Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0162, 1946-01-09.

Summary:

Will the SHIDEHARA Cabinet resign en masse or effect reorganization? The Cabinet is being watched in the present political crisis. At any rate, as things have come to a serious stage, a drastic Cabinet reshuffle will inevitable be effected. In case of any reorganization of the Cabinet, the present Cabinet is expected to ask for the help of such parties as the Liberals and the Social-Democrats to cope with the next political setup. If resigning on masse takes place, the political power may be handed over to non-Government parties. What would the Liberals or the Social-Democratics arrange in such a situation? How would the Communists stand?

The Liberal Party: In any reorganization of the Cabinet the Liberal Party would not comply with the request of Prime Minister SHIDEHARA for help, even if an Imperial mandate be re-accepted by Baron SHIDEHABA, Kijuro, to form a new Cabinet. In case the Liberal Party is ordered by the Emperor to form a Cabinet, President HATOYAMA will probably call on the Social-Democratic Party to form, a coalition Cabinet.

The Social-Democrat Party: In case of an Imperial mandate to the Social-Democratic Party, the party has the intention of forming a new Cabinet with its own members. If another party asks the Party for help in forming a new Cabinet, the Social-Democrats may give that help depending on the power the Social-Democrats can obtain in the new cabinet. Therefore, the party is not closely watching the political crisis.

The Communist Party: A coalition Cabinet with the Social-Democrats and the Liberals would not solve this present political problem. Therefore, this party will not participate in it. It will do so only if a democratic, popular front Government, formed by the left wing of the Social-Democrats, labor unions, agrarian associations, cultural societies, other individuals, etc is established with the support of the people.

Under the TENNO System, a Government by the people would come into existence. In such a case the ceremony of installation by His Majesty will not be held, but the Government will only notefy the Emperor of the formation of the Cabinet.

Communism does not now wholly deny private property. Furthermore, it is clear that communism sponsors a bewigeois, democratic revolution.

Summary:

On 16 January the first All-JAPAN Session of the Social-Democrats' Central

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Executive Committee will be held. The talks should attract attention because of the importance of the issues involved in the part's plan to obtain political control and the party's relations with the Communists, which have, of late, become strained.

It was to be foreseen that the Social-Democrats would sooner or later be up against three specific and dangerous problems: The question of party leadership, the Emperor issue, and the question of a common front with the Communists. Regarding the desirability of Emperor rule, the Party has already made known its decision, but Central Executive Committee member ONO, Toshiitsu, has made himself conspicuous by taking a differing view, which means that the issue is still undecided.

As for joining the Communists in a common front, the party has refused the red proposals so far. Naturally all of these debatable issues will flare up again on the 16 January. The war the Party is going to tide over these storms is of the greatest political importance. There is some talk about an eventual sckism over those thorny questions, but there is little basis, in fact for such rumors, since even such Central Committee leftists as KATO, Kanju, and SUZUKI, Shigesaburo, have not uttered dissentient views, and the atmosphere in the party nucleus angurs "smooth sailing". However, the All-JAPAN Session of the Central Executive has become the starting point for Communist and other activities in the country directed against the party leaders. There is, therefore, a remote possibility that a split may arise, on the above vital issues, which would net essentially reduce the Party's power apart from certain psychological reactions among the masses, who have placed confidence in the Party.

Full Translation:

The JAPAN Co-operative Party has comparatively few men who are affected by the latest directive of SCAP. This is because the party basically has the character of a people's political party rather than that of a political party of the Diet. Because of their relations with the local branches of the former JAPAN Political Association, several persons, such as Mr. SENGOKU, Kotaro, representative committeeman of the party, and Mr. SASAI, Kayuakira, are affected by the directives.

The Party is preparing to develope an active election campaign possible in co-operation with the Social-Democratic Party, putting up one hundred and ten recognized members of the Party as candidates.

Summary:

The political consequences of the latest SCAP directives remain to be seen. In view of the coming elections the situation can be tided over by a temporary solution permitting the Cabinet members involved to stay in office for the time being. If this is impossible, it will be interesting to see to what extent the resignation of Cabinet ministers is called for. The Cabinet is earnestly considering these question and seems to be resolved that if worst comes to worst it will demand the withdrawal of those concerned and carry on with the remaining Cabinet ministers filling the gaps with suitable men.

