Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0096, 1945-12-15.

Full Translation:

In the plenary session of the Lower House, an interpellator refferred to the delay in introducing the Labor Union Bill into the Diet, attributing the delay to the Government in its arrangement with the Allied Commander, and added that to his great regret, the controlling power of the Government is now entirely in the hands of the Allied Powers. Aside from sentimentalism, it is grim actuality that the Allied Powers have absolute power over out Government, and in ignoring this fact, a political discussion is nonsensical. It is absolutely necessary for any bill, not the Labor Union Bill or the Agrarian Reform Bill, to pass the barrier of Allied Headquarters, even though the barrier of the Privy Council may be put out of consideration, before the debut of the bill is made in printed form in the Diet.

Today we have heard of the issuance of the directive for the liberation of serfdom of our country by Allied Headquarters. It is presumably on the basis of democracy in AMERICA where there has been an emancipation of slaves. Because of this supreme command, the atmosphere of the Diet has completely changed. In other words, the expectation which had been prevalent in both houses that the two major bills, the Labor Union Bill and the Agrarian Reform Bill will be unable to go through the debating stage, was replaced by the expectation that both bills will surely pass the Diet through prolongation of the session. This fact shows us that it's always a case of absolute obedience to the stronger power.

It was shown at the time when the militarists held sway over political and economic life in easy passage of bills that were declared vitally important by these militarists. Under TOJO Cabinet, for instance, a two day session was enough for the passage of the bill that was designed to violate the popular rights and was labelled as the Special Wartime Criminal Law. Again, only one day was needed to pass the bill on war expenditures amounting to several billion yen. There was no one to interpellate it.

The difference between the two cases, now and at the time, lies in allowing full debate or in oppressing freedom of speech. What is present in our minds is the realization that, despite the form of an independent country, JAPAN has lost her sovereignty to the Allied Nations. This fact is undoubtedly a piercing reproach for those who see only the apparent magnitude of the white hall of Parliament, but have neglected to observe the real state of things.

EDITORIAL SERIES: 96 (Continued)

Full Translation:

Nowadays, we cannot find any book which we want to read, at any book Shop. In fact, very few books are available ever at second hand book shops.

Sometimes we can find good books at a street book stall. But the prices are twenty of thirty times as high as the fixed price. As the world changes we should depend upon new publications to understand the facts of democracy and the new trend and changes. There are many books which we would like republished among them the suppressed books.

Since books were burnt, demand for books is stronger than ever before. Newspapers and magazines have been active and reliable in content but they do not always have the advantage of being bound in a separate volume. Nevertheless, the demand for newspapers and magazines is limitless.

We cannot find even one book on a useful explanation of democracy or a record of the Allied Power's directives. If newprint used by newspapers and magazines could be distributed for book publications it would alleviate the shortage we hope that the authorities will consider means to increase the number of books.

Full Translation:

In the POTSDAM Declaration, the fundamental order to defeated JAPAN is expressed with the words "revival and reinforcement of democracy". These words are to be construed as denoting "revival" and "reinforcement" of a thing which once existed in JAPAN.

This interpretation may be correct, if it ends in merely assaying the meaning of the words. But as the actual problem, we must scrutinize what the democracy which existed in JAPAN was like. And when one thinks of this, he must be conscious of the fact that it is not merely the" revival and reinforcement" of democracy with which JAPAN is now confronted but it is the democratic revolution which has been hitherto experienced by most of the Allied Nations.

Viewing the discussions in the Diet and the attitudes of the members of both the Houses, we must, to our great regret, conclude that they have not yet recognized fully this fact. For Example when the Agrarian Readjustment Law was introduced to the plenary session, there were only 40 members of the Lower House present. The present condition of the Diet proves our statement.

Among the members there must be many who have an interest in the bill. Even if they have no interest, if they have understood its revolutionary significance, they ought not to be talking idly in the lobby.

Of course, it is not likely that they have abondoned their rights as politicians, but those who are standing for the forthcoming election should decide whether to co-operate with the revolution or to boldly check its growth.

We therefore have concluded that since they could not understand the revolutionary sense of this bill they idle away the time in useless

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 96 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

talk. No, they arrested the progress of the bill by their dilatory tactics. The members of the Diet who san do nothing but temporize shall be sunk in the swift torrent of democracy.

The defect in their understanding have been disclosed in their interpellation about the financial program. Breaking down the "ZAIBATSU" is merely a step in the course of the financial revolution, just as the investigation into tae responsibility for the war is a step in the political part of it. The object of the disembodiment of the "ZAIBATSU" is not yet attained with only the retirement of the "ZAIBATSU" families.

If the members of the Diet recognized this fact, they ought not to have approved the plan to relieve the banking organizations by appropriating a hundred billion yen of the revenue from the new taxation for the redemption of funds. The above mentioned defect is their under standing of problems at hand was revealed when upon mentioned Finance Minister's explanation of the Budget, they didn't raise a single question.

Full Translation:

There are many factors which now hinder a prompt reconversion to peacetime industries. Now that four months have elapsed since JAPAN surrender, it is most urgently necessary to try to restore overall economic activities by removing all obstacles. A prompt desicion in carrying out the policies in regard to the Government indemnities to peaceful industries should be reached

The problem of indemnities to war industries provoked recently a tumult of pro and cons in the circles concerned. They, reached the conclusion however that the Government indemnify them after close examination. No doubt, these amounts will reach a huge sum in total. However, the result will be national bankruptcy if the Government does not fulfill its promises as to indemnities. A prompt decision and execution of policies regarding indemnities, which affect immensely the whole Nation, are the premise for the economic recovery of this country.

Recently Ambassador PAULEY, head of the UNTIED STATES Reparations Mission outlined in his statement the American reparations program. Although it did not clarify the American attitude officially nor decisevely, yet it helped to let our industrialists know how to convert or re-open their businesses in the future. With the Allied reparations policy toward JAPAN being thus quite concretely clarified we must now try to do away with the obstacles which are hindering the recovery of peaceful industries. Needless to say, the Government should not take a loose stand on indemnities, but if it is slow to act, as is often the case, it will retard the recovery of industries. The Government already has disclosed its intent to set up the War Indemnity Examination Committee by the end of this year. It is to be hoped that the authorities will not indulge in only mapping out general policies out will adopt concrete measures as quickly as possible.

In order to eliminate the financial drawbacks, which are now hindering the conversion and re-opening of industries, it is necessary to readjust the existing monetary situation. Without indemnities for industry, no banking institution would be able to collect the money loaned to war industries during the war. According to the official announcement, the war indemnities total thirty billion two million yen. The was loans of the banking

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 96 (Continued)

ITEM 4 (Continued)

institutions authorized by the Government were estimated at thirty billion Yen at the end of August. The bonds ussued by interprizing companies amount to seventeen billion Yen. Banking, institutions will find it difficult to lend money voluntarily to any peaceful industries until these accounts are settled. This will only stimulate unsound management of money in the industrial quarters and thus affect adversely the economic reconstruction of the postwar JAPAN. Of course without the solution of the labor and coal problem, the recovery of peaceful industries cannot be expected. We can only hope that the industrial indemnities problem will be settled as swiftly as possible.

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