Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0075, 1945-12-11.

Summary:

At the Tokushima Prefecture Assembly now in session, the representatives interpellated as follows: "How do the prefectural authorities bear their responsibility to dislocated people and to the air raid sufferers who lost everything? How will the authorities relieve them? The war sufferers extent of losses differs. What countermeasures will the authorities take to meet the proportion of their losses?"

The main point of the authorities' replies is that they are putting officials in charge of rations to supply relief goods to war sufferers in proportion to their losses. But this is a very vague reply and hardly more than an excuse.

There are many kinds of war sufferers. Some of them lost everything, while others lost only a few things. Some had subscribed to war insurance, while the others did not. If the Government treats all those sufferers equally the consequence may be this - that those who are most faithful to the state will be the losers. The prefectural authorities reveal their irresponsibilities in many cases. For instance, all members of a certain CHONAI-KAI (Neighbors' Association) received relief supply goods several times, while the others received nothing.

Let the authorities recognize that they are the servants of the people; let them not obscure their responsibilities under cunning excuses; let them do their best for the public. This is not only the case in getting relief supply goods to the war sufferers, but in all the present problems of reconstruction.

Full translation:

Although the acute food shortage has not been indicated numerically, the people are experiencing it. The Government may say, "Out of nothing, nothing comes", but it has been the Government policy to do plenty of shouting but make very little progress in work.

As seen in the articles on "Maladministration in the Home Economy", being published serially in our newspaper, people are needy circumstances, supply themselves with food bought at illicit prices and narrowly escape malnutrition. Those who cannot do so are destined to become charity patients and die of malnutrition. What a miserable scene it is!

EDITORIAL SERIES: 75 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

Now the Diet is open. The nation has expected much from this parliament, but what is the real situation? The discussions in the Diet are too far separated from us. The Government, commenting to suit the occasion, seems to be unable to decide on what counter-measures it should take. We cannot be out greatly disillusioned. Since the end of the war, being anxious about our future, we are at a loss to know what to do. Only to live, and to think of eating, is our poor reality.

In the present circumstances, we shall fall to the animal kingdom. If eighty million persons in this narrow country are degraded to an animal state, it would be impossible for us to build a new JAPAN.

If the Government remains inactive, and the Diet, which should urge or look after the authorities, remains likewise, there will be no other way for us to protect our lives than by taking the matter into our own hands.

It cannot be denied that we have hitherto relied too much upon Government policies, and it is also true that this has impeded the Nation's active and independent action. But if the people, having been dis-appointed by the Government, had their own way, what would become of them? Disregarding the power of the authorities, the wealthy people would get food through the power of money and protect their lives. This can be seen in the prevalent illicit food transactions. As for the poor, it is needless to say what attitudes they will assume. The burglaries and thefts now prevalent are not merely confusion in public tranquility. The majority of the nation, forced to abandon the human state, will become animals. Are these the people who had fought with the powers of the world? Making the defeat a turning-point, it is important for them to severely criticize their past or be anxious until they discover their true selves. But if they can't discover their true selves and became animal, what a misfortune it would be!

We eagerly wish for the Government to take measures not to disappoint the nation before it's too late. Academic theories, however numerous, will not gratify us. We likewise expect much of the representatives. We do not ask in what constituencies they were elected, but only that they thoroughly understand reality, find out what the people want, and exert themselves. We are now starving and becoming animals. It is clear, in maintaining the status quo, what will become of the public peace and social order.

Full translation:

The Japanese people were shocked to find the name of Prince NASHIMOTO included in the list of war criminal suspects. It also was a greater shock to the people that Foreign Minister YOSHIDA's petition to exclude Prince NASHIMOTO from the list was rejected by the Supreme Commander. There is no longer any doubt that the case of Prince NASHIMOTO will be handled on exactly the same basis and in the same manner as the others accused of war crimes.

We are gravely concerned with public opinion appearing in the American press concerning the war responsibility of His Majesty. The 4 December issue of the WASHINGTON Star declared, "The present arrest

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 75 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

of the Japanese war criminal suspects naturally brings forth the matter of the Emperor's position. It is very significant that the present list includes Prince NASHIMOTO, figure-head advisor to the Throne."

The situation today has developed so that no conscientious Japanese can any longer keep apart from this most momentous problem to our nation, It is hoped that through declarations by the war criminal suspects concerning "the war responsibility of the Emperor", the truth about the councils in the presence of the Emperor will be brought to light for the first time. The military clique and high-policy makers, who dragged the nation into the war, are now very busy in screening their crimes and in excusing themselves by shifting the war responsibility to the Throne. Such a mean and cowardly attitude is incurring the nation's resentment. It is quite natural that the Allied Powers should take up the matter of the Emperor's war responsibility so long as they stick to a formal or superficial interpretation of the Japanese constitution and other national organs. However, a great deal depends upon our grasp of the real power in Japanese politics.

We may come to one conclusion when we consider the face value of the Imperial Prerogative according to the written constitution. When we consider actual politics or the historical traditional and conventional facts in east politics, we may come to another conclusion. During the war, certain groups within the military clique and among the Government officials insisted on "direct Imperial rule". What was implied by "direct Imperial rule"? Some of them wished for "direct Imperial rule" in an attempt to increase their tyranny, while other groups in adverse circumstances wished for "direct Imperial rule" in view of the growth of power of their opponents.

In Japanese political circles there has always been the expression of a "vicious faction close to the Throne". This means that key figures in politics have encroached upon "Imperial authority". Japanese democrats, therefore, are striving to eliminate these irresponsible political powers else to the Throne by diminishing the "Imperial Prerogative". In other words, they are aiming at democratizing the so-called "sacredness of the Emperor". In the face of the question of the Emperor's war responsibility and popular attacks upon the military clique, high-policy makers and bureaucrats are arising with the fury of a storm.

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