General election in Japan (4-10-46)

1

The Evening Star (April 10, 1946)

Women lead 25,000,000 Japs to polls for election of Diet

TOKYO (AP) – Twenty-five million Japanese – led by a surprisingly large number of women who lined up early at polling places – today elected a postwar government in their first free election in generations. Four hundred sixty-eight Diet seats are at stake.

The Tokyo vote was between 65 and 70 percent of those eligible – slightly higher than the confused and semi-restricted 1937 election, but considerably less than the 86 percent under Hideki Tojo’s coercion that marked the 1942 voting. A slightly higher trend was perceptible in several nearby rural communities.

Limited communications and slowness of election procedure prevented accurate reports from such key cities as Osaka, where balloting started slowly, with only 10 percent cast by 9 a.m. Polls opened at 7 a.m. and closed at 6 p.m. This was a national holiday, to encourage balloting.

Early queues at Tokyo’s polling places led some Japanese observers to alter their previous predictions of a 75 percent turnout, but the lines slackened in the afternoon.

However, the number of women voters exceeded expectations. In Tokyo more than 50 percent of those eligible went to the polls, whereas prognosticators – both male and female – had expected little more than 25 percent of them to turn out.

Many who asked for ballots were unable to vote because of mixed records and poorly coordinated registration, partially due to recent population shifts.

This led some Communist leaders immediately to demand, through the Japanese press, that a new election be held.

The Tojo election of 1942, limited to voting by heads of families, brought an 83 percent national turnout, topped by 86 percent in Tokyo where coercion was strongest. Tokyo’s 1937 vote was 63 percent.

An incomplete, midafternoon count showed Tokyo’s heaviest vote came from predominately working class and silk-stocking wards. Heavily bombed Shibuya, where thousands still live in metal shacks, voted 70 percent.

In nearby Hachioji, a farming community, 83 percent of more than 33,000 eligible voters cast ballots. Seventy-seven percent voted in Tachikawa, also on the edge of Tokyo.

Many take babies to polls

Women voters outnumbered the men in surprisingly heavy, early morning turnouts in five rural communities near Tokyo and appeared at Tokyo’s major booths in increasing numbers.

Many entered polling places with babies strapped to their backs. Others left children in impromptu nurseries. In one big Tokyo labor ward, Shinagawa, a temporary nursery was overflowing with babies by 9 a.m., two hours after the polls opened.

By 10 o’clock, 40 percent of all eligible voters in rural Utsunomiya community had cast ballots – with women predominating. Women also were in the majority among early voters in Ashikaga, Tachikawa, Kawagoya and Miyabachi, outside the capital. They outnumbered men four to one in Ashikaga during the first three hours.

County reports due tomorrow

There was no indication of trend. First reports of the count are expected late tomorrow.

Political experts earlier had forecast victory for Conservatives, but with no single party winning a majority of the Diet.

White-helmeted American military police and British troopers patrolled steadily, ready to act at any indication of coercion or intimidation of voters by employers, landlords or police. Among observers was W. McMahon Ball, British Commonwealth representative on the Allied council for Japan.

Brig. Gen. Courtney Whitney of the Allied headquarters military government section commented favorably on the orderliness of the Japanese.

Reds say voting is held with ‘unjustified speed’

MOSCOW (AP) – The Soviet government newspaper Izvestia, in a dispatch from Tokyo, declared today that the Japanese elections were being held with “unjustified speed” and that the average Japanese was but little interested.

The dispatch said Communist candidates had little chance because the rightist candidates have “unlimited spending money” and the “so-called neutral candidates” represent the powerful, reactionary upper classes.

2

The Pittsburgh Press (April 10, 1946)

Take babies to polls –
Jap women vote for first time

Tokyo balloting is brisk and orderly

TOKYO (UP) – Japanese mothers with babies strapped to their backs and millions of other women emancipated by American decree voted today in Japan’s first national election under its modified democratic system.

Early balloting to choose 466 members of the new Diet was brisk and orderly. U.S. Army poll-watching teams posted by Gen. Douglas MacArthur to prevent illegal voting found little to do.

