Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0022, 1945-11-26.

ITEM 1 Revision of Election Law the Focus of Deliberation; Indispensable Bills only at Special Diet Session - Mainichi Shimbun - 15 Nov 45. Translator: A. Kido.

Extract:

The first special session under the SHIDEHARA Cabinet will convene on the 26th for 18 days. The Government policy on the reconstruction of JAPAN will be classified and important bills for revision of the House of Representatives Election Law, Labor Union Law, and others will be submitted. The newly organized JAPAN Progressive Party, JAPAN Liberal Party, and JAPAN Socialist Party will undoubtedly make known their position on these matters.

The outstanding feature is the bill for revising the election law, which, together with the general election, will fix the political trend of New JAPAN and decide the fate of he representatives. Therefore, vigorous debates on the bills are expected to take place. In drafting the bills, the Government had acted in close cooperation with the parties, but in view of the differing policies, feverish debate is inevitable. Heated controversies are also expected on the problem of revising the Constitution.

The Government has determined to ask the Throne, upon expiration of the session and passage of the Election Law Revision Bill and other proposed bills, to dissolve the Diet meeting, thus effecting a general election. Bills for discussion will be restricted to a bill for revising the Election Law for members of the House of Representatives, a bill for abolishing those laws included in the Imperial Ordinance in compliance with the directive issued by the Supreme Command of the Allied Powers, and an urgent bill concerning democratization in political, economic, and social fields.

New bills, such as bills concerning labor union and so forth, will be few. Bills scheduled for submission to the Diet by each Ministry are roughly, as follows:

Cabinet: 1. A bill asking for approval of orders issued in connection with the acceptance of the POTSDAM Declaration.

Bills related to the abolition of the General Mobilization Law.

Home Ministry: Bill for revising election law.

Finance Ministry: Bill for controlling assets.

Justice Ministry: Bill for abolishing war-time exceptions in the Court of Justice statute.

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POLITICAL SERIES: 22 (Continued)

ITEM 1 (Continued)

Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry: Farmland adjustment bill.

The platform of the JAPAN Progressive Party, holding a majority in the House of Representatives, implies the following:

Protection of the national structure, construction of democracy, and establishment of a responsible policy centering around the Diet.

Respect for individual liberty and complete dignity of man, and contributions to establishing world peace and the welfare of mankind.

Ensuring the existence of the whole nation by setting up a new economic and industrial system aimed at industrial prosperity and equitable distribution of products.

ITEM 2 Implementing Imperial Rule - Mainichi Shimbun - 16 Nov 45. Translator: H. Naoji.

Extract:

Mr. HIRANUMA, chairman of the Privy Council, stated his opinions on the 15th concerning the important problems of the Emperor System, the abolition of the office of Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal, the Reform of the Privy Council, and others as follows:

"1. We must let Japan return to its original form of rule in which the Emperor and the nation are directly united.

The office of Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal should be abolished in the future but the command of the Imperial Seal and the Seal of State, which are important trusts of the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal, can be handled by the present institution.

The Privy Council must be reformed and its number reduced. It must also be able to perform its original functions."

The following is a summary of the rest of Mr. HIRANUMA'S talk:

The democratization of our country means that we must implement the Imperial Policy. This is the true form of our government—one Emperor over all the nation. It is necessary for us to do our utmost to regain this form. At no tern in our history can we find a despotic Emperor. Tin Emperor's policies have always been for the benefit of the people. When this war broke out, Imperial wisdom was overcome by a feudalistic system of militarism leading to the downfall of our country. Democracy in JAPAN means a return to the original form of government in which the Emperor was assisted by the people in determining his policies. This form of government is not sufficiently comprehended in AMERICA, but I think it is slowly coming to be understood there that the only true foundation for democracy in JAPAN is through Imperial rule, guided by the will of the people.

"What shall be the disposition of the office of Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal? This problem is very important. I think that the office will, at some time in the near future, be abolished, but it is difficult to say exactly when.

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POLITICAL SERIES: 22 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

"There are also other questions "What to do with the command of the Imperial Seal and the Seal of State? These ore important trusts of the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal. The counter signature of the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal is required in case of the appointment or dismissal of a minister of the Imperial Household. I believe that it will be better to depend on the existing institution rather than to create a new government organization for the solution of this problem.

At present, the Privy Council is not in its original form. We must, at any cost, improve the Council and make it an institution that is able to serve the Throne and answer the requests of His Majesty, the Emperor. There is the question of whether or not the number serving in the Privy Council should be changed. The late Count ITO, Miyeji believed that in order to consult public opinion properly the number must be increased. But when we consider the present condition of our country, it would seem that a reduction is in order in favor of fewer but more capable men."

ITEM 3 How to Report Misconduct of Occupying Forces - Asahi Shimbun - 16 Nov 45. Translator: J Weiller.

Extract:

Sergeant Carl EIBARD, of the UNITED STATES Army Military Police, delivered a lecture on 14 November at the Metropolitan Police Office. His talk was entitled, Police Procedure in America. In the discussion following, he stated: "At present, behavior around TOKYO is, generally speaking, not up to standard. If any of the Occupying Forces misbehave, note well the color of the piping on the cap and all markings on the sleeve, and report the damage. Motor car accidents may increase in the future. In such a case, if the vehicle involved is a jeep, report the number under the windshield on the engine hood and on the side and rear of the body."

ITEM 4 The Progressive Party of JAPAN to Hold Inauguration Meeting Today - Asahi Shimbun - 16 Nov 45. Translator: H. Kato.

