Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0034, 1945-11-29.

Author Supreme Commander for The Allied Powers. Allied Translator and Interpreter Section.

Date29 November, 1945

RepositoryRauner Special Collections Library, Dartmouth College.

Call Numberpolitical-0133

Call NumberDS801 .S85

Persistent Identifier

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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.
  • 1.Aid town assembles and neighborhood associations to organize co-operatives.
  • 2.Change the system of food distribution, particularly in cities hard-hit by the war.
  • 3.Arrange shelter through co-operatives for the homeless.
  • 4.Reorganize co-operative relief associations and mutual aid groups which sponsor such programs as National health insurance.
  • 5.To remove insurance for birth, death, marriage, education etc. from private hands and set up co-operatives to handle this kind of insurance.
  • 6.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.
  • 7.Help mechanize agriculture, as well as introduce small, non-seasonal, precision industries such as watch making, into farming communities.
  • 8.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:
  • 1.Special Committee on revising the Diet System, with TAGO, Kazutami, as chairman.
  • 2.Food and Forest System Counter-measure Special Committee, with Mr. KOTANA, Kenichi, as chairman.
  • 3.Inflation Counter-measure Special Committee, with Mr. NATSUMURA, Mitsuzo, as chairman.
  • 4.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:
  • 1.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.
  • 2.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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