Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0189, 1946-01-16.
Date16 January, 1946
RepositoryRauner Special Collections Library, Dartmouth College.
Call Numberpolitical-0785
Call NumberDS801 .S85
Persistent Identifier
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POLITICAL SERIES: 189
ITEM 1 The Reorganized Cabinet as Conservative As Ever: Fair Election Aimed At - Mainichi
Shimbun - l4
Jan 46. Translator: S. Hirata.
Full Translation:
Following the dismissal of officials belonging to IZAWA'S clique and of members of
the Progressive Party, some changes have
been made in the Cabinet by the entry of Mr. MITSUCHI, Mr. SOEJIMA, (who apparently
had MITSUCHI's recommendation), Mr. ABE,
and a new chief secretary of the Cabinet. However, there is no substantial change
in its character as a conservative
intermediary Cabinet. On the contrary, it seems to have strengthened its conservative
nature. The Cabinet avoided party men in
the present reorganization, lest it should incur suspicion as the "general election
Cabinet" in asking the assistance of
Political parties. The veteran statesman, Mr. MITSUCHI, will be influential in the
Cabinet as vice-minister. Since both Prime
Minister SHIDEHARA and Foreign Minister YOSHIDA, are not well-versed in home administration,
it is generally supposed that he
will sway the future activities of the Cabinet.
In spite of the cutting criticism against Mr. SOEJI[illegible]A, Agriculture Minister, on the grounds that
he is least qualified to solve the critical food situation, Mr. MITSUCHI is of the
opinion that the closest co-operation of
the Home Minister and Agriculture Minister is of utmost importance to facilitate shipments
for farmers. Judging from his point
of view, we presume that he proposes to promote delivery by co-operating with Mr.
SOEJIMA. MATSUMURA, the former Agriculture
minister, was also of the opinion that there is nothing wrong with the assumption
of the post of Home Minister and Agriculture
Minister by one person. As a result of this mode of thinking, the MITSUCHI and SOEJIMA
combination may be realized. But
various political parties contest vehemently that it is absolutely impossible for
this conservative combination to carry
through resolute measures in this national crisis. Moreover, there has been strong
opposition to Mr. SOEJIMA, from the very
beginning, on the part of the business authorities in the Agriculture and Forestry
Ministry. From their point of view, a
serious crisis is anticipated within the reorganized Cabinet due to the antagonistic
relation with the said authorities as
regards future agricultural policy. Thus the frailness of the Cabinet is already evident.
As one of the influential members,
Mr. NARAHASHI, Wataru, who has been appointed Chief Cabinet Secretary in the present
reorganization, will be as one of the men
to decide the future movements of the reorganized Cabinet when he works in co-operation
with such officials as Director of the
Cabinet Board of Legislation ISHIGURO and Deputy-Chief Secretary of the Cabinet TAJIRI.
Thus far, we have predicted the future of the Cabinet chiefly from the standpoint
of its personnel relationships. As regards
administration, how much can the Cabinet accomplish in the solution of difficulties
in the national food situation and in the
prevention of inflation? But public opinion, which expressed its undisguised dissatisfaction
at the reorganization, is, in
this regard, too pessimistic.
POLITICAL SERIES: 189 (Continued)
ITEM 2 Intention Of Mr. NOZAKA. Sanzo - Asahi Shimbun - 15 Jan 46. Translator: S.
Kawasaki.
Full Translation:
In the car on the way to TOKYO, Mr. NOZAKA, Sanzo asserted, "Let the communist Party
be loved by the masses! Let the party
develop and grow familiar with the masses!" He also made this statement at the meeting
welcoming NOZAKA and his party held at
the Headquarters of the Party. The fact that his methods are those beloved by the
masses, is the Party leaders' criticism of
his policy. The joint statement made by the Central Executive Committee on 14 January
and Mr. NOZAKA, Sanzo, has demanded the
removal of the Emperor System from the State. Namely, sovereignty lies with the people,
to say nothing of sovereign rights,
the consultative rights and all the powerful political positions. Then, the problem
of the maintenance or abolition of the
Imperial line, must he decided by the nation along democratic lines.
