Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0086, 1945-12-13.

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The problem of the restoration of sound finance can not he solved without fully understanding the character of the economic revolution now going on in our country, since national economy itself determines the nature of the nation's finance.

Our country has lost all the economic foundations of its imperialism and feudalism by its surrender. On the one hand we have been obliged to give up our colonies and to eliminate all munitions industries, diminishing the key industries. On the other hand, the Land Reform Bill, which is presented to the current Diet, means a gradual collapse of the landlords. Being faced with such a revolutionary change in economy, our financial policy which has been founded on fostering a feudalistic and imperialistic economy, should be out on a new democratic basis.

From the above mentioned point of view, we are greatly disappointed at the financial reconstruction plan published in the current Diet by Financial Minister SHIBUZAWA. The published plan, centering on the war property tax the property tax and a general tax increase, bares the Cabinet's intention to preserve imperialism, but shows no zeal for protecting the nation from vicious inflation.

The Five Year Financial Plan of the Financial Ministry aims at a surplus of about 8,000,000,000 yen for the 1950-51 fiscal year, National bondelard to be redeimed up to 100 billion yen. Revenue will be earned from the tax system reform, a rise in the prices of tobacco, the war profit tax, and the property tax. On the other hand payment of indemnities amounting to 43 billion yen will be made.

But the plan, which is a list of estimated skeleton budgets, omits such items as Indemnities for overseas properties, reparations and the cost of social works which are expected to increase remarkably in the future. A plan which excludes such important items can not even be called "skeleton," It is merely a fragment of a financial plan.

Even with these fragments we do not necessarily agree. In the revenue from the general tax, the plan estimates for the coming five fiscal years a decrease of about 4,800,000,000 yen. But the estimated decrease in income is too small for our economy which has been deprived of colonies and munition industries, and which also has had other key industries reduced. If the estimated sum of revenue can not be collected from the financiers, it will certainly

EDITORIAL SERIES 86 (Continued)

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be taken from the working class. This seems most probable since Finance Minister SHIBUZAWA declared his intention of effecting a general increase in indirect taxes and raising the price of tobacco.

In relation to the above, we should like to point oat the extremely reactionary character of the indemnification to munition industries and overseas properties. The protection of capital invested in munition enterprises means the preservation of fictitions capital. Indemnities to munition enterprises and oversea enterprises are estimated at more than 100 billion yen. The sum of notional bonds is calculated at 130 billion yen, making a total of 230 billion yen of national bonds is redeemed with revenue from the property taxes, the present sum of the national debenture is left unpaid. Can the nation's finances bear this burdea with the increasing cost of social works and the diminishing national economy?

Moreover, it is the imperialistic capitalists who are rescued by the indemnification. It is the people at large who will suffer from the vicious inflation which will be caused by a financial deficit. The nation's financial system should ruin these imperialistic capitalists but should never help them.

Finance Minister SHIBUZAWA says that the disavowal of indemnification will cause disorder in economy. However, it is generally recognized that superior enterprises can attain successful reconversion without indemnities, Moreover, if some enterprises break down, because of hen-payment it is possible for the government to evade the financial problem of indemnification.

We should strongly oppose a financial policy which aims to preserve imperialistic economy by mass taxation and indemnification to capitalists, under the guise of financial reconstruction. Such an attitude on the part of the public will do much to check inflation and aid the cause of democracy.

Extracts:

A repatriate from KOREA writes, "I was an educator, the principal of a girls' school in ZOREA, for 32 years. Having experienced the bitter hardships of defeat, I returned to ITO on 1 November of this year to receive care in my relatives house.

"Post-war Zoreans think themselves war victors and Japanese are the object of their hatred. After the Allies' occupation, the power of the police fell into the hands of Koreans. Japanese governmental officials and influential industrialists have been confined for some reason. Most regrettably, 22 officials, including the prefectual governor of KEIKIDO, were put under confinement in the same manner. Educational works which have been cultivated for years are confronted by a dangerous situation in the treason of Korean students who resents the leception of Japanese statesmen and the military clieque. I think we must sympathize with the Japanese in KAISHU, DOJO, KAIJO and more northern areas now under Soviet occupation, A friend of mine and two girls disappeared recently. Some officials are used for forced labor in the daytime. Japanese living in the southern area of KOREA are safe, however, in the hands of the American Army. There is no Japanese who does not suffer from violent acts by Koreans.

