Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0023, 1945-11-26.
Date26 November, 1945
RepositoryRauner Special Collections Library, Dartmouth College.
Call Numberpolitical-0098
Call NumberDS801 .S85
Persistent Identifier
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POLITICAL SERIES: 23
ITEM 1 Disposition of war Supplies Is Still Problem - Asahi Shimbun - 16 Nov 45. Translator:
H.
Takahashi.
Summary:
Disposition of war Supplies Still Undecided.
It is now known that tons of war supplies were illegally disposeds of at the end
of the war. The confusion among the civil and
military population at that time cannot be accepted as an excuse. Many soldiers looted
stores, inciting the people and
aggravating the food shortage.
The war and many Ministries have promised a complete investigation. The results of
this investigation will probably not be
made public soon.
The authorities ordered soldiers to sell no war supplies to civilians after 29 August
and at the same time ordered the
collection of all supplies sold illegally up to that time. The Vice-Minister of War
is in charge of distribution of surplus
property, but so far little has been accomplished, Criminals are rarely apprehended
because of a lack of investigation
personnel. The same situation is true of the Navy because Military police or soldiers
have been demobilized and, therefore, it
is impossible to investigate into crimes thoroughly. The number of cases which the
YOKOSUKA Naval station has examined up to
now reaches 500, but no general officers, many of whom should have been investigated,
have been touched.
An unarmed captain sold lumbering implements valued at 1,000,000 yen. A sub-lieutenant
was arrested on the charge of
transporting three freight cars full of ship fittings to CHIBA prefecture. A captain
is being investigated for concealing 20
bales of rice in his house.
The above mentioned facts are a few uncovered examples, but many still remain unknown.
In view of this the public has
complained and the Military Court, which aimed only at regaining things illegally
disposed of, has decided to punish
criminals.
ITEM 2 A Governmental Order - Asahi Shimbun - 16 Nov 45. Translator: K. Murakami.
Full Translation:
According to a Governmental Order issued on 16 November, the Military Governor, ICHIHARA,
Fumi, has been appointed Public
Presecutor, and the Engineer of the Home Ministry, UCHIMURA, Saburo, has resigned
from his position at his own request.
POLITICAL SERIES: 23 (Continued)
ITEM 3 Mr. GOKO ([illegible]) Denies GIFT to TOJO - Tokushima shimbun - 12 Nov 45. K.
Murakami.
Extracts:
Mr. GOKO, Kiyoshi President of MITSUBISHI Heavy Industries, returned hurriedly to
TOKYO on 9 November from a trip to ITO, and
reported as follows, concerning the donation of ¥10,000,000 to General TOJO, which
was announced by the Public Relations
Office of General Headquarters.
"I heard of announcement from the Public Relation Office during my trip. I was never
concerned in the affair of the donation.
As a matter of fact, I have never had any relation with political circles, and as
for TOJO, I am not acquainted with him or
with any of his family. I have requested re-investigation of this affair of the Public
Relations Office through the Central
Liaison Office."
ITEM 4 Friendly Relations with Soviet and China - Mainichi Shimbun - 16 Nov 45. Translator:
J.
Weiller.
Extracts:
New Men As Central Figures Friendly Relations with Soviet and China views by Dr.
Latimore on Future of Japan
Doctor Owen LATIMORE, who arrived in TOKYO on the seventh with the UNITED STATES
Reparation Commission, is known in the UNITED
STATES as one of the few men well versed in Far Eastern affairs. He is playing an
important role in American post-war far
Eastern policy. His book, "Solution in ASIA", has aroused world-wide discussion over
problems confronting JAPAN. Before the
war he was a political adviser to the CHUNGKING Government, and was an authority on
the thought propaganda campaign as Chief
of the pacific Region of AMERICA's Wartime Intelligence Bureau. The following is a,
part of his book dealing with the
disposition of JAPAN, as cabled by SAKURA, Jungu MAINICHI's correspondent in LISBON.
His candid views on the dissolution of
the ZAIBATSU, the direction of our democracy and on the Emperor system give clues
to AMERICA's future policy toward
JAPAN:
"As a result of a half-hearted industrialization after the MEIJI Restoration, feudal
classes still remained in the highest
position politically. But at the same tire, peculiarly enough, these classes proved
beneficial for JAPAN's trade and industry
overseas. On the other hand, due to the impoverishment of the farmers, surplus labor
was absorbed by the factories at low
wages. In this way the country established a peculiar system by connecting the monopolized
industries with feudalistic
agriculture. Here is the development of JAPAN anomalous Imperiarism.
The two questions puzzling AMERICANS, that is, JAPAN's surplus population and the
possibility of democracy for her in the
future, can be solved from the above viewpoint. As the poverty of farming districts
can be closely connected with the
mechanization of agriculture, the surplus population problem can be solved by elevating
the level of economic and social life
by perfecting the capitalistic system. As for democracy in the future, it is not impossible
when viewed historically, and can
be accomplished through social revolution.
Regarding the Emperor System, Japanese democracy can not be accomplished by merely
alterning the Emperor's status but it
necessitates a democratic change throughout the whole society. There is no essential
distinction between the Militarists and
Liberals in JAPAN. The old styled Liberals
- 2 -
POLITICAL SERIES: 23 (Continued)
ITEM 4 (Continued)
like KONOE and others, were like SCHACHT in GERMANY. The difference between the two
being in their opinions concerning methods
of aggression. This current consistently ran through Japanese history.