Summary:

The JAPAN Progressive Party will hold its inauguration meeting in the MARUNOUCHI building on 16 November. The proceedings of the meeting were decided at the general committee meeting on 15 November.

Mr. SAITO, Takeo chairman, will introduce Mr. NAKAMURA, Umekichi, who will deliver the opening address. Mr. Minoru TOGO will then discuss party organizational matters. Following that, Mr. HANADA, Takeshiro will formally announce the name of the party and its principles, after which Mr. ITO, Gorowill read the declaration of principles and Mr. TAKAHASHI. Shuhei will explain its immediate policies.

The remainder of the program will consist of the election of chairman, a chief secretary, a chairman of the committee for Formulating Policy, directors of the party, and others.

The chair will be taken alternately by about 10 staff members of the committee for the present. An additional 30 or 40 permanent members and 20 or 30 staff members will be elected.

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POLITICAL SERIES: 22 (Continued)

ITEM 5 The last struggle of the Ultra Militarists - Tokyo Shimbun - 16 November 45. Translator: J. Weiller.

Full translation:

At 1045 at night on 14 August 1945, a historic council was opened in the presence of the Emperor. The meeting was initiated by His Majesty. All ministers of state, and military and naval chiefs were present.

YABE, The Chief of Business Affairs bureau of the JAPAN Broadcasting Society, was informed by telephone that, as the Emperor's voice would be recorded at once, he should proceed to the Palace with recording equipment. YABE, accompanied by several other officials and technicians, went to the Palace, At the same time, air raid sirens were blasting all over TOKYO.

The Cabinet decided on a plan and adjourned at midnight.

His Majesty, accompanied by the Minister of the Imperial Household ISHIWATARI, and Lord Chamberlain FUJITA, went into the recording room, where the Emperor read the edict for the termination of the war. Two records were cut.

The Emperor's announcement was scheduled to be broadcast at noon on 15 August. The discs were left in the Palace that night. They were to be taken to the studio the next morning. At 1:30 in the morning YABE and the others left the Palace and approached SAKASHITA Gate. There they were stopped by a group of armed soldiers. The young officer in charge ordered YABE and the others to drive to NIJUBASHI, the front entrance of the palace.

In the guard room they found CHIMOMUHA, Chief of the Intelligence Bureau, and two other officials, YABE knew for the first time that the armed soldiers advocated "resistance to the last."

Then 350 B-29's flew over TOKYO and raided the TAKASAKI and KUMAGAYA districts.

The guardhouse was surrounded by soldiers with bayonets. Conversation in the room was absolutely forbidden. After a while several young officers of the Guard appeared and asked YABE the whereabouts of the records. The latter quietly denied any knowledge of them. On hearing the answer, an unnamed Major of the guard used the phone to order a search for the records. He then told YABE to accompany him to the recording room. YABE found the road to the recording room lined by guards with rifles, bayonets, and machine guns. However, the door to the recording room was locked.

The Major questioned YABE and the others about the location of the records. He demanded that ARAKAWA, chief technician of the broadcasting station, accompany him to the studio. It is believed that he intended to stop the broadcast at the last moment.

After further questioning, the officers in charge of the armed guard decided YABE and the others did not have the records and did not know where they were, so they released the men and allowed them to go home.

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POLITICAL SERIES: 22 (Continued)

ITEM 6 Konoe announces Constitutional Revision - Asahi Shimbun - 16 Nov 45. Translator: A. Kido.

Summary:

Abolition of the position of Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal will take place at the end of the month. The following is a description of the part played by Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal.

Prince KONOE, since his appointment as a court official to Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal, has been occupied with a preparatory investigation on Constitutional Revisions with the result that a definite plan has now been completed. Prince KONOE, therefore, is going to report to the Throne on about the 20th on revising the Constitution. Only the outline of the revision will be revealed, and subsequently Prince KONOE is expected to be relieved of his post as a court official.

The abolition of the position of Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal will probable take place in the last ten days of November. Then the office, which has long acted as a liason organ between the Throne and the Diet, and has had an outstanding role in forming cabinets, declaring war, bringing peace, and so on, will come to an end.

ITEM 7 Creation of National Liberation Union by the Communist Party - Asahi Shimbun - 16 Nov 45. Translator: K. Murakami.

Summary:

The Nippon Communist Party, advocating the formation of a popular front, decided to form the National Liberation Union in various districts as a means of facilitating action. The Communist Party will, through this union, call on the Socialist Party, labor unions, farmer's unions, the Korean's League, the Cultural Federation and other bodies and persons for a united front. Some preparatory committees of the union have already been formed at TOKYO, OSAKA, KOBE, KYOTO, TOTTORI, and KOCHI.

At present, the Communist Party does not go beyond its two-point program, 1) Overthrow of the. Emperor, 2) Establishment of a Republican Government by the people, in order to encourage every body and party to join the Union.

The party also points to the following goals: dissolution of antidemocratic bodies, exact punishment of war criminals, shortening of working hours, establishment of minimum wage system, raising of wages, unconditional forfeiture of illegally owned property and its free distribution to farmers, reduction or abolition of farm rent, opposition to acquisition of large tracts be landowners, public control of food and essential goods, guarantee of residence rights, and opposition to militaristic and imperialistic law and education system.

It is remarkable that the party has changed its former policy to a more practical one. According to recent statements, its fundamental tenets state: "We do not utterly refute capitalism; workers must increase production rather than strike and will definitely support a democratic cabinet under the Emperor."

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