Further the question arises as to the Communist's Party's views on what will be the
Emperor's position in the social system,
and whether or not they will wish to retain the Emperor after the removal of his sovereign
rights from the organization of the
state.
Concerning the above two points, the Joint statement says as follows: At the present
time when the present conditions of the
Imperial Household and the Emperor's position in political circles is in such a state
of uncertainty, nothing can be said. It
should be decided by the people on democratic lines.
It is noted with great interest that Mr. NOZAKA advocated "the democratic front".
That is what has been organized by the
proletariat and the masses of the laborers. However, after the war, the menace of
Fascism was checked owing to the fall of
various invaded countries; and at the same time, in the present condition of JAPAN
in which the elements of militarism are now
being swept away, the proletariat and the masses organized by medium and small commercial
and industrial businessmen have been
left. Therefore, all of them are included; and in order to tide over the national
crisis and to discover a way of living for
the nation, we should proceed with the reconstruction of JAPAN. Such a movement will
be properly called "The democratic
front."
Finally, Mr. NOZAKA, Sanzo intends to put the popular front up against the power
of the ancient regime, making use of all
those who can be gathered in the greatest numbers from the various political parties
and classes with a view to co-operating
with various groups and classes, the Communist Party now, comes under the great influence
of Mr. NOZAKA, in support of this
front.
ITEM 3 New Home Minister HITSUCHI's Ideas - Asahi Shimbun - 15 Jan 46. Translator:
F. Tachibana.
Full Translation:
Home Minister MITSUCHI attended his office for the first time at 1300 hours on l4
January. After he took over from former
Minister HORIKIRI, he had an interview with a group of reporters and made a statement
to the effect that he would change
prefectural governors quite soon so as to dismiss the officials who were affected
by the Allied directive and that it would be
difficult, because food conditions, to introduce to the Diet the reform of the local
administrative system chiefly through
selection of prefectural governors by election.
The essential points of the new Home Minister's talk are as follows:
- 2 -
POLITICAL SERIES: 189 (Continued)
ITEM 3 (Continued)
- 1."Reform in personnel. Although this problem requires my judgment based on the SCAP directives, I intead to go on open-handedly without doing anything to modify the demands of SCAP. I will treat this problem according to my principle that I will carry out the directive as faithfully as possible. However, as the contents of the Allied directives are vague, there are some people affected by them, apparently, but not always actually. Therefore, it is necessary to decide each specific case after careful investigation. I will soon change the prefectural governors and other officials who come under the directive. This must be carried out before the general election. Then I want to choose prefectural governors from among the public as best I can, but this may be very difficult. In changing prefectural governors I will not be a stickler for prefectural ranks and the year of graduation. For example, I will appoint a chief of the internal affairs department, if appropriate, to the governorship of the same prefecture. It is especially urgent to appoint the Chief of TOKYO Metropolis, so I will appoint him prior to the general shake-up.
- 2."Fairness in the general election. I will execute the election so fairly that the people will be surprised. The election is concerned only with the people, not with the Home Ministry or prefectural governors. We will exercise control according to the penal provisions of the law as they are, and nothing more. We have only to control evils. The officials of the Home Ministry have nothing else to do during the election.
- 3."Reform of local administrative system. It is impossible to make a prefecture a complete self-governing body, because however much it may be reformed there remain national affairs. So I want to reconsider whether it is better to make prefectural officials government officials or public officials. It will be bad if prefectural governors become dilatory because of the system of appointment by election. In the food problem, for example, the Home Ministry takes charge of 70 per cent of the business and the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry 30 Per cent. The prefectural governors are responsible for the supply and ration of rice. The food problem is serious this year. If the rice crop this year is not so good as the normal one, we shall face difficult conditions. So we must give consideration to this problem in appointing prefectural governors by election, and it may possibly be delayed. Therefore, it is difficult to introduce the local administrative reform chiefly through appointment of preffectural governors by election to the extraordinary Diet after the general election. However, it is urgently necessary to expand civil rights and revise election of members to the prefectural assembly.
