Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0202, 1946-01-19.

Fall Translation:

We are now in such a situation that the influence of the dilatory reorganization of the SHIDEHARA Cabinet has become more grave especially since the recent return from abroad of Mr. MOZAKA, who is one of the leaders of the JAPAN Communist Party.

The democratic front which was advocated in his joint statement with the Communist Party tends to win the active and bold support of their working classes. As for the SHIDEHABA Cabinet, which has done its utmost to retain all the conservatic influence of militarism, bureaucracy, and feudalism under the disguise of an interim Cabinet, it has, at last, disclosed its reactionary character. The democratic revolution of our country can be said to require a united political power It is likely to be the general opinion in our country that unless we have a rebirth of political power based on the co-operation of all democratic elements, the common people, who aim to reestablish a democratic JAPAN, will not see their wish fulfilled.

The politics of oar country have now made an epoch-making change towards democratization. This is duo to the joint statement of Mr. NOZAKA after his return from abroad. He has given a strong and distinct stimulus to the working classes to strive for political advancement. It is the anxious desire on the part of the democratic press to form a popular front, such as that advocated by Mr. YAMAKAWA, Kin and Mr. HOSOKAWA, Kiroku. Whether such an epoch-making and historical development will be realized in the political field or not depends upon the combined struggle of the Social-Democrat and the Communist parties. The Social-Democrat central executive committee, which mot on 16 January, admitted that important political issues existed, but expressed the opinion that the popular front is premature. However, it is clear that such epoch-making progress by the laboring class cannot be checked by such minor obstacles.

As long as the Social-Democrat Party admits that the present situation demands the combined influence of the various democratic elements in this country, the formation of a democratic front cannot long be avoided.

POLITICAL SERIES: 202 (Continued)

Full Translation:

With the vehement statement insisting on a thorough going enquiry into war responsibility and the removal of reactionary elements within the party, presented by the DOSHISHA, organized by Mr. ARAHATA and others, the meeting of the Central Executive Committee of the Social-Democrat Party held on 16 January was expected to cause some confusion. In fact, there was lively discussion concerning the enquiry into war responsibility, the problem of the Emperor system, a united front, etc, but in the long run, opinions opposed to the official policy came to light. In spite of the strong public cry for the quick solution of the problems of how to tide over the food crisis, unemployment, and inflation by means of a united front, they diverged from practical execution of their program just as originally proposed by the Executive Committee.

Regarding the problem of seeking war responsibility, it was decided to adopt an evasive attitude, pending further action by SCAP on the subject.

However, judging from the questions and opinions and the Executive Committee's answers to them expressed in that day's meeting in relation either to War responsibility or to a united front, their theories are weak and lack clarity. Their reasoning on the maintenance of the Emperor system is also ambiguous and reveals the non-progressive attitude of some of their highest members. Unless they are equipped with zeal and a belief to carry out a resolution, and unless they indulge in self-criticism, the internal discord of the Party will continue, and their leaders' dreams of "principal party" will be finally broken. A detailed survey is as follows:

• 1.Evasion of the inquiry into war responsibility:

In reply to an interruption by Mr. TAKATSU, Shodo (TOKYO) concerning the problem of the disposal of those men who were responsible for the war in relation to election measures and party recommendation of candidates, Mr. HIRANO, Rikizo and Mr. MATSUOKA, Komakichi, consistently stated, "We will decide this after studying the Government list of affected persons, which is expected to be submitted to SCAP." He, thereby, put the responsibility for this problem on the purge directive and made no clear criticism on either the subject of finding out the Diet's war responsibility or on the question of whether the Diet was not responsible for the existence of some members of the Diet who followed the bad of TOJO. This shows us that the question of war responsibility raised by them at the Diet was merely a temporizing one, and their evasive attitude is no different from that of the existing political parties, who do not voluntarily assume war responsibility, or from that of the SEIDEHARA Cabinet.

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POLITICAL SERIES: 202 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

subjectively. In consequence, we should make efforts to fester it and then (after the election) proclaim our own stand and unify the popular front."

The true intent of calling the tine inopportune suggests much of their innate opposition to the Communist Party, both in politics and in sentiment. In spite of their recognition of the necessity of a popular front, they are at present evading its realization. This clearly shows that they are aiming at the expansion of the Social-Democrat Party and at taking the lead. The time for fighting jointly with the Communist Party has been maturing long enough, but the cause that has hindered their joining hands has been the question whether the Communist Party has overcome its infantile distrust of the loft wing.

