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Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0023, 1945-11-26.
translation-number: political-0098
call-number: DS801 .S85
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS
SUPREME COMMANDER FOR THE ALLIED POWERS
ALLIED TRANSLATOR AND INTERPRETER SECTION
PRESS TRANSLATIONS
No. 98 Date: 26 Nov 45
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
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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.
| Demand for a daily ration of nutritious food consisting of three go of rice. |
| Remove control of food distributes from the hands of the bureaucrats, and place it in the hands of independent, co-operative unions. |
| Ensure rationing of food held by farmers. |
| Ensure distribution of necessary commodities to needy farmers. |
| Make available for cultivation those lands now idle. - 3 - |
|
POLITICAL SERIES: 23 (Continued) ITEM 5 (Continued) |
| 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.
| Increase production and balance demand and supply. |
| Reduce national expenditures, taxing, property and war-profit. |
| Issue new currency and lower the purchasing power. |
Prevention of unemployment.
| Give employment to all the nation. |
| Hasten the increase of trade and industry especially medium and small trade and industry. |
| 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
| Abolish promptly various control laws related to lumber, buildings, etc. |
| Open large residences and idle buildings to the public. |
| Make military clothing available to air-raid victims. |
| Give ether unused clothings to the public. |
| Facilitate the supply of repair materials. |
Measures for the relief of compatriots abroad, and measures for the revision of the
judicial system.
| Revise various laws which are not democratic. |
| 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.
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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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