Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0248, 1946-01-30.
Date30 January, 1946
translation numberpolitical-1030
call numberDS801 .S85
Persistent Identifier
POLITICAL SERIES: 248
ITEM 1 Sovereignty Exists in Emperor The Progressive's Opinions on the Revision of the Constitution - Mainichi Shimbun - 29 Jan 46. Translator: R. Ochiai.
Full Translation:
In order to have a free discussion on the reform of the Constitution, the last Progressive
representatives in TOKYO were
gathered at the President's reception room on 25 and on 27 January. In brief, the
opinions expressed are as follows:
- 1.Although sovereignty exists in the hands of an Emperor principally, it should be exercised through him by a democracy.
- 2.The Emperor must have the supreme power, however, he should not bear all the responsibility which should be exercised by the people. If this opinion will be adopted, the first article of the Constitution may be left unchanged. In short, it is most proper to support the Emperor not only because of our national pride but also because of his being the real father of the people.
- 3.The Emperor is responsible for the nation's honor and the nation's faith.
Although there are some other opinions regarding this, such as the idea that a state
is a corporation, a definite conclusion
will be reached on 31 January by discussion of the sub-committee for inquiring into
the Constitution.
ITEM 2 The Communist Party Develops A National Movement For the Repatriation of Japanese - Nippon Sangyo Keizai - 29 Jan 46. Translator: N. Tachibana.
Full Translation:
All the people are demanding that the Government take immediate measures for the
repatriation of the Japanese remaining in
MANCHURIA and KOREA. Representatives of each district are also urging the headquarters
of the Communist Party to seek a
solution of this problem in the name of the democratic front. So, the Communist Party
has decided to develop a great rational
movement as it has a concrete plan. Scores of local representatives have so far visited
the headquarters of the Communist
Party, Representatives of the all KYUSHU National Conference For Speeding-Up the Repatriation
Of The Japanese in MANCHURIA and
KOREA, of the NAGANO Association for Promotion of the Repatriation of the Japanese
in MANCHURIA and KOREA, and of the
Association for the Relief of Men of YAMAGUCHI-Ken Awaiting Repatriation from Abroad,
etc., are establishing links between
them with the help of the Communist Party.
Mr. TOKUDA, Kyuichi, a communist, said, the fatal obstacle is lack of transport capacity.
We are determined that the
Government shall borrow 100 Liberty ships from THE UNITED STATES, but now only 20
of them are at work, and they can barely
transport coal and food. Such a situation is due to control of sailors by the wartime
requisition ordinance. The
POLITICAL SERIES: 248 (Continued)
ITEM 2 (Continued)
Maritime Affairs Board and the Shipping Control Association are deaf to all petitions
against low pay and miserable food and
clothing of sailors. Sailors are making efforts to organize a labor union by removing
the abuse of war time officialdom, and
have recently been going on strike. On the other hand, Allied Headquarters eagerly
demands better treatment of sailors.
Therefore, we want to carry out thoroughgoing improvements in conditions at such an
opportune time.
A total of 15,000 or 20,000 sailors is to be levied for short term. We are also negotiating
in regard to steamships, petroleum
and other full oils with the consent of the authorities and are likely to succeed
in obtaining them, as provisions are running
short in KOREA, especially in the northern part, the Koreans seem to wish to repatriate
the Japanese. So their repatriation is
quite within the bounds of possibility. We want to solve this problem as soon as possible
by utilizing harbors in MCRTH KORE
and those in JAPAN bordering on the JAPAN Sea.
We give preferential consideration to the war-profit tax and the property tax of
the repatriated Japanese, and help them to
find employment in forming, lumbering and rehabilitation of districts which have suffered
from the war, We want to supply them
with clothes, preferably by making all speed in exposing hidden stocks of materials."
ITEM 3 A Final Answer Will Be Given On A United Front At The Social Democrats Committee Held To-day Jiji Snimhun - 29 Jan 46. Translator: H. Kato.
Summary:
The movement for the formation of a popular front has been stimulated by the mass
meeting to welcome NOZAKA, Sanzo, who has
come home after a long exile on the continent, The time is ripe for the proposed coalition
of the democratic parties centering
around the Social Democrats, Communists and other subordinate democratic organization
Union the circumstances the question has
come to the fore again since the Communists are attempting to make a fourth proposal
to the Social Democrats for a united
front. The latter party is now in a situation where it must give a final answer one
way or the other. In this connection. The
Central Executive Committee of the Social Democratic Forty will be called at 1300
on 29 January at the headquarters at
SHINBASHI with the attendance of Chief Secretary KATAYAMA and other executive committeemen
in order to decide the attitude of
the party toward these pressing problems.
