ITEM 1 Investigation of women's opinion in HOKKAIDO-Provincial Newspaper Hokkaide Shimbun (HOKKAIDO) -27 January 1946. Translator: S. Sano.

Full Translation:

The Women's Association in HOKKAIDO has investigated women's opinions from the beginning of December concerning; 1. The hope for the New members of the House of Representatives. 2. The requests regarding the Government's policy in everyday life. 3. The opinion about women suffrage. But, only 53 answers have reached the headquarters up to now. This poor figure shows how indifferent the members who number more than 200,000 in all, over the HOKKAIDO area will be to the election and at the same time, reveals the weakness of the association whose name was changed after the end of the war, from the old name of "Women's Patriotic Association in HOKKAIDO." Out of 53 answers; the distinctions by ago are:

and we can surmise that the women of middle age are more interested in political affairs than the young women. However, it will be natural not to attract the attention of the young women since the new association is only the substitute of "the Women's Patriotic Association" of the past.

The contents of the answers are: 1. Regarding the hope for members of the new Diet, there was an overwhelming majority who wish the maintenance of the Emperor system, and this is an indication of women's conception for the Emperor. 2. Concerning the requests of everyday life, many of them were dissatisfied with the present ration quantities and the methods of irregular delivery and sincerely hoped for an increase and regular rationing of the main foods. While among the better were some peculiar ideas such as suggesting time allotment of proportionate numbers of men and women to the Diet and that a primary condition must be that the member was not a bystander during the war. The paper failed to record anything regarding point No.3.

POLITICAL SERIES: 261 (Continued)

ITEM 2 Various Opinions on "Control by the People" -The Tokyo Shimbun-30 January 1946. Translator: HIRATA, Shozo.

Full Translation:

Mr. SUZUKI, Mosabure of the Social Democratic Party says, "Control of production by labor unions may be considered as another form of the strike. Sabotage by the capitalists will be given notice, and labor without decreasing production, can obtain the support of the public. Furthermore, it should be noted that this expresses labor's enthusiasm for production. Therefore, it is quite evident that this control covers both the production and management. So the situation becomes different according to whether the labor union consists of clerks and technicians or not. But I can not approve of the complete control of any company or firm by the labor union if its sole purpose is to achieve labor's demands and oppose the sabotage of the company. It should be a temporary measure used against the companies concerned, and 1 should say that the control which extends over all the affairs of companies and factories is too much, because such radical measures will deprive capitalists of a desire for enterprise and will cause, in the end the decline of Japanese industry. It will also become and obstacle to the reconstruction of JAPAN. Furthermore, it is not only unbearable but impossible for laborers to shoulder the burden of raising funds with the capitalists.

'Considering these facts, it is impossible for me to let the labor unions concern themselves in such matters as obtaining materials or funds. Of course, it is permissible for labor to stir up capitalists who are inclined to be idle, by carrying out the control of production and thereby satisfying their demands. But labor should remember that a certain limit is put on such steps. Several labor unions which have started the control of production, knowing nothing about practical affaires, are at a loss how to carry on the control. Therefore, I hope for capitalists' enthusiasm for production and understanding for the labor union, but at the same time I wish the labor unions to rectify their excess attitude.

"Concerning the food problems, I still fear for the reckless control of provisions by the people. This problem became widely known by the ITABASHI incident. As an ideal plan, it is not a mistake to control our provisions by ourselves, and I have a plan of my own. That is to say, to make a farmer's union carry out the delivery of staple feed through unbaised, democratized organs. This organ should consist of the representatives of farmers, landowners and consumers of limited number, and the price, too is to be decided by a committee formed by the above three."

Mr. OKADA, Bunkichi, of the Communist Party Central Office Provisions Committee, says, "As is already known, it is difficult for the distribution of provisions by the Government to be fair and just. In order to rectify this, it must be performed by the people themselves. This is the reason why the Peoples' Provisions Control Committee has been formed. Naturally it is impossible to control everything by this organization, and this is why the Communist Party advocates the establishment of the Peoples' Consultative Conference. That is to say, we propose to unite the Peoples' Control Committee, the Farmers Comittee in small towns and villages and the labor Unions in cities into one group, and thereby we intend to operate the factory production of such things as daily necessities and also agricultural products.

