Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0346, 1946-02-02.

Full Translation:

The administrative advisers in the present Cabinet have resigned en bloc in order that the coming general election may be held in a completely fait manner. For the same reason, NARAHASHI, the Chief Secretary of the Cabinet has resigned from the Liberal Party and OGASAWARA, the Commerce Minister, has also left the Progressive Party. But there is little difference between the former and the latter. The Commerce Minister and the Chief Secretary of the Cabinet left their parties while remaining in office, but the administrative advisers stepped out of office, while continuing to be members of their respective parties. They seem to think that in order to hold the election in a fair manner, party men should step out of office while those who remain in office must leave their parties, on the assumption that Government posts and party memberships are incompatible with each other at the time of an election. Why are they incompatible with each other?

We suspect the SHIDEHARA Cabinet, which intends to stand aloof from the party struggle in the coming election campaign will prove the same as any other non-party cabinet of the past. It is a well-known fact, that the present one is not a party Cabinet. There were a considerable number of party men among its cabinet members and administrative advisers. However, we the people never regarded it as in danger of being unfair in its practical administration. Far from this, we can argue that the Cabinet should more paint more party men to Government posts in order to strengthen its foundation. We cannot understand why the Cabinet thinks of party men in Government posts as dangerous only at the time of the election. Perhaps such Cabinet intentions for the coining election are based on a desire to avoid being called partial, with a view to holding the election in a completely fair manner.

We do not want to make any inquiry into the motives of those who left their parties, however, we think this action on their port was needless. At this tine when the prestige of the present Cabinet cannot be said to be very great and the influence of the Government officials is very feeble, there is no danger of intervention by them in the electoral campaign. If the Government should be branded as impartial for allowing those party men standing for election to remain in Government posts, an election under a party Cabinet could never be held in the future.

There may be no harm in the present Cabinet doing so, because it is a non-party Cabinet. However, under the party administration system which will appear in the future, this can never be put into practice. Of course even under a party administration, fairness in elections is necessary. However, if the Cabinet members and the administrative advisers should necessarily resign en bloc on all such occasions, what will become of the party administration?

With the coming general election as a turning point, JAPAN will step into a period of party administration, in its truest sense. At this time,

EDITORIAL SERIES: 346 (Continued)

ITEM 1 (Continued)

those party men who are trying to show fairness by following in the footsteps of the old bureaucrats impress us as trying to employ much of the old political trickery. What we expect from the present Cabinet is not deliberation on such trivial matters. In reality, those who ceased to be members of the parties for the above purpose are forced to stand for election as independents. There will be no more meaningless candidates such as these men under a party administration system. Candidates set forth their political views to the public and the people support the realization of their pledges because the parties behind then have the power of execution. Those candidates with no party and no power of execution, no matter how they may make public pledges in a speech, can never win the support of the electorate. If their actions were taken as a mere temporary measure and they should return to their old parties sometime, this would be nothing less than fooling the people. While they may believe their action contributes to the fairness of the election, we cannot agree with their m[illegible]tives at all.

Full Translation:

As the Premier suggested it as his intentions for the business of the Cabinet meeting, it was agreed to consider first the decisions on the important affairs of State. This procedure disclosed that the Ministers of State habitually postpone the deliberation of State affairs. It is better to name then office ministers than to call then State ministers, provided they consider their duties executed by accepting reports on the matters under the jurisdiction of their respective departments, or by reaching understandings among themselves.

They are wasting away precious hours in successive meetings without deciding anything positive. Should they reach an agreement at all, it is an evil common to our officials to make no haste to put decisions into practice. Since veteran officials of this frame of mind occupy the most seats in the Cabinet, stagnation of State affairs is small wonder.

The amateur Minister of Education ABE, first of all, raised his objections, but he should realize that the Nation can no longer stand hardships as it could previously.

In the capital of the UNITED STATES, at the convention of the ladies' patriotic associations, they affirmed their support of the administrative policy of General MacARTHUR. On the contrary, in the capital of JAPAN, the authorities decided upon the control of the deplorable street-walkers. The difference in these two cases is great enough, not only in quality, but in quality. Men in JAPAN cannot shrink from the responsibility to treat the fair sex a little better than a slave psychologically, and considerably better than a slave physiologically. All is ascribable to the organization of society.

Full Translation:

A sharp boosting of the passenger fare by two and a half tines and the freight rates by three times is scheduled to be effective from 1 March.

The Government authorities are explaining that this is to be used to better the employees' treatment. Whatever the explanation may be, it is quite clear to anyone that this measure, in the first place, is spurring on the inflation and will become a factor of the vicious circle

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 346 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

of the [illegible]ise in prices. It is fundamentally necessary to reorganize and re-establish the price system centering around essential goods such as rice and coal in order to stabilize the commodity prices. However, paying no attention to such a reorganization, the increase in the price of coal, gas, water, electricity, public bath-houses and barber-shops is recognized by competent authorities. Now there is the rise in rail fares.

This is nothing but a government's lack of policy and enthusiasm. Secondly, just as in the case of the compulsory purchasing of rice, this is clearly an abuse of rights. Thirdly, this measure proves the incompetency of the Government which never reflects upon its poor housing policy while adding to this heavy burden of the suburban dwellers who have to come a long way to offices because of the housing shortage. Lastly, from the fact that the economical departments such as the Ministries of Commerce and Industry and Finance have overlooked the Transportation Ministry's boosting plan without examining it from the viewpoint of the general situation, the SHIDEHARA Cabinet can be said to have clarified to the world that they have lost the substance of a unified government which enforces consistent policies.

In short, we must come to the conclusion that the present Cabinet ought to resign immediately, to be replaced by democratic influences, even judging solely from the above instance.

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