Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0158, 1946-01-06.
Date6 January, 1946
RepositoryRauner Special Collections Library, Dartmouth College.
Call Numberpolitical-0675
Call NumberDS801 .S85
Persistent Identifier
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POLITICAL SERIES: 158
ITEM 1 How About a Popular Front?- Mainichi Shimbun - 7 Jan 46. Trans-Lator: R. Ochiai.
Summary:
For a long time united democratic parties have campaigned against feudalistic parties.
It is because of this popular front
principle that the leftist party, the Communist, has become the majority party in
FRANCE. What about such a front for JAPAN?
In answer to this question, there are three opinions.
Mr. KATAYAMA, Tetsu, the Chief secretary of the Social-Democratic Party, said, "We
do not yet know which party is really the
democratic one. Each party has its own principles so that if the supposed democratic
parties, such as the Liberal, Communist
and Social Democratic, begin campaigning together, there may arise some friction.
We have different opinions on the Emperor
system, on labor unions, and other issues. Though some of our members in AOMORI, MITO,
and OKAYAMA are trying to do away with
the feudalistic powers with the aid of the Communists, I do not think this is the
general practice. Abolition of capitalism
and establishment of socialism are planks in our platforms which differ from others."
Mr. SUGIMORI, Kojiro, WASEDA professor, stated, "The Cabinet should resign in bloc
instead of having new and incompetent
ministers appointed to the vacated posts. To put the right man in the right place
becomes our first object. Considering which
policy is most important and urgent for JAPAN, they must decide on the right Cabinet,
which can meet its responsibility.
Coalition among democratic parties are much talked about. There is discussion on whether
the Social Democratic Party should
join with only the Liberal Party or whether it will be letter to join with the Communist
also. However, the methods of
combining are beside the point. The parties should all try to find the right person
for the right position."
HOSEI University professor, HORI, Makoto, saii, "Certain of becoming the majority
party, the Social Democrats refuse to have a
single front with the Communists. But following the examples set in EUROPE, a coalition
Cabinet is most advisable for
establishing democracy in our country."
ITEM 2 Gloomy Sunday for the Purged - Yomiuri Hochi - 7 Jan 46. Translator: R. Kitayama.
Summary:
Last Sunday all the militarists of Japan were summarily deposed of, On that ominous
day, when the SHIDEHARA Cabinet was
threatened with failure, the Premier himself was confined to his home at 1218, OKA-MOTO-Cho,
SETAGAYA-Ku. How did the Premier,
confined to his bed, feal when he heard the news?
POLITICAL SERIES: 158 (Continued)
ITEM 2 (Continued)
His residence located near the TAMA River, was very still early Sunday morning. His
front door, on which hangs a sign reading
"Branch Office of HAYAMA Agricultural Company", was tightly locked. Upon inquiry,
Secretary KISHI appeared, and replied that
the Premier was better, but would nevertheless see nobody. Premier SHIDEHARA had assumed
his post, believing himself capable
of building a democratic Japan by dint of his own strength. What might he be thinking,
I wondered?
At the official residence of the Premier were assembled jeeps in which foreign reporters
had driven up early in the morning.
The Cabinet meeting scheduled at 1000 hour, was half an hour late. Welfare Minister
ASHIDA and Chief of the Legislation Bureau
NARAHASHI did not make their appearance. Upon inquiry I was told that they were on
a trip seeking rice. Soon after,
Vice-Secretary MIYOSEI appeared in the pressmen's room, announcing, "Publication of
the dismissal of officials will not be
made for a few days, as it is necessary to tender this to the Privy Council for sanction.
The breakup of the right wing bodies
will immediately be published under an urgent ordinance in accordance with the Potsdam
Declaration." So saying, he left
hurriedly.
Outside the room the tower of the massive Diet building seemed to be calling, "Away
with the leaders of old JAPAN." I wonder
my way to the headquarters of the Japan Communist Party at YOYOGI. They were steadily
making preparations for a wholesale
election campaign, centered about TOKUDA, KUROKI, MIYAMOTO and others. One of them
said, "With the return of NOZAKA, fortune
has begun to smile on the Party. You mention a coalition cabinet. Well, we will make
an announcement about that
tomorrow."
Next I called at the headquarters of the Social-Democratic Party. Here such leading
members as KATAYAMA, MATSUOKA, KATO,
SUZUKI, NAKANURA, ASANJKA, HARA, and HIRANO were assembled, and a conference of the
standing committee wee held at 1100. One
of them, speaking for the others, remarked, "It's absurd that the former representatives
should stand as candidates. They
should rather apologize to the Nation for their war responsibility."
ITEM 3 Will the Social-Democratic Party Split? - Yomiuri Hochi - 7 Jan 46. Translator:
T. Kitayama.
Full Translation:
As a result of the directive issued by General MacARTHUR's Headquarters, the Social-Democrat
'Party dreams of becoming the
majority party. Taking advantage of this windfall, the dissidents of the party who
have been critical of the policies and
measures taken by the leading members, have began a campaign of antagonism. To begin
with, ONO, Shunichi, who is a member of
the Central Executive Committee, has privately protested to the leaders of the Party
against the decision to support the
Emperor system and the refusal of a popular front with the Communist Party. The left
wing group of the Party, which holds an
important position, both in the central and provincial areas, has been expressing
its dissatisfaction toward the right wing
tendencies and the arbitrary measures of the staff. Some numbers of the staff continue
to disapprove of a popular front with
the Communist Party, in spite of the fact that it is essential for the actual formation
and activity of the Party.
Accordingly the loft wing members insist that the party staff should rectify such
right wing arbitrary inclinations at this
time. For this purpose, the left wing group has been discussing the problem, and in
the near future great activity is expected
on the problems of the Emperor system and the popular front.
- 2 -
POLITICAL SERIES: 158 (Continued)
ITEM 3 (Continued)
Meanwhile, the Communist Party, in response to the move of the Social Democratic
Party left wing against its staff members, is
expected to call for the unification and assembling of democratic elements, in view
of the development of the new situation
caused by MacARTHUR's directive and the return home of Secretary NOZAKA. Such being
the case, the Communist Party will in the
near future make its attitude clear in connection with the problem of formation of
a popular front. Thus the alliance of the
Social-Democratic Party with the Communist Party may be said to be on the way to realization.
DISTRIBUTION "X"
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