An unexpected number of women crowded into the polls when voting began at 7 a.m. (Tokyo time) to cast ballots for the first time in Japanese history. Several mothers carrying babies were among the 60 women to vote the first hour in Tokyo.

Voting was done in schools and ward offices. Government offices, schools and banks were closed and railroads suspended rush-hour restrictions against the general public to let the populace vote early.

There were 40 million voters registered. They had to choose the 466 victors from a list of 2,782 candidates that included two Buddhist priest who campaigned on a motorcycle. Eighty-two women sought office.

Between 8,000 and 10,000 voters in Tokyo were unable to participate because some 3,000 families were isolated with smallpox and typhus.

Most of the candidates were political unknowns. Almost all the better-known politicians have been blacklisted by Gen. MacArthur’s occupation decrees. The new Diet will consider the proposed Japanese constitution outlawing war.

In an eve-of-the-polls estimate, the Kyodo News Agency predicted that the Liberal Party would win 144 of the 466 seats, followed by the Progressive, Social Democrats, Cooperatives and Communists in that order. It predicted only six seats for the Communists.

3

The Evening Star (April 11, 1946)

Three parties running close race in count of Japanese ballots

TOKYO (AP) – Three major parties today were running a close race for membership of Japan’s 468-seat House of Representatives. Communists were trailing far behind. Nine women appeared certain of election.

Scattered nationwide results from yesterday’s first postwar election gave the Social Democratic Party 25 seats, the Progressives 24 and the Liberals 23. The Communists were certain of only three so far. At least six independents and one People’s Party candidate also were elected.

Results still are too incomplete to indicate the final makeup of the House. The Progressives failed to win a seat in Tokyo on the basis of early returns.

Cabinet secretary wins

Premier Shidehara’s cabinet sparkplug, Chief Secretary Wataru Narahashi, was elected from Fukuoka Prefecture on Kyushu.

Narahashi immediately announced the Shidehara cabinet would remain in office at least until convocation of the next special Diet session, probably on May 10. The press quoted Narahashi as saying he planned creation of a new political party, probably a coalition, with Shidehara as its head.

Kyuichi Tokuda, secretary general of the Communist party, who led a 14-man committee into Shidehara’s office Monday to demand the premier’s immediate resignation, was one of the Communists definitely elected. Another was Party Leader Sanni Nosaka, who recently returned from exile in Yenan and was one of the most personally popular of all candidates in Tokyo.

The close race led to immediate speculation that a tri-party coalition would organize the next cabinet.

Early returns indicated a 72 percent national vote.

Among the Social Democrats elected was Tetsu Katayama, the party’s secretary-general.

Liberal leader elected

Two members of Premier Shidehara’s cabinet and one leader each of the Liberal and Progressive parties were among those definitely elected.

Ichiro Hatoyama, president of the Liberal party who recently was criticized for his 1938 book applauding Hitler and Mussolini, led Tokyo’s first district.

The Progressive Party, the most conservative of the major groups, was running behind the Liberals and Social Democrats in urban districts, but appeared to be stronger elsewhere in the country. In Tokyo’s first district, the top Progressive candidate was seventh.

Welfare Minister Hitoshi Ashida of the Liberal Party was assured of election from Kyoto Prefecture. Takao Saito, a veteran firebrand in the House and a Progressive leader, was re-elected from Kobe. Saito was expelled from the old Minseito Party in 1940 for criticizing the army from the House floor.

Former baroness wins

The first two candidates assured of victory were Mrs. Satoko Togano, 38, of the People’s Party, and 87-year-old Yukio Ozaki. Mrs. Togano’s husband had been ousted from the Diet by Gen. MacArthur’s political purge. Ozaki, who had served in every Japanese Parliament in modern times, recently permitted himself to be quoted as favoring the Communist-sponsored Democratic front, but ran as an independent.

Mrs. Shizue Kato, formerly the Baroness Ishimoto, a well-known prewar birth-control advocate, led Tokyo’s second district. She ran on the Social Democratic ticket. Her husband, Kanju Kato, an officer of that party, was running second in Ise Prefecture.

