Press translations [Japan]. Editorial Series 0258, 1946-01-18.

Full Translations:

The SHIDEHARA Cabinet was critized for spending several days deciding whether it would continue in its position by reforming or resigning en masse, When the decision was finally reached more reproaches were heard condemning the reform because it was not considered sufficient to tide ever the present situation. The consensus was that the SHIDEHARA Cabinet, which had lost its popularity because of its slowness, should resign en masse, since it received a mortal blow by the recent purge directive. Nevertheless it has decided to remain.

It is not because it ever intended to enliven its new policies through reform. Its life is, as known to all, destined to last only until the next general election. The feelings of premier SIHDEHARA and his colleagues deserve our private sympathy for they know that the Cabinet is unpopular and its dignity, has been dealt mortal blow by the directive and it has but a few months left - and yet they are making great efforts to continue their tasks.

Social uneasiness is becoming more serious resulting from the food shortage, coal shortage, paralyzed transportation etc. Against this crisis the Government was very slow in taking up any practical measures, but it would be unfair to censure it as an incompetent government, because it has enacted the new Election Law, the Farm Land Law, and the Labor Union Law in less than two months since its formation and, moreover, has completed the essentials of the new taxation bills and the new Constitution draft.

Now that the SHIDEHARA Cabinet has come to the decision that it should continue its existence we must not merely criticize its policy but we must advise and encourage it by supplying it with our own constructive ideas. It may well be said that Premier SHIDEHARA has courage, since he knows the future of his administration and yet faces the difficulties of the interim cabinet boldly. Whether or not this courage of his will bring about successful results depends mainly upon the conditions which must be improved hereafter.

Above all, the Government must cast off the bureaucrats, for they are the main cause of the unpopularity of the present Government. The mere replacement of Ministers will never gain credit for the Government if it fails to remove this old evil. The people know very well that the inefficiency of the Government lies entirely in this bureauracy.

The Government should rouse itself and make every possible effort to tide over the present social, uneasiness, and then retire altogether when the coming general election has been carried out under the fair supervision of the Government.

EDITORIAL SERIES: 258 (Continued)

Full Translation:

Mr. FATTERSON, Secretary of War, arrived in TOLYO on 4 January. He had left the UNITED STATES for JAPAN in order to investigate the real aspect of JAPAN under the occupation of the Allied Powers. He issued a statement at an interview to a joint group of Japanese and foreign press reporters on 11 January. In this statement, he stressed that General MacARTHUR's occupation policies have been steadily put into practice, and with very satisfactory results. Furthermore, he gave clear answers to the questions of the reporters. Of these answers, what drew the closest attention among the Japanese was that regarding the abdication of the Emperor. That is, queried whether or not the abdication of the Emperor is necessary, Mr. PATTERSON's most clear answer was NO. He added that this problem must be solved by the Japanese Nation itself.

Heretofore, this problem has been frequently discussed both in our country and abroad. Some feared that the Emperor would be obliged to abdicate as proof of his war responsibility, and the Nation was very anxious about the outcome of this problem. Hence, nothing could have made the feelings of the Nation happier than this very clear answer given by the Secretary of War, a man in an authoritative position. It seems that by this, unrest was swept from the minds of the people. This is why we attach importance to the words of Mr. PATTERSON.

Nation Concerned with This Matter.

Is the Emperor responsible for the war? This has been the question up to the present. If the Emperor is responsible, he will be obliged to abdicate; such discussions are being made, openly and freely, both abroad and in our country. Yet, as we see it, the public opinion of our country, as a whole does not attribute war responsibility directly to the Emperor, but to those who were responsible for advising the Emperor. Hence, we think there is no one in our country who takes any notice of the discussion about the abdication of the Emperor. Yet there are some who are anxious about the fate of the Emperor. That the Allied Powers have no such intention was clarified by the simple and clear words of Mr. PATTERSON.

There are many problems regarding the treatment of defeated JAPAN about which we should like to get information from the Allied Countries. Of these problems, we were most concerned with what intentions the Allied Powers have in regard to the responsibility of the Emperor. The orders which have hitherto been issued successively by MacARTHUR's Supreme Headquarters, were not at all unexpected, although they stimulated the minds of people each time. The present statement of Mr. PATTERSON was made openly in the presence of a group of Japanese and foreign correspondents although it was not of a formal character. Hence, the Japanese Nation felt at ease when they heard this statement, for they thought they were given a public promise, and this was not expected.

Transformation to a New System.

Nevertheless, we must not forget that Mr. PATTERSON merely revealed that the Allied Powers are not concerned over the abdication of the Emperor. As he added, the solution of this problem is up to the Japanese Nation itself. In view of the relation between the Emperor System and war responsibility, and the furthering of a democratic revolution, the Emperor System must necessarily be re-investigated on the occasion of the revision of the Constitution or rather the establishment of the new Constitution. Nowadays, all the people in our country recognize the necessity of this. The fact that no one is censured any more for open and free discussion of the Emperor System, suggests in itself the trend this problem is taking. Thus, it is eagerly desired that the political situation and the rights of the Emperor be determined in the light of the new era, and the grand

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EDITORIAL SERIES: 258 (Continued)

ITEM 2 (Continued)

rights of the Emperor be drastically reformed. If the Allied Powers do not expect the abdication of the Emperor, as stated by Mr. PATTERSON, it is not far wrong to assert that it is because the Allied Powers are expecting that the Emperor System will be drastically reformed.

The statement "whether or not the abdication of the Emperor is necessary is to be decided by the Japanese Nation itself" must be interpreted to mean that the Allied Powers expect the Emperor of the old system to be transformed into that of a new system. We hope that such transformation will be realized as soon as possible.

Full Translation:

Mr. GORKI, great man of letters, having returned to SOVIET RUSSIA from Western EUROPE after a long absence, made efforts to clean and beautify the streets of MOSCOW.

Mr. NOZAKA, Sanzo, who has returned to TOKYO from YUAN after 16 years' absence, says that in order to contribute to the improvement of public life, party men should abandon over-zealousness and note the trend of public opinion.

These two men make us realize what an important contribution a good and able leader has upon the acions and life of the public. The officials and people of TOKYO ought to need Mr. GORKI, and all the polical parties in our country should listen to Mr. NOZAKA.

The abolition of licensed prostitution has finally been carried out in TOKYO. Notwithstanding the fact that the apprenticeship of a licensed prostitute was prohibited by the Cabinet's Decree in 1872, the system has flourished. It is nothing to be proud of that the abolition of licensed prostitution was not realized until now in spite of the efforts of many people since the NEIJI Period.

However, if this results in increasing numbers of street-walkers instead of licensed prostitutes, the social dishonor will still remain in JAPAN as before.

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