Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0160, 1946-01-09.
Date9 January, 1946
translation numberpolitical-0678
call numberDS801 .S85
Persistent Identifier
POLITICAL SERIES: 160
ITEM 1 Discussion between BABA and HASEGAWA-Yomiuri Hochi-7 January 1946. Translator:[illegible]Y.
Full Translation:
BABA. "It was generally believed when the Land Reform Bill hade its first appearance
that the agrarian class was a social
class heavily exploited throughout the ages and accordingly weakened. However, conditions
are much better now than they were
half a year ago. Farmers have more money now, so much so that they can easily and
light heartedly pay for goods with several
hundred yen notes".
HASEGAWA: "The fact that farmers are rich is an evidence of social security. Social
insecurity always springs from the
formers, and this is true in JAPAN as in CHINA, for they are both agricultural countries.
Farmer political parties do not
become leftist nor rightest, which accounts for the prevalence of social security.
But as witnessed in European history, the
time will come in the near future when city dwellers will constitute the center of
social unrest and disorder. In the modern
history of Europe, revolutionary movements were initiated by city dwellers, therefore,
they should be considered as urban
riots and not peasants riots. We must seriously consider this tendency. Besides, the
current farmers' security is in no way
genuine, for it is the result of the satisfaction of their desire for a possibly unjustifiable
right. If government officials
continue to make table plans and satisfy themselves with such falsified conditions
in farm villages, it would be impossible
for us to be supplied with the rice ration of 3 go."
BABA. "Therefore, it will be appreciated if political parties, which are expected
to extend into farming villages as a result
of the forth coming Diet dissolution, establish measures for saving the country, including
cities and towns, by uniting the
farmers powers. There may be some farmers who are sneering at the city dwellers difficulties
and while in ancient days the
farmers rose in revolt, we now hope they rise and by their power save the Country."
HASEGAWA. "If the farmers belong to a class which holds such an important position
as to assume responsibility for the
national life by reason of their maintaining Japanese economy, more precisely food
economy, it will be quite natural from a
democratic point of view that they should become possessors of political power. If
they are placed in a responsible position,
participating in politics, they cannot remain idle being satisfied only with their
personal stability. However, what is the
actual situation? The Government and people are still demanding that farmers be faithful
and obediant as in former days. This
is not good. If the agrarian class forms such an important part of the social struatun
that they destroy country of
unfaithful, they must take political power into themselves, instead of it being given.
In Europe where bourgeois politics are
now prevalent, a so-called modern bourgeois has come to occupy
POLITICAL SERIES: 160 (Continued)
ITEM 1 (Continued)
the positions of sustaining, the state. The Japanese bourgeois would, by reason,
be obliged, to hand over political power to
the farmers. For an agricultural country, it would be reasonable to make the farmers
take the reins of goverment. However
JAPAN seems to be lacking the courage and scientific or moral mind to realize it."
BABA. "If it is necessary, politicians will do so".
HASEGAWA. "Things will be carried in that direction through democratic channels if
the press and leading classes endeavor to
introduce a favorable situation. But still a bad practice remains in Goverment circles
as well as among the leading classes
who demand that farmers and laborers be loyal and obedient as in feudal days. It is
not democratic unless those in authority
are ready to relinquish, the reins of government when they lose support by the majority
of the people. No such transfer of
power exists in a feudal system, where the possessor of power is constant and executed
administration, both beneficially and
otherwise. It is absurd to ask him to always execute positive administration, as in
democratic countries; the class actually
responsible for the maintenance of the country must assume its political responsibility".
BABA. "While in NAGANO Ken the other day, a roundtable meeting was held by a newspaper
office, at which various persons of
agricultural circles gathered. Leaders of agricultural associations were unamimous
in demanding a rice ration of three go.
Aparliamentarian disclosed that there were some officials in the Agricultural and
Forestry Ministry, who believed in the
possibility of a three go rice ration. The absentmindeoness of the Japanese community
at present is caused by the fear of
hunger. Men are occupied in hunting, food. When wives and children complain about
the insufficiency of food it is quite
natural for us abandon our work to seek rice. On the one hand there is plenty of work
to be done in reconstruction, while on
the other there are tens of thousands of unemployed. Lack of food is responsible for
this bettleneck, which would be relieved
by the increased ration of rice to three go.
HASEGAWA. "Of course, I have no objection. I hope such a policy is firmly established.
