Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0037, 1945-11-22.

Full Translation:

The Office of the Keeper of the Privy Seal is definitely to be abolished. The draft of a reply to the Three on the constitutional revision framed by the officials of the Office of the Keeper of the Privy Seal with Prince KONOE, Fumimaro as chairman, also has been completed.

In a few days. Prince KONOE, Fumimaro is to proceed to the Imperial Throne and reply to the Throne. On 24 November the Office of the Keeper of the Privy Seal will, be abolished.

Extracts:

The Council of Administrative Organization Reform was held at the official residence of the Premier on 22 November, with Home Minister -HORIKIRI, Finance Minister SHIBUSAWA, Justice Minister IWATA, Education Minister MAEDA, ministers without Portfolio MATSOMOTO and TSUGITA and others in charge.

They conferred on the administrative structure reform, the problems of organization of ministries, structure of local administration, especially on the Do and Fu[illegible]system, the public election of Prefectural governors, and self-administration of local provinces.

Extracts:

Dr. Herbert Evatt, chairman of the policy committee of the Far Eastern Advisory Commission, announced that the control plan to be delivered to General Douglas MacARTHUR from the United States government will include a[illegible]pr[illegible]posal from the commission recommending a big change in the government of Japan.

Full Translation:

The first conference of the Deliberative Council of the Board of Peerage and Heraldry discussing the reform of the Peerage System was

POLITICAL SERIES: [illegible](Continued)

ITEM 4 (Continued)

held with Count KOD[illegible]MA as chairman in a council room of the Ministry of the Imperial Household on the 22 November. At this conference were present NASA, MUBOTA, USHIO, Councillors of the Privy Council, Prince TAKATSULASA, Marouis HOSOKAWA, Count KODAMA, Viscount OKOCHI, Baron HGASHIKUSE, representatives of each peerage, YAMANASHI, Head of the Peers' School and other high officials of the Ministry of the Imperial Household, as well as ISHIWATA, Minister of the Imperial Household and MATSUDAIEA, President of the Board of Peerage and Heraldry.

The object of the first conference was little more than the preparation of the agenda and, the conference ended at 14.00. The second conference is expected to he held on 26 November.

Revision of the Peerage Law must be taken up together with reform of the House of Peers, and the Deliberative Council is doing this. When any of the Peerage Laws can be taken up separately from those of the House of Peers, it is done so as quickly as possible. Consequently, the problems of the abolition of titles and of the inheritance of assets, which have no relation to the political privileges of peers, of are expected to be dealt with shortly.

Full Translation:

Since his acceptance of the Imperial order for revising the Constitution on 11 October, Prince KONOE has been discussing the bill that is to be submitted t[illegible]the Throne with Dr. SASAKI, but on 22 November at 11556, he proceeded to the Imperial Palace and after consulting with KIDO, Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal, was granted an audience. At 14.00, he reported the bill to the Throne. After making the report, he left the Imperial Palace at 16.3O.

This reply to the Throne is nothing but an outline in the form of summaries and does not contain the each article of the Constitution in detail. With his reply to the Throne, Prince KONOE will be freed from his position as a court official. After he left the Imperial Palace, he said, "His Majesty, the Emperor, was glad to accept our bill so I was set free from my important duty."

Summary:

Revision of the electoral district system and the number of representatives, to be elected were finally, decided upon at the Cabinet meeting on 22 November. They were immediately referred to the Privy Council for deliberation.

In the following revised table, composed according to the census of 1 November, the total number of representatives is 468, representing an increase of two. Thus, the rate of representation is one to 155,560. A prefecture with an allotment of over 15 representatives will usually be divided into two or three election districts. According to this table of allotments, HOKKAIDO, with an allotment of 23, tops are prefectures. No prefecture is divided into three election districts and only seven have two election districts, TOKYO, HOKKAIDO, OSAICA, HYOGC, "NIIGATA, AICHI and FUKCOKA.

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POLITICAL SERIES [illegible](Continued)

ITEM 6 (Continued)

Allotment of Representatives of Each district In The Seven Prefectures.

Allotment of Representatives To Each of Prefectures

Name of Prefecture Rezvised Allotement Present Number Change (* shows decreased)

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POLITICAL SERIES 37 (Continued)

ITEM 6 (Continued)

Full Translation:

At the public trial of General YAMASHIIA on 21 November 1945, the following evidence was given by Lieutenant General MUTO, Akira, Chief of Staff of the Japanese Army in the PHILIPPINES.

When the directive was issued from General YAMASHITA that the Japanese forces should be withdrawn from MANILA, the commanders of Army and Navy in the charge of defence of MANILA did not obey his order and took their own respective ways. And it was true that each division, even those under the direct control of General YAMASHIIA, was moved by its own staff's orders. Moreover, General YAMASHIIA had responsibility for the administration, but in fact the real powers were in the hand of Ambassador MURATA.

Summary:

As part of the job of tracing the guilt of those responsible for war, the political parties in the lower house are collecting material and evidence to help expose the falseness of the former "Announcements from Grand Imperial Headquarters." especially those announcements which falsified the progress of the war.

It is possible that many members of the lower house will be caught in their own trap, so to speak, by this investigation, since they were among those who applauded most loudly when false information concerning the war was disseminated by the Army and Navy Chief. Be that as it may, this investigation is a step toward anti-militarism and ultimate democracy.

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