Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0240, 1946-01-13.
Date13 January, 1946
translation numbereditorial-0751
call numberDS801 .S82
Persistent Identifier
EDITORIAL SERIES: 240
ITEM 1 Reorganization of the SHIDEHARA Cabinet - Asahi Shimbun - 12 Jan 46. Translator: K. Nagatani.
Full Translation:
Although the SCAP directive ordering the expulsion of militaristic elements has perplexed
the SHIDEHARA Cabinet, rather than
resign en masse, the Cabinet has decided to carry on after a reorganization. The Premier
is determined to carry on with the
present Government following a reorganization. It is obvious that he is confident
that he can carry on the government at least
until the forthcoming general election. The present Cabinet, which is composed mainly
of bureaucrats, apparently lacks public
support. How will the Cabinet be shaped after the reorganization? Of course, the Premier
has to choose ministers from among
those persons who are not affected by the SCAP order. However, we can hardly expect
any considerable change to occur in the
present Cabinet.
Glancing at the series of Government measures heretofore taken to cope with the pressing
problems of inflation, the food
crisis, the coal shortage, etc, we find that most of those measures have proved advantageous
to the ruling class. Moreover,
the present Cabinet failed to carry out promptly the SCAP directive ordering the removal
of fascist elements. The facts
clearly show the true character of the present Cabinet. No matter how drastic the
proposed reorganization may be, it cannot be
imagined that any substantial difference will appear in the character of the SHIDEHARA
Cabinet. At any rate, the present
Cabinet is an interim Cabinet to administer problems until the general election.
Of course, the objective of the reorganization is to expel the ministers who fall
into the categories of the directive.
However, the general election is also a live issue for the Cabinet. In managing the
inflation problem, the food problem, and
the question of the coal shortage, the Government should not try to protect the interests
of the ruling class, but move along
the main current of society. High efficiency and good will must be a primary requisite
for the new Cabinet. The new Cabinet
must not be a hindrance to democracy in this country, and at the same time, strenuous
efforts should be put forth in order to
avert chaos in national life.
Since the Liberal Party and the Social-Democratic Party have shouted for its resignation,
both parties cannot send their
members to the new Cabinet. Members of the new Cabinet must be picked from the bureaucracy,
the Progressive Party or others
who are not affected by the directive. In this case, the greatest danger is that inert
politicians will become ministers and
that the old political elements will remain.
The Japanese Nation today earnestly desires an efficient administration. If Prime
Minister SHIDEHARA should carry out a
vicious
EDITORIAL SERIES: 240 (Continued)
ITEM 1 (Continued)
reorganization, the new Cabinet would cause a setback in the national life. This
is our advice to the SHIDEHARA. Cabinet now
on the verge of reorganization.
ITEM 2 Reorganization of the Cabinet Will Not Do - Yomiuri-Hochi and_Mainichi Shimbun - 12 Jan 46. Translator: J. Wada.
Extracts:
(TN: Editorials in YOMIURI and MAINICHI are substantially the same, and are similar
in subject to the ASAHI. The following
additional points are presented in extract.)
YOMIURI:
In the four months since its formation, the present Cabinet has done nothing but
aggravate the situation. The Cabinet has
adopted reactionary policies, paying no respect to the will of the people. Since the
mission of an interim cabinet lies more
in stabilizing national life by defeating the capitalists and the bureaucrats who
brought about the present crisis than in
making preparations for the coming general election, we strongly protest against the
SHIDEHARA Cabinet's remaining in office.
We cannot expect the Cabinet to solve any of the vital questions such as inflation
or the food-shortage, considering the
reactionary character of the Cabinet. The situation is so serious that no cabinet
but one founded by the will of the people
can meet the crisis. The three parties, the Liberal, the Social-Democratic and the
Communist, should form a coalition cabinet,
establishing an extensive united front.
MAINICHI:
Premier SHIDEHARA has an established reputation of being faithful to his personal
beliefs. However, his personal beliefs are
beliefs which lack recognition of the social conditions which have changed so much
in the ten years since his retirement. This
is the reason why his Cabinet has come to a deadlock. His Cabinet has brought the
Nation to so sad a plight as to make foreign
countries doubt our ability to revive. The Cabinet should resign en bloc, instead
of reorganizing.
The only problem is who the succeeding premier should be. None of the people hope
that any member of the present Cabinet will
be ordered to form a new cabinet. Where then should the succeeding premier be found?
Since the next cabinet is another interim
cabinet whose only mission is the carrying out of the coming general election, the
term of office would be very short.
However, its mission is extremely important. First, it should hold a general election
with as much success as possible.
Second, it should deal with the urgent problems of national life in spite of its short
term of office. It is very probable
that it will meet with these difficult problems before the holding of the general
election.
The succeeding premier should be one who is capable of pulling through this crisis
to see a party cabinet formed after the
election. Since the Allied purge directive has disqualified so many old politicians,
it is very difficult to find a new
premier. However, we should seek extensively. The question is how bravely and cleverly
he can deal with the present difficult
problems. At the same time, a method of selection which reflects, as much as possible,
the will of the people should be taken.
We should not adhere to the old unpopular method.
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