Press translations [Japan]. Political Series 0090, 1945-12-19.
Date19 December, 1945
translation numberpolitical-0394
call numberDS801 .S85
Persistent Identifier
POLITICAL SERIES: 90
ITEM 1 Ugaki Recommended?-Asahi Shimbun-16 December 1945. Translator: T.Kitayama.
Full Translation:
The preciding problem facing the Progressive Party has become extremely urgent, and
the voluntary representatives conference
held on the 15th was thrown into chaos. In spite of the fact that TSURUMI, Chief Secretary
of the Party, declared the other
day at its representatives meeting that the president would, be determined by the
end of the Diet session, the president has
not yet been chosen though 14 December, the last scheduled day of the session, had
already passed. Representatives demanded
that the problem be settled immediately. But this was merely the surface of the affair
underneath, the truth was that around
the presidential problem there hung the atmosphere of a party revolt.
A group composed of NISHIKATA MATSUDA, MIYOSAI, FUJII, and BABA, who had been busy
interviewing Finance Minister SHIBUSAWA
manifested their opposition against present staff members of the Party for their responsibility
in failing to solve the
presidential problem. If the problem is not settled by the end of the session, they
intend to force the staff members to
resign their posts, or depending on who is recommended as president, they may leave
the Party and inaugurate a new one
themselves before the general elections. This is the true state of affairs now. Toward
the realization of this purpose, a
committee consisting of members was formed for the selection of a president at the
voluntary representatives conference the
other day. Thus they demonstrated their attitude of no confidence in the staff members
of the Party.
On the other hand, such Party leaders as Chief Secretary TSURUMI, SAITO and ICHIMIYA,
firmly insisted that UGAKI should be
recommended as president. As the result of negotiations with UGAKI, it seemed that
he and the Party agreed perfectly in
political ideology. On the night of the 15th a managers' meeting will be held, at
which this problem will be discussed and
final decision will be made. Accordingly it is predicted that the president of the
party will be UGAKI.
However, TANABE, TAKAHASHI, and SAKUTA insist on recommending MACHIDA for president,
and, in consequence, a certain amount of
difficulty is presumed before this opposition is overcome and UGAKI is finally chosen.
ITEM 2 The Last President of the Privy Council-The Mainichi Shimbun-16 December 1945. Translator: S. Kawasaki.
Extract:
Baron SUZUKI, Kuntaro, President of the Privy Council, and successor to Baron KAHIRAUMA,
settled down at OKAMOTO's residence
HONGO-Ku, NISHIKAIA-Machi, after the ceremony of installation by His Majesty, the
Emperor. Then, he was interviewed by a
reporter and answered certain questions. He had lived alone at his home, gardening
in fine weather, and reading on [illegible]days. However, he is again in the center of exciting political circles. "Why, "he
was asked, "did he
accept such a important must?"
Baron SUZUKI said, "Although I finished a long service and retired
POLITICAL SERIES: 90 (Continued)
ITEM 2 (Continued)
from the political world, I could not resist accepting this position as successor
to Baron HIRANUMA".
"You mean there was no suitable person other than yourself?" The reporter asked.
"Well", SUZUKI sain, "I am at a loss for an answer to such question. I frankly believe
that JAPAN will be in a bad way in the
future. Though I am old I must do what I, can. Therefore, when I received this offer
from TOKYO, I accepted."
"Have you any ideas concerning the problem of rights of the Privy Council, or the
one of its maintenance and abolition?"
"No, I have not. However, it the Japanese Government operates with the Diet as its
center, it is only natural that the rights
of the Privy Council be restricted, I think. Is not impossible that I may be the last
President of the Privy Council, is
it?
"When we observe that the SHIEHARA Cabinet, is urged on only by the Supreme Command,
we wonder whether the Cabinet really
desires the reconstruction of JAPAN. What do you think, Baron SUZUKI?"
"Since we are living constantly changing days, we can not help but feel at a loss
as to how to begin our affairs. However,
this was bound to happen and we must be ready to help each other out."
"In the problem of war responsibly," the reporter said, "Prince NASHIMOTO has already
been imprisoned. It is reported from the
UNITED STATES, that the war responsibility of the Emperor has continuously been dismissed.
What do you thin of this?"