- 4."Measures for law and order. We must think over the police system too. It is not good that the people are controled and supervised by the police. I wish that the people govern themselves by helping each other and the police shall only assist them to do so. One way to ensure this may be the transferof superintendence of administrative police to cities, towns and villages. So as to strengthen police power I intend to raise the quality of police."
ITEM 4 Appointment of the Two Directors of The Cabinet - Asahi Shimbun - 15 Jan 46.
Translator: S.
Kawasaki.
Full Translation:
As a result of the reshuffle of the SHIDEHARA Cabinet, the appointments. if Mr. NARAHASHI,
Wataru as Chief Cabinet Secretary
and Mr. ISHIGURO, Takeshige as Director of the Board of Legislation, have been decided
on at the Cabinot meeting held on 13
January.
- 3 -
POLITICAL SERIES: 189 (Continued)
ITEM 5 Successor to Vice Minister of Education - Asahi Shimbun - 15 Jan 46. Translator:
S. Kawasaki.
Full Translation:
The rise in status of the present Chief of the Scientific Educational Board of the
Education Ministry, YAMAZAKI, Kyosuke makes
him a suitable person for successor to former vice-Minister OMURA, Seichi.
ITEM 6 Government Office Democratization Promotion Mass Meeting - Asahi Shimbun -
l4 Jan 46. Translator:
S. Kawasaki.
Full Translation:
The staff association of the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry will hold a mass meeting
for the advance of democracy in
government offices, at the Central Agriculture Building on 15 January. Participating
will be representatives of various
ministries, the Departments of Railways and Communication, the TOKYO Metropolitan
Office, and the Agricultural Society.
ITEM 7 Reorganization of SHIDEHARA Cabinet - Tokyo Shimbun - l4 Jan 46. Translator:
S. Kawasaki.
Extracts:
From the initial receipt of the directive purging militarists to the decision for
reorganizing the SHIDEHARA Cabinet, there
were three steps: 1. SHIDEHARA; YOSHIDA; and TSUGITA supported the argument and laid
the ground work for cabinet
reorganization; 2. Directors of the Board of Legislation NARAHASHI sharply differed
with SHIDEHARA and TSUGITA on the question
requiring an Imperial mandate to form new ministries, and it was generally believed
the Cabinet would re[illegible]on blac; and, 3. At an urgent cabinet meeting held on 11 January, Agriculture Minister
MATSUMURA held
forth persistently for reorganization, and as a result, a number of ministers refused
to come to an agreement. Seeking
SHIDEHARA1s opinion, MATSUMURA and Minister without Portfolio TSUGITA called on SHIDEHARA
who was bedridden at his home in
SETAGAYA, and after stating their views, learned that SHIDEHARA would proceed with
reorganization, after due
deliberation.
Foriegn Minister YOSHIDA is secret manipulations are discernible in these proceedings,
having given rise to doubts both within
and without the cabinet. His position in the cabinet was rapidly becoming untenable.
Reorganization, supported by the bureaucrats SHIDEHARA; YOSHIDA; and TSUGITA, was
temporarily thwarted by the opposition of
liberal Party members such as NARAHASHI. As a result, the Premiers' opinion was solicited,
and became the deciding factor in
favor of resignation en bloc. But soon, MATSUMURA, arguing from the Progressive Party
standpoint, supported reorganization,
and his views prevailed. This clearly demonstrates the incompetence of bureaucrats,
and proves that ministers belonging to
political parties are, in reality, partisan.
On the other hand, since Foreign Minister YOSHIDA did not visit SCAP Headquarters,
NARAHASHI did, to determine from Political
Advisor ACHESON what intentions were, and to ask co-operation. By doing so, NARAHASHI
strengthened his position in the
Cabinet.
TSUGITA has already submitted his resignation in compliance with the purge directive.
YOSHIDA, however, displayed by his
deceit the bankruptcy and political inaptitude of the SHIDEHARA Cabinet.
- 4 -
POLITICAL SERIES: 189 (Continued)
ITEM 7 (Continued)
It is obvious that bureaucratic prestige is on the wane, and that the power and influence
of political parties has
developed.
DISTRIBUTION "X"
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