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On returning to JAPAN Japanese are allowed to bring only 1,000 yen in cash, their postal deposit passbooks, are limited to the baggage they are able to carry, are transported by freight cars, made to sleep for two or three days in the open in FUSAN to await ferries. Such is the ill treatment of Japanese.

As for my postal savings, about 26,000 was suspended on 14 November. At this very time, I ask the Imperial Diet to stand up for the relief of overseas Japanese. Americans are rich in understanding our sincerity and eagernesses, I fear only that the postal savings of our fellow Japanese will become invalid. Is it not quite proper that the government should earnestly entreat Allied Headquarters to take due measures? (From KWAKAMI, Masayoshi, Principal LaGirl's School.)

A 14 year old girl writes, "Father has not come back yet. I am also one of those sympathizers who read the articles, 'Father Lives In SAGEALIEN' and "Some Fallow Japanese In MANCHURIA.' My father was once a government official of a city near the boarder of eastern MANCHURIA. I can not help but believe, that he is being troubled with cold and hunger in the Manchurian winter.

There will be no active support for my family for the coming four years. I am full of four as to how or family can get along in this tine of high prices. I am 14 years old this year. I am poor in health and can not help earn our livelihood. My mother in has three children and it is impossible, because of the job, to look after them. I do not knew how many years we must wait for my father. I think tens or hundreds of people are now under the same unfortunate circumstances as he. I earnestly ask the government to take assist these unfortunate people."
(From AKITA, Yoshiko, MIYAGI Ken.)

A repatriate from MANCHURIA writes, "Before the end of the war, we and our families, Japanese, were ordered to MAHCHURIA by the Secretary for Munitions to promote the aviation industry there. We reached HARAIN in June this year and worked hard to establish plants. But as soon as the Soviets entered the war, we were driven out by the rapid advance of their forces, and could barely get to the homeland.

What are the things that face us in JAPAN? We had no houses to live in, no clothes to wear and no money to buy and thing. A great number of repatriates have no cash because they have not been given any chance to dray deposited money. It is now impossible to draw deposits from home banks because of suspension of exchange. The Board of Foreign Funds of the Finance Ministry and The Society for Supporting War Victims never advise us. Where must we go? We feel especially cold on winter nights for we have neither mattresses nor quilt, and are still wearing summer clothing.

I heard recently that the end of the war had been known among the ministers of the cabinet before we went to MAHCHURIA. We were deceived by a secret policy of the Ministry of Munitions which was called MARUAMA. There still remain more than 5,000 victims like us in MANCHURIA. How on earth will the government rescue them? (From NAGATO, Rikiyo, Care taken of Repatriates.)

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EDITORIAL SERIES 86 (Continued)

Full Translation:

The death sentence on General YAMASHITA is creating a sensational stir all over the world as it is the first verdict made on the numerous war criminal suspects accused by the Allied Powers.

Here I will trace the rise of General YAMASHITA. He was under the watch of General TAJO and has remanded to the southern front. When he returned home during the war, General YAMASHITA was not permitted to go to the court as other generals did and he was cruely ordered to take command of the Japanese Expeditionary Forces in HORTH MANCHURIA. No sooner had the collapse of the Japanese in [illegible]the PHILLIPINES proved decisive than he was directed to face the [illegible]victorious American forces at the head of the crack KWANTUNG Army.

Denying his own crime, General YAMASHITA thanked the American authorities for a fair trial and for their honest and conscientious manners. His counsel petitioned the Supreme Court for review on the same day the verdict was given. Such cincerity by his counsel is being greeted with public favor. Chief Prosecutor KEENAN pledged himself to just and fair trials, saying; "All war criminal suspects are not guilty and there are some suspects who will be released as our investigation goes on."

Death or release, whatever the verdict may be, there is no other way left for any Japanese war criminal, but to await the verdict. We should go ahead in the realization of justice. The very spirit of fair play must be the beacon to pilot future JAPAN. Since the Manchurian Incident of 1931, JAPAN has been mixed up in many shady transactions.

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