The Home Ministry ordered prefectural governors to investigate widespread reports that hundreds had been unable to vote because of improper registration, faulty records and other errors. Some Communists demanded a new election, citing this asserted disqualification which a party spokesman blamed on “sabotage by the emperor-system administration setup.”

Communists also charged that many war criminals participated in the campaign.

Records to be scrutinized

American sources pointed out that records of all elected candidates will be scrutinized further. They expressed belief the alleged disqualification of some voters would not be sufficient reason for calling a new election.

The only reported election abuses were a few posters erected within the 300-yard limit of polling places.

4

The Pittsburgh Press (April 11, 1946)

Sizeable vote received by Reds in Japan

But Communists lag behind other parties

TOKYO (UP) – The Communist Party showed unexpected strength today in early returns from the Japanese national election. But it trailed the dark horse Social Democrats and the powerful conservative-minded Progressive and Liberal parties by large margins.

The Social Democrats held an early lead with 37 candidates definitely seated in the election to chose 466 members of the Diet (parliament). The Liberals had elected 35, the Progressives 34, the Communists three, co-operative three, minor parties 10 and independents 35.

Fifteen women were among those who had won on the basis of early returns chiefly from urban sections.

Counting of an estimated 30 million ballots still was far from complete. But competent observers predicted that the Communists might win 15 seats. The most optimistic non-partisan prediction had been that they would get only six.

The surprisingly large number of women who voted in Wednesday’s election upset pre-balloting calculations of the outcome. An estimated 70 percent of the eligible women cast ballots, roughly double the number anticipated.

Communists complained that more than 700,000 eligible voters were prevented from voting “because of the neglectfulness of election officials.” But Brig. Gen. Courtney Whitney, chief of Allied Headquarters Government Section, said: “We are very pleased” with the manner in which the election was conducted.

5

Hundreds of Japs vote for MacArthur

TOKYO (UP) – Hundreds of ballots in Wednesday’s election wrote in the name of Gen. Douglas MacArthur as their choice for a seat in the Jap Diet, voting inspectors reported today.

Other ballots were invalidated because they merely contained terse penciled notes demanding more food.

6

The Evening Star (April 12, 1946)

33 from 1942 Tojo Diet and 40 other former members re-elected

TOKYO (AP) – Thirty-three members of the 1942 “Tojo Diet” definitely were re-elected and 40 other former members were returned to the House of Representatives on the basis of final returns today from all but six districts in the nationwide election.

Conservative elements apparently had clinched a total majority.

With 394 of the House of Representatives’ 468 seats decided, women had won 32.

All of the 1942 representatives re-elected had passed an examination of their records, but all candidates elected will be subject to another check – and possible disqualification – before they can be seated. Several of the other 40 former legislators had been disqualified by former Premier Hideki Tojo’s regime and only now are returning to politics.

Liberals win 116 seats

By tonight the party lineup of definitely won seats was; Liberals, 116; Progressives, 86; Social Democrats, 78; Communists, 3, with three others apparently certain of victory; minor parties, 39, and independents, 72.

The Liberals and Progressives are rated as conservative, with the Social Democrats, minor parties, and Communists representing various views farther left.

This lineup means an enforced coalition in the House, which doubtless will be dominated by a conservative viewpoint. Many Social Democrats and probably most of the independents fall into this category under modem Japanese political conditions. The Socialists, however, showed surprising strength.

The Communists’ three assured and probable six seats were fewer than the 12 conceded them in pre-election prognostications.

Home Minister Chuzo Mitsuchi reported to the cabinet that the nationwide average vote was 72.3 percent – “generally better than expected.”

The remaining uncounted districts include Tokyo’s second and sizable districts in Nagasaki. Results there are not expected to alter the general trend.

Eight women lead all candidates

Of the women elected, five each are from the Progressive, Liberal and Social Democratic parties, eight from minority groups, one is a Communist and eight are independents.

Eight women were leading all candidates in their respective districts. Mrs. Michiko Yamazaki, who divorced her husband and was elected on the same day, was among the nation’s six highest vote getters with 176,000.

Mrs. Yamazaki, 46, who campaigned for “the emancipation of womanhood,” felt it necessary to divorce Kenja Yamazaki when he returned from a four-year civilian administration post in Borneo with a Borneo native for a wife and two children. Normally, a Japanese woman pledges to stick by her husband, come what may.