The Government is now striving to have
the people satisfied with present conditions through the influence of popular amusements.
Such measures are reminiscent of the
Government attitude during the war, when it stirred people in the execution of the
war by music etc. We could not help it when
the war was going on, but it is of no value for peaceful reconstruction. We must new
consider the stabilization of the
livelihood of the nation as a sole means of putting the people's mindat rest. If the
people have the bright prospect of
obtaining an increased rice ration of three go, they will surely work, feeling assured
even before the arrival of rice. I hope
that the press takes steps to instruct the Government and the Nation on the possibility
of the distribution of a three go rice
ration by establishing concrete plans through the cooperation of severed capers."
BABA. "In such a critical moment, the Government, having no confidence in itself
to enable JAPAN to stand up, must retire as
soon as possible and hand over the Government to any one with a firm belief as to
the policy to be enforced in saving the
country."
HASEGAWA. "Such a question is thought to be settled easily if the class, forming
the nucleus of the country and possessing
power to sustain the country not by force of arms, but by economic or cultured power
is given the reins of Government. Society
must be led in a way so as to make up
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POLITICAL SERIES: 160 (Continued)
ITEM 1 (Continued)
such organization and institutions. If the Nation with no guiding power and no fixed
public opinion, to draw in with the
Government by those who have a background of so-called armed force, the nation itself
is to blame and their wholesale
penitence has significance. Though they say militarists and bureaucrats are wrong,
I believe the people are likewise wrong.
The people are responsible for the domination and high-haudedness of the former, and
the lack of guidance by the press must be
particularly considered. In view of the above, I think it would be better to increase
the number of newspapers and force them
to compete with each other".
BABA. "Newspapers now are increasing rapidly".
HASAGAWA. "I hope they are left to spontaneous development as in the past. However,
magazines have been issued rapidly and are
too numerous. I would rather restrict their issue".
ITEM 2 Extraordinary Cabinet meeting held yesterday-Asahi Shiimbun-7 January 1946. Translator: Shigeo Ono.
Extracts:
The Government held an extraordinary Cabinet meeting yesterday morning to deliberate
on the issuance of two decrees in
compliance with the Allied directive on the dissolution of reactionary organizations
and the dismissal of military leaders
from the public service. The meeting, however failed to reach final decision and it
is reported, another meeting will be held
soon to complete the draft. The two decrees are to be put forward in accordance with
the urgent decree concerning the
acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration.
Of the two decrees, one concerns the dissolution of the reactionary organizations
and is expected to be enacted in a few days.
while the promulgation of the other dcree, concerning the dismissal of militaristic
leaders from public service, is expected
to be delayed two to three days, owing to the necessity of taking certain legal procedure
to attain the ratification of the
Privy Council, since it is connected with the House of Peers Act, the Election Law
of the members of House of Representatives,
and the Ordinances of limitation an id Nomination of civil officials.
ITEM 3 Directive comes as great shock-Tokyo Shimbun-7 January 1946 Translator: S. Kido.
Full Translation:
The recent Directive from MacARTHUR has given a great shock to Houses and to officials
and financial circles, because it
deprives them of their leading positions and prerogatives. within the Government at
least four to five Cabinet ministers will
be affected by the directive, or nearly all the ministers, if it a range is enlarged.
About 40% of the members of the House of
Peers and 30 to 40% of the members of the House of Representatives will lose their
present positions. The directive gives the
severest blow to the Home Ministry officials, the Premier and other leading officials
of the central Government as well as the
prefectural governors and others in the provinces, because more than half of them
will be removed from their post as a result
of the directive. The Government is scheming to shield the Cabinet ministers concerned
as far as possible from the provisions
of the new directive. Since its issuance Foreign Minister YOSHIDA has tried in vain
to get a concrete explanation of the
directive.
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POLITICAL SERIES: 160 (Continued)
ITEM 4 Cabinet Reconstruction Is Likely-Asahi Shimbun-7 January 1946. Translators: Shigeo Ono.
Extracts:
There was a rumor that the Government, in conformity with the Allied directive issued
on 4 January would try to reconstruct
the cabinet by expelling those members who came within the sphere of the directive.
If the reshuffling were impossible, they
would tender their resignation en bloc, or else continue with the present members
asking the allied Powers to give special
permission for the aferementioned cabinet members to remain in office.