"Again, I am at a loss as to now to answer. However, when I saw, the morning, paper
of 14 December, in which a photograph of
His Majesty, the Emperor, accompaneid by the Empress, going to the Imperial Palace
of the Empress Dowager, I was so glad, that
tears came into my eyes. It is awesome to relate that the Emperor whishes to become
acquainted with the people as much as
possible, I think".
ITEM 3 The records of six noted incidents ordered-Yomiuri-Hochi-16 December 1945. Translator: S. Sano.
Full Translation:
Allied Headquarters ordered the Japanese Government to present all the records and
documents concerned with the following six
noted incidents which occured between 1932 and 1940. These documents contain the records
of police or other investigations,
plus the records of trials of those who were connected with the incidents. All of
these must be submitted by 1200 19
December.
- 1.KETSUMEI-Dan, Incident.
- 2.Incident of 15 May.
- 3.JIMPEITAI Incident.
- 4.NAGATA Incident.
- 5.Incident of 26 February.
- 6.The plot for the assassination of Bremier YONAI and the Imperial Household Minister, MATSUDAIRA.
The KETSUMEI-DAN Incident was organized by INOVA, Nisho, and 13 men in February 1932.
They planned and excuted the overthrow
of the old influ-
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POLITICAL SERIES: 90 (Continued)
ITEM 3 (Continued)
ences of the political parties, the plutocracies, and privileged classes. KONUMA,
Masashi assasinated UNOUE, Junnosuke on 9
February, and HISHINUMA, Goro assassinated DAN, Tokuma on 9 March. The plots were
exposed at that time and all the members
were arrested by 21 March of the same year.
The incident of 15 May involved Army and Navy soldiers in active service and 47 civilians
who, dissatisfied with the
conditions of the Nation and inspired by dangerous thoughts, what and killed INUKAI,
Tsuyoshi, the Premier at his official
residence, and tried to cut off all lights in TOKYO. Speedy and systematic actions
saved the situation. The emergency cabinet
formed was headed by Admiral SAITO, Minoru.
The JIMPEITAI Incident followed the KETSUMEI-DAN, and 15 May incidets. It was planned
by AMANO, Tetsunosuke, a reserve
Lieutenant Colonel, MAIDA, Torao of the Patriotic Labor Party, and 45 other men. They
aimed at the immediate reform of the
Nation but failed. They planned to carry out a coup d'etat by attacking, the Ministers
while they were meeting in the cabinet.
Bombs were to be dropped on the Premier's official residence and the metropolitan
police Board Office by Lieutenant-Commander
YAMACTUCHI, Sabino at 1100 on 7 July 1933. However, this plot was exposed before it
could be carried out.
In the NAGATA Incident, Lieutenant Colonel AIZAWA, Saburo, attached to the Formosan
Army was dissatisfied with the personal
administration of the Army by Lieutenant-General NAGATA, Tetsuzan, Cheif of the Bureau
of Army Affairs. AIZAWA frequently
requested NAGATA resignation, but it was never obtained. On August 1934, AIZAWA called
on NAGATA, at his office and after a
heated argument AIZAWA killed NAGATA with a Japanese sword.
The Incident of 26 February was headed by Captain NOHARA, Shiro, and other young
army officers who desired national reform.
This group planned to abolish the privileged classes, namely, the GUMBATSU who had
disturbed the dignity of the EMPEROR. Early
on the morning of 26 February 1936, they attached the Premier's official residence,
the name of Admiral SAITO (Lord Keeper of
the Privy Seal), the home of General WATANABE (Inspector General of Education), the
home of General MAKINO, (former Lord
Keeper of the Privy Seal). The home of Admiral SUZUKI, (the Grand Chamberlain), and
that of TAKAHASHI (the Finance Minister).
They used 2400 soldiers, a detachment of the 3rd Regiment of the Imperial Guards,
and others.
As a result, SAITO, WATANABE, and TAKAHASHI were killed; SUZUKI received a serious
wound, and Commander MATSUO, the cousin of
Premier OKADA, was killed instead of the Premier. Though the group intrenched itself
at important places in NAGATA-Cho,
KOJIMACHI-Ku, this incident was suppressed after three days by the determined efforts
of the military forces without
bloodshed.
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