Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0112, 1945-12-18.
Date18 December, 1945
translation numbereditorial-0374
call numberDS801 .S82
Persistent Identifier
EDITORIAL SERIES: 112
ITEM 1 Judgment of the Nation to be Manifested in the Coming General Election TOKYO-SHIMBUN 14 Dec Translator: OTA[illegible]S.
Full Translation:
The Election Law Revision Bill has finally passed the House of Representatives after
an amendment to the original plan of the
Government. An amended plan was proposed by each of the parties, Progressive, Liberal,
and Social Democrat, and the plan of
the Progressive party, which is the majuority pary in the present Diet, was finally
adopted. Most of the Nation was
disappointed and angry with the antiquated manner the Diet displayed in the process
of deliberation on this bill, the lack of
an earnest attitude towards the Land Reform Bill, the Labor Union Bill, and the problem
of war responsibility. Nevertheless,
it is wrong for the Nation to think that the Diet is of no consequence. On the contrary,
it becomes more important than ever
for the people to send true representatives of the Nation to the Diet, thus firmly
establishing a democratic system. We must
fully understand this, and must be cautions to avoid mistakes in the coming general
election.
The Nation knows, to some extent, what are the political characteristics of the Progressive,
Liberal, and the Social Democrat
Parties as shown in the present Diet, and how the members of the Diet who do not belong
to any party have behaved. But many
other political parties, to say nothing of the Communist Party, will run in the coming
general election, and many persons who
do not belong to any party will run for Diet .seats. In these cases, whether the people
are to [illegible]oto for a certain political party or for a particular candidate is up to them. Yet,
in view of the true character of
democratic politics, it is very natural to vote for a political party. The chief object
of the Election Law Revision Plan
submitted to the Diet by the Government lies in this and the amended plan was no different
from the original in this regard.
Rather, it may be said that the original plan was amended for the convenience of the
Progressive Party, which desires to
retain the majority after the coming election.
But will their campaign be carried out as expected? At any rate, a democratice election
in its true sense cannot be attained
merely with the revision of the election law itself, whether it be the original one
proposed by the Government or not; this
Revised Election Law is merely a passing method to realize a true democratic election.
The Nation recognize that not only the
election law but also many other laws must be revised in order to establish a true
democratic process, The direction which
politics will take, as shown by the judgment of the Nation is very important, and
the coming general election furnishes us the
opportunity to manifest our wills or to show the level of our political consciousness
before the world. Thus considered, we
should be deeply concerned with the coming election and we are obligated to manifest
our will.
EDITORIAL SERIES: 112 (Continued)
ITEM 1 (Continued)
Full Translation:
Heretofore the Nation has not been much concerned over elecions, and has lacked earnestness
in voting. If we perpetuate such
an attitude in the coning election, it is not too much to say that the fate of our
country will be seriously affected. The
Nation must be fully aware of this. We must investigate the policies advocated by
each political party, closely study the
opinions of each candidate, and have the will to decide positively upon what we think
best. There are many serious problems
left in regard to the future of defeated JAPAN, such as: "What will be the economic
situation of JAPAN? "or," Is the Emperor
System to be continued?" All of these must be decided by the will of the Nation. We
see, then, that the coming election is the
touch-stone and key for the future of JAPAN. All must be juged by the Nation; the
people must open their eyes widely, never to
be deceived again. They must demonstrate to the world their awakening in the comin
general election.
ITEM 2 Responsibility for the war ASAHI-SHIMBUN l4 Dec 45. Translator: UNAYAMA T.
Summary:
In the plenary session of the House of Peers on 1 December, in his reply to an interpellation
on war responsibility, Premier
SHIDEHARA said that the persons responsible for the war had no malicious intentions
and therefore should be treated with a
broad mindedness which condem the offense and not the perpetrator. He said many legal
difficulties would be encountered if the
Japanese were to punish their own war criminals. Does this attitude win the people's
support? The Premier said further that
this problem must be solved by public opeinion. In short, his statement is in full
support of the war criminals. (From a
person without a regular occupation, YAMAGUCHI)
The thing which has made me most indignant since the termination of the war is the
hypocritical attitude of the upper class
when they say, "I am an adocate of peace; I am an apponent of war."
It is really deplorable that, after their old colleagaes have been surrendered as
war criminal, suspects and are to be judged
by foreigners, the words and deeds of those who were once respected as ministers or
generals should betray their old
friends.
Gentlemen, it is disgusting to place your responsibility upon others! I pray that
you rmay honor the closing days of defeated
JAPAN with the spirit of BUSHIDO! (Japanese warrior code.)
(From a priest, NIIGATA)
The newly-organized political parties have been crying loudly of late for investigation
into responsibility for the war but
they do not inquire into responsibility for the defeat. If as the Communist Party
says, all who co-operated in the prosecution
of the war were to be deemed responsible the greater part of the pelple would be war
criminals. But, can those who did not
co-operate with the Nation during the war show the way after the war?
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EDITORIAL SERIES: 112 (Continued)
ITEM 2 (Continued)
Summary:
JAPAN was defeated because there were war-profiteers and war-shirkers. Those responsible
for defeat should, therefore, be
strictly investigated by the people, and the root of moral corruption should be eradicated.
(From a person without a regular
occupation, YAMANASHI)
Of late some people are discussing the war responsibility of the present representatives
of the Lower House. I want to ask
them who elected the representatives. If every one of the people voted faithfully
for the person really worthy of being their
representative, such representatives as destroyed in a day the history of three thousand
years could not be elected, All the
people, therefore, are responsible for the war.
(From astudent, KANAGAWA)
We are suffers from the war and we are not at all responsible for it. The war was
an enterprise carried out by the Military
clique, Bureaucrats, impartant statesmen, and ZAIBATSU politicians who desired to
raise their ranks. In the end, they made us
the defeated Nation, and to make matters worse they now want to put the blame on the
people.
Their recriminations in the Diet are useless settling national affairs. it is very
dangerous to have such persons in the upper
classes.
(From a student, YAMANASHI)
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