated by the Premier in regard to the present international picture, though hostilities have already entirely ceased, it will require a long time to restore peaceful normal relations. We agree with him that "we think it necessary to insist upon what we believe justifiable and impartial when we deal in foreign affairs, but unfortunately we have substantially lost our ability to execute such policy," Also it is true that "the consciousness of justice common to human society still exists and that there also exists inviolable rights of justice in public opinion, which, however, does not function under the extraordinary conditions following war."

Our situation as a defeated country is extremely difficult. The most important fact is, as was stressed by the Premier, that "what eventually will appeal to the human minds of the world or what is the guiding compass to domestic and foreign relations is not the power of the gun, but that of morality. In other words, it must be the sovereignty of the national spirit. World opinion will also accept this. We must exert our efforts for the construction of the new JAPAN, not discouraged nor disillusioned but always in the norm of justice and impartiality. This is our only aim." It is also the firm belief of the entire nation. If we are to maintain such beliefs concerning international affairs, it is obvious that we must have a strong and pure morality within the country. There lies the more important meaning of social education.

In addition to these, the premier spoke of the effort "to get good results in realizing the import food, permitted by the Allied Powers." He also referred to the abolition of economic controls except on "fundamental materials necessary for industries or for people's livelihood." Other important items were the unemployment policy, relief measures for the Japanese abroad, promotion of a rehabilitation plan, enlargement or restoration of transportation and communication, adjustment of finance and administration, etc. The livelihood of the people are concerned with these problems, and the nation is observing carefully the manner in which these Projected policies will be put into effect.

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