Japanese men still shook their heads at the surprising turnout and solidarity of the women’s vote. Some privately opined that “novelty attracted them this time. There probably won’t be so much interest or so many successful woman candidates at the next election.”

First use of franchise

Women, on the other hand, said “this shows how we want to take advantage of our new freedom.” It was the first time they had been granted the franchise.

Observers agreed that the emperor’s appeal to the women was important in drawing the feminine vote.

Three of the women definitely elected stepped into the campaign after their husbands were disqualified by Gen. MacArthur’s political purge directive. It was not clear whether their husbands would speak through them.

Mrs. Haru Wazaki, 61, one of Japan’s early suffragette leaders, was elected in Akita Prefecture. A 28-year-old woman, Miss Kiloko Miki, was elected in Osaka and 30-year-old Shizue Yamaguchi was chosen in Tokyo.

The nation’s leading vote getter appeared to be a relatively unknown school principal, Atsuo Kiyakawa of Hiroshima, who polled more than 200,000. He campaigned as an independent.

Editorial: Japan goes to the polls

By American standards, at least, Japanese women were assigned by tradition to an inferior status in Japan and their enfranchisement under American occupation directives provoked doubt as to their interest, or even their willingness, in becoming a part of the electorate. The elections this week seem to have resolved all dispute on the question.

According to the news dispatches, they flocked to the voting booths, many carrying their babies on their backs. Their participation in the balloting was one factor in rolling up an estimated 72 percent national vote – compared with the 54.2 percent of the qualified voters who took part in our most recent elections in 1944.

This response by the women of Japan and by so large a proportion of those eligible to vote can be interpreted as a most favorable sign of the success, so far, of American occupation policy. Perhaps because of the poor showing made by the Japanese Communists, some Russian Soviet press comment has attempted to cast reflection on the freedom, if not the validity, of the elections.

But they have been fair elections. American occupation authorities have been scrupulous, not merely in their insistence on free elections but in keeping hands off during the pre-election campaigning. There were Japanese candidates – one of them was elected – who spent the war in exile or in prison because of their political complexion. Japan, an occupied country, has held its first election in which the people were free to speak and vote as they pleased, without fear of reprisal for speaking or voting the wrong way.

The quality of the new office holders chosen in the election remains to be seen. Many of them may fail to measure up to the standards of efficiency in government attained by their predecessors during and before the war. Many of them may be wholly without experience and judgment and a normal percentage of them may qualify for the lunatic fringe. But the elections will begin to fill the vacuum in the government of Japan caused by the removal by Gen. MacArthur’s directive of so many “undesirable persons” because of their association with the wartime regime. Whatever the nature of the weaknesses the successful candidates may reveal, they are at least the choice of the Japanese people.

7

The Pittsburgh Press (April 12, 1946)

Four conservative parties leading in Jap elections

22 women gain seats in Diet; reshuffling of coalition cabinet expected

TOKYO (UP) – Allied sources indicated satisfaction today with the first free election in Japan’s history. Official and semi-official tabulations of 30 million votes continued to roll up a sizeable majority for four conservative parties.

The latest semi-official count for the 466 seats in the Diet’s lower house gave the Liberal Party a lead with 135 seats, the Progressives 95, the Social Democrats 87, the Cooperatives 16, Communists five, Independents 89, and minor groups 36.

Of the total, 373 are new members and 22 are women.

MacArthur statement due

Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters officials said the general was expected to issue a statement when the tabulations are complete, complimenting the Japanese on the heavy balloting.

Meanwhile, right-wing Progressives said they would support organization of a new party of Diet members to back a reshuffled coalition government.

Takao Saito, party spokesman, said that the Progressives were ready to support any administration or party – including the government of Premier Baron Kijuro Shidehara – reflecting the will of the people.

Woman typist elected

“If no single political faction gains an absolute majority,” Saito said, “there is no alternative but for various groups to form a united front.”

Saito’s comment came on the heels of his own election by a wide majority and followed announcement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Wataru Narahashi that the government was planning a new party “to stabilize the political situation.”