"I am now making preparations to publish concrete plans. I believe a new way will be opened tous by control and distribution not by the bureaucrats but by the people."

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POLITICAL SERIES: 261 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

Next, as regards the control of production by labor, Mr. TAKEDA, Shuro, of the Communist Party, TOKYO District Committee, Business Bureau, says "Control of production by labor is now being carried on as a temporary measure, and how long it will last will depend upon the situation. Of course, I am not so sanguine as to say that everything can be successfully operated by labor alone. Co-operation between capital and labor is desirable. However, the increase in labor's compe[illegible]ence by their participation in the management should naturally be realized as a new policy, and the demand for the control of production needs to be directed chiefly for this purpose."

ITEM 3 What will be the result of the general election-Tokyo Shimbun-31 January 1946. Translator: S. Sano.

Full Translation:

It has been decided to carry out the general election on 31 March. We admit the efforts of the SHIDEHARA Cabinet which strove to hold the general election in spite of the Premier's illness of more than ten days.

Frankly speaking, this announcement gave the utmost relief to the candidates and leaders of various political parties. For seeing the dissolution of the Diet and carrying out of the general election, after the end of the war, the new candidates have held various preparatory election campaigns such as, lecture meetings, roundtable conferences, discussion meetings, etc., and ex-members of the House of Representatives who have made detailed regulations for election campaigns against those new candidates, have continued the campaign of self-nomination (JISEN UNDO). Since the dissolution of the Diet, and some candidates who have spent quite a bit of the officially recognized expenditure on their campaigns, were in a state of complete inaction.

Comment is being made on the Communist Party that it is demanding a postponement of the general election on the professed grounds of the food question etc. and that it is nothing more than a plan to extend it's existing structure.

What effects has the speedy progress toward the foundation of a people's front on the election? It must be recognized that the popular front movement, is, at the same time, a measure against the general election. The general election has now developed into a spectacular arena where all the political problems are to be finally determined. What ultimate influence it will have on the nation as a whole, must be seen in the course of time.

ITEM 4 Trails of Sergeant ISHIDA, FUKUHARA and HONDA-Asahi Shimbun-l February 1946. Translator: T. KITAYAMA.

Full Transition:

The war criminal trial of Sergeant ISHIDA, Kitare, a corporal when he was in active service, and formerly assistant station master of HIMEJI, accusing him of maltreating war prisoners while he was a guard of the HIROHATA war prisoners camp, was held at the first court in YOKOHAMA at 0900 on 31 January. The accused insisted on his innocence to Chief Judge TRECHTER. Prosecutor SWEET began to read affidavits, and the trial was carried on speedily in American style. After the reading of thirteen affidavits the Court went into a recess at 1150.

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POLITICAL SERIES: 261 (Continued)

ITEM 4 (Continued)

ISHIDA's crimes consist of nine items. In all these items except the last one, are involved such cruelties to the prisoners as striking them with a club, a leather band, a rope, etc., throwing them into the water, or pouring water into their mouths. The ninth item consists of diverting provisions, tobacco, and goods of the Red Cross Relief.

At 1330 the trial reopened. The prosecutor read several affidavits of atrocities to Sergeant MORE and others, concerning the first item.

Third Day of Trial of FUKUHARA.

The third day of the trial of FUKUHARA commenced at 0900 on 31 January The prosecution requested the summoning as a witness of an American surgeon, Major CREMER, but it was rejected. Questions were asked about the cure of pneumonia. Chief attorney PHILLIPS questioned concerning the medical differences between JAPAN and AMERICA. At noon the Court went into recess. The trial was reopened at 1330. After the making of affidavits by the prosecution, prosecutor KAYUFFMAN produced the temperature table of OMUDA District at the time the prisoners were taken there, but on account of some unavoidable delay by the defense the court was closed at 1400.

11th Day of Trial of HONDA

The 11th day of the trial of HONDA opened at 0900 on 31 January. Counter examination of HONDA to those of the defends MARTISON on the preceding day were made by Chief Prosecutor Captain HOWARD.

HONDA stated that he tried to keep himself in close touch with the' prisoners so that he night hear their complaints, endorsing the evidence made on the previous day. The court was closed at 1145, and it was not reopened in the afternoon on account of certain reasons of the prosecution.

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