From the above, conclusions can be arrived at as to measures to be taken against
JAPAN but there is one condition which must
be fulfilled before these measures can be taken, Namely, there must be no war among
the Allies and no counter measure set up
by one ally against the other in anticipation of war. As far as Japanese industry
is concerned, it cannot be a cause of
aggression in view of the lack of material in the country and its undeveloped technical
state. JAPAN's method of acquiring
overseas materials by controlling markets is automatically destroyed by her defeat
and by returning occupied territories to
former owners.
Regarding the monarchial system observers are at the moment, unanimous in refusing
to commit themselves and evading
responsibility as to its maintenance or abolition. A certain section advocates non-intervention,
while the other supports
intervention or utilization of the Emperor. I think, if we do not step into the matter,
the Japanese people will solve the
question of the monarchy by themselves. If the nation carries on without the Emperor,
well and good; if not, the Allies can
step in and exterminate the militarist so that there will be no more need for using
the monarchial system to keep order. I
personally believe in a republican system for future JAPAN. In view of Soviet and
Chinese policies, the central figures who
will appear in the limelight of future JAPAN will necessarily be new and leading elements
will be composed of leftists or, at
least, liberals who will maintain friendly relations with SOVIET RUSSIA and CHINA."
ITEM 5 The Japan Progressive Party Inaugural Meeting - Asahi Shimbun - 17 Nov 45.
Translator: H.
Kato.
Summary:
The Japan Progressive Party (SHIMPOTO) was formally inaugurated at a meeting held
at MARUNOUCHI Hall Friday afternoon.
Following the election of Mr. SAITO, Takao to chairmanship, Mr. TOGO, Minoru explained
the object and process of organizing
the party and, announced its name, He further explained the declaration, principles,
and policies of the party. These were
approved by those present. Then the election of the secretary, the chief secretary,
the president of the Committee for
Formulating policy, and other officers of the party took place.
The policies are as follows:
Measures for prevention of famine.
- 1.Demand for a daily ration of nutritious food consisting of three go of rice.
- 2.Remove control of food distributes from the hands of the bureaucrats, and place it in the hands of independent, co-operative unions.
- 3.Ensure rationing of food held by farmers.
- 4.Ensure distribution of necessary commodities to needy farmers.
- 5.Make available for cultivation those lands now idle.
- 3 -
-
POLITICAL SERIES: 23 (Continued)
ITEM 5 (Continued) - 6.Increase production of exported goods to be used to obtain necessary imports, using national treasures and other valuables. as import-import collateral.
Prevention of inflation.
- 1.Increase production and balance demand and supply.
- 2.Reduce national expenditures, taxing, property and war-profit.
- 3.Issue new currency and lower the purchasing power.
Prevention of unemployment.
- 1.Give employment to all the nation.
- 2.Hasten the increase of trade and industry especially medium and small trade and industry.
- 3.Carry out the construction of roads, railways, dams, harbors and rivers; reclaim waste lands, reforest, and establish public works on the bases of a natural plan.
Help for war-victims
- 1.Abolish promptly various control laws related to lumber, buildings, etc.
- 2.Open large residences and idle buildings to the public.
- 3.Make military clothing available to air-raid victims.
- 4.Give ether unused clothings to the public.
- 5.Facilitate the supply of repair materials.
Measures for the relief of compatriots abroad, and measures for the revision of the
judicial system.
- 1.Revise various laws which are not democratic.
- 2.Improve the position of local officials and do away with judges who are subservient to public opinion, and simplify judicial procedure.
The party has no president right now, but Mr. MATSUDA, Takechio and other members
propose that the president be a member of
the House of Representatives, and that he be chosen promptly. Mr. TOGO, a director,
replied that the executive body would take
steps to have a president chosen soon.
The officers chosen follow; —-
Business managers:
ICHINOMIYA, Fusajiro; IMAI, Takehiko; KATO, Ryogoro; SAKUTA, Tekataro; SAITO, Takao;
TANABE, Hichiroku; TAKAHASHI, Shuhei;
TOGO, Minoru; NAKAIGAWA, Hiroshi; HAKKAKU, Saburo.
Chief of the standing committee
KAWASAKI, Koku.
- 4 -
POLITICAL SERIES: 23 (Continued)
ITEM 5 (Continued)
Chief secretary
TSURUMI, Yusuke
President of the committee for formulating policy
OTA, Masataka.
President of the members for the House of Representatives
IKEDA, Hideo
ITEM 6 Japanese Trials to Be Speedily Despatched - Yomiuri Shimbun - 17 Nov. 45. Translator:
N.
Tachibana.
Extracts:
Mr. KEENAN, Chief deputy of the trial of Japanese war criminals, after an interview
with president TRUMAN and Attorney-General
CLARK, said, "Trials of Japanese war criminals will be carried out as rapidly as possible."
Mr. KEENAN is to leave for JAPAN
about 1 December.
ITEM 7 Korean League Asks Independence - Yomiuri Shimbun - 17 Nov 45. Translator:
N. Tachibana.
Extracts:
The young Koreans Promotion League (Chosen Kenkoku Sokushin Seinen Domei), which
is going to develop a united movement of all
Koreans in JAPAN in order to gain complete independence for KOREA, held the first
grand meeting of representatives from the
whole country at 1300 16 December on the 5th floor of the HIBIYA Aviation Building.
Four thousand Koreans who gathered from
all parts of the country filled the hall. Discussions were carried under such slogans
as, "Work for the liberation of small
and weak nations of the world", "Let youth establish international social justice",
and "Promote the repatriation of our
brothers".
They took an oath to endeavour devotedly to win complete independence by overcoming
all difficulties. Moreover, delegations of
youths of Japanese, Philippine, Chinese, Annamese, and Indonesian races delivered
fervent congratulatory addresses and
supported the movement.
DISTRIBUTION "X"
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