Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0039, 1945-11-29.

Full Translation:

How unpleasant our experiences were at various Government offices during the war because of the bureaucratic attitude toward the people. Now that the war is over, and the cry for a democracy sweeps the country, how much of an attempt have the government offices made to satisfy the people's demand? Democracy in Government offices is nothing else than sweeping away bureaucratic red tape and endeavoring to achieve speedy transactions of business for the people's benefit. No doubt each department is working, we must admit, for that end, but from the viewpoint of the general public, many of whom are wandering about starving, the behavior of each government office is not far short of sabotage. As long as the present condition continues the goal is still miles away. Now, let us look into some of the offices.

Metropolitan Board: Advisory offices were set up at the main office as well as the Ward Offices for the benefit of war calamity sufferers, demobilized service men and for the distribution of rations. The intention is good enough but the officials who handle the business, unable to shake off the long habits of bureaucracy, are defeating their own good intentions. Try though they may to break bottle necks, under the present organization which requires two weeks for action to process one paper, democracy cannot be realized. The officials' never changing apology is "no instructions from the central authorities." The vigorous, independent spirit of the old days of city administration has been wiped out. On the other hand there is the autonomy of the street associations and the neighborhood association in which the spirit swelling up from underneath, is still being repressed with the statement. "It is dangerous to let go of the reins before the new groups are fully trained." Before democracy will be seen in the metropolitan system various measure must be worked out, including public elections of the chief officer and chiefs of the wards and the extension of authority of the member of the Metropolitan Council.

Metropolitan Police Board: With "public service" as its aim, the Board has, abolished the Special Police and Intelligence Section, shifted personnel and reformed its organization. They are planning to transfer and retire the chiefs of various police stations. As for the police department, "I cannot help but feel that the citizens are growing farther away from us day by day," confessed an officer in a certain police station. "Personally we wish to do away with sabres, and shoulder straps and become the people's friends, but those in control wish otherwise. We must simply obey their orders. Under the present system a fundamental reform seems impossible. Besides, with the present salaries we can never carry on. At the present rate our pockets will be empty in a couple of month's time. Our topmost worries are how to get on from day to day." This is a rather discouraging

POLITICAL SERIES: 39 (Continued)

ITEM 1 (Continued)

comment on the proposed popularization of the police.

Ministry of Transportation: Though a Government office; this Ministry, together with the Communication Department, has a daily direct contact with the public, and, therefore, at one time conducted itself like a true servant of the people. However during the past eight years of war it too has become bureaucratic. Fortunately, however, they have changed since the termination of the war. According to Mr. INO, chief of the Railroad Bureau, "The State railroad does not mean a railroad for the state; it should be a railroad for the people and for society, and here lies the original mission of the state railroad. Despite this obvious fact, at the time of the CHINA incident, in order to win the war, it changed from the people's railroad to that of the State. Democracy of the transportation system is not a new phenomenon at all. It simply means to restore the railroad to its original owner’s the people. The employees must be re-educated in order for them to become once more servants of the people. Recently, each bureau weeded out a considerable number of employees, whose way of attending to their duties was not up to standard. The callous marks, which were called the symbols of the railroad's bureaucracy and militarism, have been eliminated. The aim of the business reform campaign, which started on the 1st November on all lines, is to bring democracy to transportation. I hope the date is not far away when the State railroad goes back to the people."

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry: "Since Mr. MATSUMURA has been installed as minister, officials are encouraged to cut through red tape without always going "through channels."

Ministry of Commerce and Industry: The pressure of time now demands the people's co-operation, without which the wheels of this production department cannot run smoothly. Already as new advisory organs, composed of members of both Houses of the Diet, scholors and experts, has been set up to aid the administration. Mr. SHIINA, the vice-minister and the Chiefs of General Affairs, Fibre, and Fuel Bureaus have all been accused as war criminals and retired. Also, the infamous "stamp administration" is gradually being broken up. Before, in order to decide one business transaction, sometimes as many as 35 stamps were required. This was later cut to ten, and now it is three.

Courts of Justice: The cries for "liberty" which are new filling the streets are not making the slightist impression on the courts of justice. During the three month post-war period justice has been administered at the same snail's pace as during the war. According to the rules, all officials are expected to be in by [illegible]900, but actually after 1000 not more than ten per cent are seen in their offices, and at 14300 all hasten home. A certain lawyer remarked with a sigh, "unlike the administrative department, the progress of the judicial department is deplorable - democracy here is only a dream.

Full Translation:

The Japanese Liberal Party held a meeting of directors on 25 November, at the office of TOKIWAYA, and agreed on the following two points:

• 1.Several persons among those who intend to join the party must be refused membership because they had positively assisted in the continuation of the War.
• 2.President HATOYAMA ([illegible]) would be the first party spokesman to - 2-

•   POLITICAL SERIES: 39 (Continued) ITEM 2 (Continued) question Premier SHIDEHARA's ([illegible]) speech on the administration, and if one more is permitted to speak, Mr. ANDO, Masazumi ([illegible]) would do so.

On the same day the party made a report to the House of Representatives as one of the Public Relations Groups.

Full Translation:

The Nippon Communist Party, which has been preparing for the Extraordinary Session of the Diet and the comming general election decided the following at their permanent committee meeting on 26 November.

DISTRIBUTE "X"

- 3 -