They quoted Mr. NOZAKA's Words, "The Communist Party should avoid public antipathy; they must be, loved by the masses," and concluded that a common front with such a Communist Party, which is disliked by the public, would hinder our solution of the food problem and obstruct the farmers' willingness to supply rice. Protest was made against this in a statement that reports of the success of a common front wore received from the local representatives in AOMORI, OKAYAMA, and other prefectures. It was stated that there could be no such risks as the staffs were afraid of, and the formation of a common front was much to be desired, but the resolution was passed as originally proposed by the Executive Committee, thereby evading its realization.

Furthermore, the reason for putting off the time until "after the election" reveals their ultimate purpose, namely that they want to realize their dream of being the majority party, and than, with their overwhelming power, to form a common front on their own initiative and grasp the leadership.

Full Translation:

The Central Executive Committee mooting of the Japanese Social-Democrat Party was held on 16 January to discuss and decide on important policies and relations with other parties before the forthcoming general election. At the meeting, a bill drawn up by the Standing Executive Committee was passed.

Among members representing the branch parties in various fu and ken, there arose a voice demanding a more complete democratization of the Party and the overthrowing of reactionary elements, pointing oat that the proceedings of the Central Committee were anti-democratic, in other words, the committee failed to discuss fully the problem of the Emperor system and those to be affected by SCAP's purge directive. An objection was also made in relation to the arbitrary attitude assumed by the party's main staff.

There were certain insistent elements who demanded that the Party not participate in the general election until it had completely settled the present discord within the Party.

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POLITICAL SERIES: 202 (Continued)

ITEM 3 (Continued)

Some members of the Standing Committee supported this opinion. Actually they consider the Social-Democrat Party a promiscuous organization, the main part of which was hurriedly formed, consisting of former Diet members of proletarian parties except for the Communist Party. It is their conclusion that the organization must be purged in order to become a real, labor party.

At the Central Committee Meeting on the 16th, a statement concerning the popular front was received from the Communist Party, and at the same time, the Liberal Party announced that a successful combination was formed between the Liberal and Social-Democrat Parties. Having fallen into such a dilemma, the Party was obliged to clarify its stand, both internally and externally.

The announcement of the Liberal Party is biased on the interview of 2 January between Mr. HATOYAMA, President of the Liberal Party and Mr. HIRANO, Rikizo, Social-Democrat. Nevertheless, the understanding reached between Mr. HIRANO and Mr. HATOYAMA is unknown within the Social-Democrat Party. The reason why the main staff of the Party does not intend, to question Mr. HIRANO on the interview is the desire to keep internal friction in the background in order to concentrate on the general election.

The discord within the Social-Democrat Party is not always limited certain people. For instance, when members of the Party discussed their attitude towards the Emperor system at the Standing Executive Committee meeting, persons such as MIZUTANI, Chozaburo, SUZUKI, Mosaburo, KATO, Kanju, KURODA, Hisao, and MATSUMOTO, Chiichiro, insisted that sovereignty lies in the hands of the people, and a thorough confiscation of sovereign power from the Emperor should be made. On the other hand, NISHIO, Suehiro, MATSUOKA, Komakichi, HIRANO, Rikizo, and KONO, Mitsu, took the stand that power must lie with a definite, legitimate, national figure, or else that part of the Emperor's sovereign power should, be elemenated. Above all, Mr. KONO assumed a firm attitude on this last opinion. Thus, the conclusion was that they should, support the present Emperor system. At this time, central and provincial revolutionary cliques have arisen, advocating democratization of the Party by doing away with the upper, reactionary elements. They claim the following:

• (1) The attitude of the members of the Standing Committee, headed by Mr. MORITO, Tatsuo, hold opposite views on the Emperor system, namely that by leaving the question in the background, the people will be cheated, and, consequently, the party will lose their trust.
• (2) The presort "election-for-election's sake", principle of the Party ignores the substance of the political party, and the result is a formless ambition which aims at becoming the leading or majority Party. In such critical circumstances, a political party should not be a slave to the reins of power. It must make steady headway for systematizing the public and improving the quality of the party. Only by doing this can a party anticipate success in the future. With such a point of view, they insist on doing away with any obstacles. They intend to carry out this plan in the near future.

DISTRIEUTION "X"

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