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Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0034, 1945-11-29.
translation-number: political-0133
call-number: DS801 .S85
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS
SUPREME COMMANDER FOR THE ALLIED POWERS
ALLIED TRANSLATOR AND INTERPRETER SECTION
PRESS TRANSLATIONS
No. 133 Date: 29 Nov 45
POLITICAL SERIES: 34
ITEM 1 Japan Co-operative Societies' League - Yomiuri Hochi - 19 Nov 45. Translator:
K. Murakami.
Full Translation:
A general meeting to establish the JAPAN Co-operative Societies' League was held
on 18 November at the KURAMAE Industry Hall.
ARIMA, Rainei; KAGAWA, Toyohiko; S[illegible]NGOKU, Kotaro; and SHITATE, Tetsujiro, as well as 200 other representatives from fishing
guilds, farmers' Societies,
and banking, commercial and co-operative groups attended the meeting.
The following program was drafted under Chairman KAGAWA.
| Aid town assembles and neighborhood associations to organize co-operatives. |
| Change the system of food distribution, particularly in cities hard-hit by the war. |
| Arrange shelter through co-operatives for the homeless. |
| Reorganize co-operative relief associations and mutual aid groups which sponsor such programs as National health insurance. |
| To remove insurance for birth, death, marriage, education etc. from private hands and set up co-operatives to handle this kind of insurance. |
| Keep in touch with agricultural societies and fishing guilds in order to establish the independence of these groups, which have long been controlled by bureaucrats. At the same time, popularize credit unions among farmers and laborers. |
| Help mechanize agriculture, as well as introduce small, non-seasonal, precision industries such as watch making, into farming communities. |
| Introduce study of co-operative methods into middle schools and universities as well as open co-operative society schools in cities and towns. |
ITEM 2 Arrest of Eleven War Criminals - Asahi Shimbun - 20 Nov 45. Translator: J.
Gorden.
Full Translation:
On 19 November, Allied Headquarters ordered the arrest and detention of eleven war
criminals.
POLITICAL SERIES: 34 (Continued)
ITEM 2 (Continued)
Included in the group are General ARAKI, Sada[illegible], an ultra-militarist. As Education Minister in 1938-39, he introduced nationalist
reforms in education.
He also backed TOJO.
General HONJO, Shigiri, Commander-in-Chief of the KWANTUNG Army from 1931 to 35,
was named responsible for the Manchurian incident.
KANCKOGI, Kazunobu a member of the Black Dragon Society and close friend of TUYAMA
is accused of advising the Imperial Rule Assistance Association.
General KOISO, Kuniaki, while Premier, advocated expansion into CHINA and SOUTH ASIA.
He served as Staff in the KWA[illegible]TUNG Army from 1932-35.
KU[illegible]ARA, Fusanosuke, also a friend and supporter of Baron TAN[illegible]KA is implicated in February 26 incident.
KUZUU, Yoshihira, leader of Black Dragon Society since 1937 became manager of Imperial
Rule Assistance Association in 1944.
MATSUOKA, Yosuke served as Foreign Minister from 1940-41, adbocating territorial
expansion. He was instrumental in signing the Tri-Partite Alliances.
General MATSUI, Iwane, a radical army group leader who advocated [illegible]"ASIA for the Asiatics", was once Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Expeditionary
Forces in CHINA and is held responsible for the Rape of NANKING, as well as the bombing
of the PANAY and LADY BIRD.
General MAZAKI, Jinsaburo, friend of KOISO and ARAKI, was a member of Supreme War
Council in 1936, and military adviser to the Japanese Expeditionary Forces in CHINA
in 1944.
General MINAMI, Jiro was War Minister in 1941, Governor-General of KOREA from 1936
to 1942, as well as President of the JAPAN Political Association, 1945.
SHIRATOXI, Toshi[illegible]Japanese Ambassoder to K[illegible]ME in1939-40, stated publicly in March 1941, his desire to drive all whites from
ASIA.
ITEM 3 Japan Progressive Party's Special Committies on Investigating Urgent Questions
- Yomiuri Hochi - 20 Nov 45. Translator: A. Kido.
Summary:
In order to investigate important questions the following special committees will
be organized by the JAPAN Progressive Party:
| Special Committee on revising the Diet System, with TAGO, Kazutami, as chairman. |
| Food and Forest System Counter-measure Special Committee, with Mr. KOTANA, Kenichi, as chairman. |
| Inflation Counter-measure Special Committee, with Mr. NATSUMURA, Mitsuzo, as chairman. |
| War-damage and Unemployment Special Committee, with Mr. UCHIGASAKI, Sakusaburo, as chairman. |
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POLITICAL SERIES: 34 (Continued)
ITEM 3 (Continued)
The party has made ready to tackle questions concerning overseas Japanese nationials,
measures for repatriation, the judical system, and the administrative organs, and
is going to
consider plans at the political Adjusting Board of Director's meeting to be held at
four o'clock in the afternoon of the 20th, at the NIS[illegible]I GINZA
Office. The plans will subsequently be submitted to the general meeting for deliberation
in regard to starting regular investigations.