Premier SHIDEHARA fears that a general resignation would result in political uncertainty and, at the same time, would endanger the vital issue of the food situation be delaying the supply of rice. He thinks the present

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Cabinet should accomplish its mission by seeing the general election through. The time for Cabinet reorganization would he after Foreign Minister YOSHIDA's visit with General MacARTHUR, but this visit did not materialize on the 7th and was postponed. The Cabinet change might coincide with this visit and the premier's return to work since his illness now is practically overcome.

The Government, bent on carrying out the directives to the letter, is speeding up appropriate legislation. On the 7th, Imperial ordinances concerning the dissolution of the Imperial Rule Assistance Association and the dismissal of militarists from public office were prepased, to be rushed through the Privy Council as quickly as possible.

Summary:

In regard to the recent directive of Supreme Headquarters.

The Communist Party formally published a declaration on the 7th a propos the recent SCAP directive in the name of the Central Executive Committee in which, while asserting that the Emperor's responsibility should be investigated, it demanded an immediate overthrow of the reactionary SHIDEHARA Cabinet. It thus made clear the party's views.

Declaration: The JAPAN Communist Party wholly supports the Supreme Headquarters' recent directive as being an epoch-making step for the democratization of JAPAN. We have always strongly demanded severe punishment of these elements from the standpoint of the provisions of the POTSDAM Declaration. In order to strictly execute this directive not only must the personnel in the War and Navy Departments be included, but other departments, as well, especially the reactionary bureaucrats in the Home, Justice, and Education Departments. Reactionary teachers in various schools and sundry rightist organizations and persons in the various localities must be eliminated.

In view of the directive's pointing out the elements which contributed toward the arrests of active anti-militarists, the military and civil police, secret police, and their spies should be made the objects of severe punishment. At the same time we maintain that the Emperor, as commander-in-chief must be investigated as to his responsibility for the war. We have stated time and again that Emperor rule is a starting point of agressions and the realization of a democratized JAPAN is impossible if the Emperor's responsibility is left smothered in obsecurity.

The facts have proved beyond dispute that the SHIDEHARA Cabinet is entirely incapable and reactionary, consequently there is no possibility of the present directive being justly executed by this Cabinet. Still less, in view of the fact that many among the personnel of the ministry will be included in the list of those dismissed, the present Cabinet must be overthrown at once, and a new democratic Government set up.

Full Translation:

In case of the resignation of SHIDEHARA's Cabinet as a result of the two sweeping directives issued by SCAP in order to remove militarists, the state Department authorities stated that General MacARTHUR had the power to appoint a succeeding cabinet. Moreover, according to a communique of the Big Three Powers' Foreign Ministers Conference at MOSCOW, it has been decided that the power to appoint the succeeding cabinet, in case of the

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resignation of SHIDEHARA Cabinet should be held by the Four Power JAPAN Control Council. However, at an interview with newspapermen, Secretary of State, BYRNES, stated, in reply to the question concerning the successor to SHIDEHARA's Cabinet, that "Under the present sweeping directives, General MacARTHUR can appoint each minister in the succeeding cabinet."

Full Translation:

What course of action the Cabinet will take on receiving the latest directive from SCAP, Mr. TSUGITA, the Cabinet chief secretary discussed, as follows: "The Government has already made up its mind. We hope to face the crisis not by resignation on masse, but by eliminating the affected ministers and by appointing replacements. So complicated are the measures we must take that two or three months will be necessary for us to decide who are the militaristic leaders and to make up their investigation papers, while we must also inquire into rightist organizations and their leaders, besides the 217 named by SCAP. Although the leading figures will be disposed of one after another, it can not be done in a short time. After Foreign Minister YOSHIDA visits Supreme Allied Headquarters to sound out Allied views on carrying out the orders, and after the Premier recovers from illness, we will soon start our investigation work. When a Cabinet resigns because of its minister's ineligibility, the Prime Minister ought to be responsible, however, in this case, as it was ordered by SCAP, the Premier will not be responsible for it, even if there are cabinet members who submitted to militarists, and I think there are none."

Summary:

The recent SCAP directive has given a big jolt to the election busy parties. Candidates and parties are now trying feversihly to cope with the situation. The Government appears to be willing to hold the election around the middle of February, but for various reasons it will take from two to three months to draw up the list of all those who will have to retire from public service. A temporary list, containing well-known names only, should be published not later than 15 January, so as to allow at least 25 days for the electioneering campaign. In order to comply quickly with the directives, the Government will soon convoke a conference of administrators. The men in charge of the elections will receive material on each candidate showing whether he has to retire or not. Furthermore, the Cabinet will publish the full text of the directive for personal "by each candidate.

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