Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0082, 1945-12-12.

Extracts:

"The enforcement of taxation on war-time profits is a pleasant affair. But, hearing the counter-measures planned by the authorities, I am afraid that big flies will break through the spider's web!

The authorities are planning to issue new bank notes, and by exchanging the old notes for the new ones, through the windows of banks, they want to catch the old notes which are now concealed. The rich man does not deposit his money in his name only but, splitting the sum, deposits it in the names of members of his family. This may be permissible. A more cunning man deposits his money under pseudonyms in the main office and the branches of a bank. According to the calculations of a specialist, half of the nation's deposits may be so concealed. Measures to catch these tax-evaders must first of all be taken up.

"then, I recommend the census registration of deposits. That is, to register every depositor's name in the bank, based on the register for the distribution of staple food, and to confiscate deposits in names not listed in the book.

"Democratic policy starts by gouging out war criminals. Democratic finance must step forward with a thorough collection of the war-profit taxes." (From a clerk working for a company in TOKYO.)

Full translation:

School strikes have not been an uncommon thing in our country since the end of the war. But, the one which occurred in a private college recently is unique. Its chief objectives are the abolition of examinations and the refund of school fees during holidays.

If these demands are met, there will be a situation in which students can graduate easily, without bothering to study or even attend school, the only requisite being the payment of school fees. The reason for the demands is epitomized in the following words: "We, as students, can be trusted to do the work we are given; therefore, it would be better for the school and the students if such a troublesome and restrictive requirement as that of examinations were abolished."

EDITORIAL SERIES 82 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

However, it must be recognized that it is only himan nature to take things easy whenever possible. If these demands are put into effect, there will be more students who will gradually begin to ease up in their work than there will be those who continue to prepare their lessons so that they could, if necessary, pass an examination. Freedom from restraint is a characteristic, and even a merit, of the younger generation. But before this freedom is given, it is necessary for students to recognize the disadvantages of looseness in teaching method which would arise from lack of restraint. Teachers, educational authorities, and even the Ministry of Education have long coerced and oppressed the students. Now that the war is over and freedom and democracy are to be extended to schools, the authorities concerned have immediately adopted an attitude of non-interference with students' activities. Some of the teachers, particularly those of professional schools, are inclined to take the students' viewpoint.

Thoughtful students are at their wits' end. Others are followers of the crowd and are beginning to stray from the right path. In, addition, it is likely that political parties intend to form a students' lobby by taking advantage of the fact that higher students are being given the right to vote. Students are destined to shoulder responsibilities for the building of a new JAPAN. It is needless to say that this responsibility should be reflected in their conduct. But it cannot be said that the duties of teachers, educational authorities, and especially of the Ministry of Education, are being fulfilled satisfactorily, considering the present situation.

Full translation:

While a farcical resolution concerning the war responsibility was being discussed in the Diet by the members to cover up their own errors, suddenly several members were named as war criminal suspects. Among these was OTA, Masataka, whose arrest was as surprising to the people as to himself. At any rate, this suggests how strictly the Allied Powers are trying to go into the question of war criminals.

It goes without saying that all the members of the present Diet are, directly or indirectly, and at least in a moral sense, responsible for the war. But as yet, no one has intention of acting. They are only trembling with fear. Even those of whom such conduct is commonly expected, seem to have no intentions of acting in this direction. They themselves might believe that they have succeeded in putting on masks, but we can see clearly their true character. They are comparable to a blind man quibbling that his clothes are not burning in spite of the fact that others are pointing it out. They are bound to perish by fire. Are there no means except further orders by the Allied Powers to make them take the consequences of their mistakes?

Their general resignation and prohibition from entering the coming electional campaigns might be adopted. With these members, the passage of the three big democratization bills is very doubtful.

Full translation:

- 2 -

EDITORIAL SERIES: 82 (Continued)

ITEM 4 (Continued)

Ambassador PAULEY said that JAPAN's reparations for the Allied Nations will not cause the lowering of her standard of living. This statement has given us a faint ray of hope for our future.

To us Japanese, the reparation problem has hitherto been considered oppressive because of indistinctness of its intentions. To be sure, our living depends upon our choice of Government, which will decide our destiny. If it is a good Government, we shall be able to look forward to being raised from our present starvation. If bad, we shall lose that hope. The goods carried from JAPAN will be surplus of the articles to enable us to maintain a moderate standard of living. The loss of thi[illegible]surplus is not a blow which prostrates us or drives us into misery unless we scheme to arrange our country along the lines of militarism.

Ambassador PAULEY's statement further reveals that ther is left in the war devastated area a considerable amount of industrial capacity. This is so unexpected a fact to most of us that it makes us doubtful even of the Allied Nations' estimation of that industrial capacity. The reparation will not make of JAPAN an agricultural country, nor does it mean the denial of JAPAN as an industrial country. However, the article presented by JAPAN in reparation will be enough to make our neighboring countries and others industrialized. Our production capacity in steel, left after the fulfillment of our duty, will be a little more than that before the Manchurian Incident. After the reparations are made, we will have but half of our engineering machinery. All the 20 shipyards will be dissolved, but will retain some of their repairing capacity. The chemical industry and the light metal industry will be thrown into a miserable condition. As to power plants, those of steam will be half their present figure, while those of water will remain intact.

Since the financial combines will be first sacrificed for reparations, the Government's statement on the plants and works remaining intact for utilization is contradictory. The burden shouldered by ordinary manufacturers, however, will not be great. Ambassador PAULEY added in his statement that reparations would promise a bright future for JAPAN in her productive field. This bright future will be created by our own efforts, not by previous measures of exploitation in Asiatic and other agricultural countries. In this scheme, the unity of the whole nation should be established, eliminating all idle people or the lazy privileged class.

The present situation in which, although there are plenty of unemployed, the shortage of labor is keenly felt. The fact that the black marketeer have become open street vendors, is nothing short of social collapse. Bright prospects for us is, in such a situation, doubtful. In conclusion the question is whether the industrial capacity is allowed to exist after the fulfilment of our duty to the Allied Nations. If it is in discord with real conditions, we are confronted with a grave situation that threatens our very existence.

Summary:

It seems that the present free speech results in finding fault with others, attacking individuals, and transferring responsibilities to

- 3 -

EDITORIAL SERIES: 82 (Continued)

ITEM 5 (Continued)

others. Mr. TOKUDA and Mr. JHIGA you are big men in the Communist Party. You well know that we have accepted the POTSDAM Declaration unconditionally with the single hope for the stability along the lines of the unchanged state constitution. We are devoted only to the protection of the present state constitution from any transformation, conquering, with a pathetic determination, any temptations of freedom, haven't we? We were fortunate enough to get freedom of speech as a result of the broadcast of the surrender speech by the Emperor.

Even the militarists whom you must hate were honest enough to abandon their principles and dignity and prostrate themselves before the Emperor, weren't they? So long as you cannot understand the reason, communism and militarism are equally autocratic, and both of them must be rejected. We hate despotism and prefer democracy. Freedom of speech must be used prudently and bring about the highest forms of brotherly love, never violating any divinity.

Distribution "X"

- 4 -