ITEM 4 Draft of the Bill for Agricultural Land System to be Subjected to a Revision
- Asahi Shimbun - 20 Nov 45. Translator: S. Sano.
Full Translation:
After careful revision, the draft of the Agricultural Land System Revision Bill appears
to have been decided by the regular Cabinet Meeting on 20 November.
This draft was brought up before the Cabinet Meeting on the 16 November but was not
passed upon at that meeting. Then the draft was transferred to the conference of the
Ministers
connected with Economics, where it seems to have been revised after discussion.
The following two problems are not settled as yet:
| If the Government lends money at low interest without any restriction to the farmer for the purchase of land, there is the danger of further inflation, for the farmer will be apt to rely upon borrowed money and use his own cash for other purposes. On the other hand, if the Government sets restriction on low interest loans, some farmers will be driven to borrow money from other sources. Accordingly, the method of lending money ought to be reconsidered. |
| The plan of limmiting land to three chobu uniformly all over the country is not proper because it ignores conditions peculiar to each district. |
A compromise plan is to be discussed and a revised draft based on the Agriculture
and Forestry Ministry's plan is to be settled at the Cabinet Meeting on 20 November.
ITEM 5 Opinion On The Past of The House of Representatives in The Election Law Revision
Bill - Osaka Shimbun - 16 Nov 45. Translator: H. Kato.
Summary:
A bill for revising the Election Law is expected to be submitted by the Government
in the coming extraordinary Diet session. Critical views of the Diet concerning this
bill,
especially in regard to the Limited List System contained therein, are reported to
be so serious that it is doubted whether the bill will pass.
However, in view of the fact that in spite of a threatening situation on the part
of the Diet members, the Government dares to call an extraordinary Diet session, it
may safely be
said that the Government is sure of its passage.
The gist of the Election Law Revision draft was formally decided upon at a Cabinet
Meeting on 6 November and the Government has been, sounding out members of the Diet
about their
views on the contents of the plan through the Diet Councils. The latter has requested
some amendments of the Government draft to comply with the suggestions received from
the
Special Committee for examining the House of Representatives System. The Government
will hold a liazon meeting of the
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POLITICAL SERIES: 34 (Continued)
ITEM 5 (Continued)
Diet Councils on 16 November at the residence of the Prime Minister to reach the
final decision.
The main points of the amendment follow: The current figures of voters in the Limited
List System are to be amended so that the number of representatives voted for is increased
somewhat. The election will be brought home to the public so as to overcome the shortage
of printing paper and automobiles. Letter campaigns will be prohibited, except for
the
Election Gazette, and free postal matter will be prohibited. Therefore, announcements
of oratorical meetings and other notices will be made known to all through neighborhood
associations. Large scale use of radio broadcasting is not yet available, and as it
has certain baneful influences, its use will probably be suspended for a while.
Furthermore, it is obvious that the Government plan for Election Law Revision is
not advantageous to new parties, and that an early general election will hurt their
campaigns.
Thus the Communist Party has already issued a statement against the plan. Now, when
resources, transport and communication facilities, are unavailable, it is a matter
of great
concern what tactics new figures, especially proletarian candidates short of funds,
will take in an electoral campaign. Nevertheless, the question of whether the nation
can conduct
a fair election in its present condition is an important matter involving the future
of JAPAN.
ITEM 6 "The Illusion of Red Terror" - Asahi Shimbun - 20 Nov 45. Translator: H. Furukawa.
Full Translation:
"I wish to reply to the contribution by KENSHI, Taharu, which was published in this
column on 17 November. Under the title "The Communists and the Red Terror".
As you said, it was a real fact that a few men burst into the memorial meeting for
victims held at KANDA, and cries of "Here comes the reactionaries!" were heard. I
wonder,
however, if you heard the cries, "the police are coming" and "Don't let them flee."
The commotion lasted only a few seconds, and everyone who was there knows, that my
neighbor quited the outburst by crying loudly, "Be quiet, comrades, your uproar gives
a chance to
our opponents!" Every one listened silently to the names of the victims being read
alowd. It would be said only by you who, "ran from the hall as if driven out in the
excess of
consternation and horror".
And next, your statement that the slogan read "Down with White Terror" was hung in
the front of the lecture-hall is also ridiculously false. In the front of the hall
there were
photographs of the victims, wrapped with red flags.
I think there is still room for reform in the Communist Party, but still the Communist
Party is surely a real friend of the poor laborers. The condition of the meeting held
on 7
November was as I've stated above. Many other witnesses will prove my statement correct."
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