At the extraordinary cabinet mating held yesterday however a decision was reached
for the reconstruction of the Cabinet by
requesting that unsuitable members retire; this was the opinion of the premier and
all the members unanimously agreed. It has
now become clear that the Government has decided to remain in power until the forthcoming
election is held. The extent of the
cabinet change in personnel is expected to be cleared up after official visit of the
Foreign minister General Headquarters to
discuss the subject.
The following are the names of the cabinet members who will probably lose their posts:
HORIKIRI, Home Minister, former chief-executive of the Imperial Rule Assistance Association;
MAEDA, Education Minister, former provincial chief of the Imperial Rule Assistance
Association;
MATSUMURA, minister of Agriculture and Forestry, former head of the research bureau
of the Imperial Rule assistance Political
Society, former chief-executive of the Political Party of Greater Japan;
TANAKA, Minister of Transportation, former head of the Association of the members
of the Lower House, who are members of the
Greater JAPAN Political Association;
TSUGITA, chief-secretary of the cabinet, former executive of the political Party
of Greater Japan.
ITEM 5 A purified Emperor System (Strengthening and developing democracy, part 5) Mainichi-7 January 1946. Translator: Paaschie.
Summary:
HAMADA, Tensaburo (Imp. University): Under present conditions it is useful to cling
to the emperor system, which has proven as
practical at the end of the war as it was harmful when the war broke out. Had there
been no Emperor it would probably have
been impossible to end the war. At the beginning of the war the system was badly misused.
It is now certain that the Emperor or did not want war. His personal views were never
published: The people were suddenly
confronted with his war rescrip, approving the opening of hostilities from which they
naturally crew the conclusion that he
wanted war, and the militarists and bureaucrats left no stone unterned to confirm
this belief, because, if the Emperor so
desired, there would be nothing but blind obediance from the people. Without an Emperor
public opinion would have been more
free. At present it is relatively easy to maintain public order in the name of the
Emperor, but I wish to stress that I am
referring to present conditions only. It is certain that the mental attitude toward
the Emperor or is undergoing a
change.
POLITICAL SERIES: 160 (Continued)
ITEM 5 (Continued)
While there are still many people who think along the old lines regarding the Emperor,
the number of those who think
differently is on the increase. Of Course no one knows whether this increase will
continue or where it will stop, or whether
anti-monarchists will ever hold a majority in this country. We must leave that to
the future.
MIZUTANI (Social Democrats): I do not believe in the Communist method of fighting
the Emperor system by nationalistic moans;
neither do I approve of the Liberals and the other conservatives, who want to reserve
the traditional Emperor setup. Prince
KONOE's statement in his diary that the old structure of the state (KOKU TAI) must
be kept alive for the sake of the Country
as well as for the house of KONOE is deeply significant. The unpleasa[illegible]fact emerges that the
privileged classes and their mouthpicies take the same stand almost without exception.
I think the Emperor question should be
used as little as possible as a political weapon. In the final analysis the question
should be decided by popular vote. Mr.
SHIGA'S view that the Emperor system might become a breeding ground for militarism,
bureaucracy, and other reactionary
intrigues is not without foundation, but will Mr. SHIGA's fears be allayed if the
Emperor goes? Any reading of Western history
reveals the fact that in such a case a movement for restoration will develop as soon
as circumstances become ripe for it.
Therefore, it is better to strip the system of its harmful qualities, and give it
a new lease on life. Tests have shown that
even among the intelligentia, 95% support the Emperor, but it is very doubtful now
long such a high percentage can be
maintained. The economic situation and the growing disgust with the war may bring
about a situation where powerful pressure is
brought to beer in JAPAN and outside, in favor of a decision by ballot as to whether
or not the Emperor system should
continue. Only through such a popular decision can the system be freed from its mythological
shell and a true alliance be
brought about between the Emperor and the nation. If, furthermore, the economic power
of the Imperial family is broken and the
religious foundations of Emperor worship chattered by the abolition of state SHINTO,
the Emperor will not be of a kind to
inspire veneration or fear; particularly if his [illegible]vereignty is legally transferred to Parliament.
We are in favor of a popular Vote; if Mr. SHIGA will use it to get rid of the Emperor,
we will use it to protect his.
MUROFUSHI, Takanobu (author); The Emperor setup is all right as far as its religious
aspect is concerned, but it should be
kept away from politics. I am against the Social-Democrat idea of a popular vote on
the subject. A party which is not in a
position to supply the nation with real leadership cannot aspire to hold such a plibiscite.
DISTRIBUTION "X"
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