Among those expected to be in full support of the proposed united Popular front with
the Communisms are KATO, Kanju; MIZUTANI,
Chozabure; KURODA. Sumio: SUZUKI, Mosaburo; etc; while KATAYAMA, Tetsu; NISHIO, Suehiro;
RAIRANO [illegible], KONO, Mitsu; and ASANUMA, Krejiro cautiously insist that its fo[illegible]is premature. A lively
discussion with take place between them to give the final conclusion regarding the
question of this united front.
ITEM 4 Royal Road to New Japan-Dedicate youself to a Democratic Revolution - Mimpe - 29 Jan 46. Translator: K. Onishi.
Full Translation: At the HIBIYA Park meeting on the 26th, Mr. NOZAKA declared that a democrats front
was a new "Patriotic
Front", and won thunderous applause from the audience. Say what one will, there are
no people like ours who are so filled with
patriotic sentiment. To our regret, however, we did not have a sufficient store of
wisdom to guide this rich sentiment and
lead it. Needless to say, we see a good example of the resultant collapse in the present
defeat. Many difficulties
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POLITICAL SERIES: 248 (Continued)
ITEM 4 (Continued)
which our country is now facing both at home and abroad are demanding us to give
full play to our patriotism in a degree even
higher than that shown during the war.
We love our motherland. She is demanding to be loved all the more because she is
frustrated. However, since we had our
"post-war atrophy" and because of so many difficulties that cropped out everywhere,
our people have stood aghast and helpless.
It has not been clear to them just what to do in order that they might serve their
country best. But, now the democratic
front, as the only road to the re-establishment of new JAPAN, is on the verge of development.
If this is not a new "Patriotic
Front", what else could a patriotic front be?
Men who have come home from abroad, and soldiers who have been demobilized, all of
them come to us and join this democratic
front, The only one qualification for joining this front is the self-awakening and
valor to dedicate oneself to the cause of a
democratic revolution in JAPAN. Only the warriors of the democratic front can have
the pride of being true patriots. Men who
stand on this front are the sole possessors of patriotism guided by reason. When the
democratic revolution of JAPAN is
accom[illegible]lished, then, our country will be saved from ruin. And then, we can restore our position
as the JAPAN of the world. So is it promised in the POTSDAM Declaration. Long live
the new Patriotic Front!
(By MATSUMOTO, Juji)
ITEM 5 Statem[illegible]of the Communist Party regarding the ITABASHI Incident - Asahi Shimbun - 29 Jan 46. Translator: S. Sano.
Full Translation:
The Communist Party made the following statement as 28 January regarding the ITABASHI
Incident when concealed stocks were
found in the ground of the former arms arsenal in ITABASHI district.
- 1.The measures of the Government with regard to the incident are to oppress the people, complicate the problem and, at the same time, to plot to subdue the Communist Party.
- 2.It can be admitted that the Government is co-operating to conceal the commodities because it has taken no punishment against the guilty party which had hidden the commodities.
- 3.The League for Protecting People's Living (SMIKATSU YOGO DOHBI) inherited the goods from the executor of the business, KOBAYASHI, under sealed contract, and the League has promised to distribute them. 4. It was promised that the goods would be distributed at fixed prices and the cash would be delivered to the Co-Prosperity Association, and in came of the rice delivery, the quantities would be included with the rice ration book to prevent double rationing.
- 5.The Communist Party stopped this arbitraty distribution on the next day and has put placed it under the custody of the Preliminary Committee for the Central of Citizen's Food (SHIMIN SHOKURYC KANRI JUMBI KAI)
- 6.On the next day, the armed representatives of the Government authorities came and took away the commodities after menacing the controller and breaking the lock of the [illegible].
- 7.The perpetrators of this violence on a declaration of the Metropolitan Police Broad, are some employers of the TOKYO Factory of the NIPPON Building Control Union (NIPPON KENCHIKU TOSEI KUMIAI TOKYO SEISAKUJO) who were the subordinates of the demobilization official, KOBAYAS
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