Both Liberal and Social Democrat Party members were reported opposed to the move.

Among Japan’s first women Diet members were the wives of two former members who were unable to run because of Gen. MacArthur’s purge directive. Other women elected included a 30-year-old typist in a bicycle factory, a 55-year-old widow who taught English in a high school, a suffragette, a graduate from Barnard College, New York, and the daughter of a poor farmer.

8

The Evening Star (April 13, 1946)

Jap premier insists on retaining office despite vote results

Leader of Liberal Party calls for coalition to oust Shidehara

TOKYO (AP) – Virtually final, unofficial returns from Japan’s general election emphasized tonight that a heavy conservative bloc would dominate the House of Representatives which meets May 10 to consider a new constitution.

Meantime, Japanese were promised a lively fight between Premier Shidehara, who is determined to retain his cabinet until the constitution has been adopted, and Liberal Party Leader Ichiro Hatoyama, who wants to form a coalition government.

With only one seat of the 466 member House to be filled, newspaper figures gave the Liberals – who actually are conservative – 141 seats, a lead of 48 over their nearest rivals, the Progressives, who also are conservative. The Progressive membership was reduced by tonight’s figures to 93.

House to meet with 465

With their total of 234 votes, the two parties hold a bare majority, but may get support from many of the 80 independents and some of the 92 Social Democrats elected. The latter has both right and left factions. Other seats went to: Minor parties, 39; Cooperatives, 14, and Communists, 5.

The House will meet with 465 members. A last-minute change in the election law eliminated two seats previously scheduled to be added to the 466 House membership. One seat will remain vacant because the leading candidate in Fukui Prefecture failed to obtain the minimum total necessary for election. A special election next month may fill that vacancy.

Since the Japanese normally have been politically conservative, the results had been anticipated, although it was expected that the newly enfranchised women and young men would give some support to left-wing Socialists and Communists.

Calls for ouster coalition

Hatoyama, who recently acknowledged he wrote a book praising Hitler and Mussolini but said he later disavowed it, called for a coalition to oust the aging Shidehara’s cabinet.

However, Chief Cabinet Secretary Wataru Narahashi said tonight that Shidehara is determined to continue his administration to the close of the special Diet session. He wants to complete drafting Japan’s new constitution. The special Diet will consist of members elected Wednesday.

Narahashi said the elections did not seek a vote of confidence from the people, but were held because a new election law had been enacted. Therefore, it is not necessary that the government resign en bloc and it would not have been even had one party emerged with an overwhelming majority, he reasoned.

Mayor of Sendai resigns

Meantime, Kyodo News Agency reported that the Mayor of Sendai resigned and an election official at Yahata village was reported by police to have committed suicide to accept responsibility for alleged mass disqualification of voters.

Eight thousand were reported to have been denied the right to vote in Sendai for various reasons.

Assessing the results of the election, in which women voted for the first time and chose at least 35 of their sex to the Diet, the influential newspaper Asahi said: “The fact many votes were cast for old influences, such as the progressive and liberal parties, demonstrates that realities do not change at a jump. … We must remember that old spheres of influence still continue to be strong and that these feudalists, conservative spheres constitute the greatest impediment to freedom on progress in the democratic revolution of Japan.”

Warning seen in results

Yomiuri Hochi commented, “If the people do not maintain strict vigilance… the results may become the start of a big offensive for reactionary influences.”

Mainichi noted the successes of the women, of leftist candidates and of “unknown men,” they said: “The government should honestly recognize that a fearful warning candidly was given in the result…”

9

The Pittsburgh Press (April 13, 1946)

3 Jap parties may unite in new cabinet

Win 322 of 466 seats in parliament

TOKYO (UP) – Leaders of Japan’s Liberal, Progressive and Social Democratic parties expressed willingness today to discuss formation of a coalition government. Final semi-official election returns gave them 322 of the 466 seats in the Diet (Parliament).

Attention was focused on the possible formation of a coalition and on Premier Baron Kijuro Shidehara, who has ignored demands that his government resign.

The three leading Conservative parties piled up an impressive majority. Final semi-official tabulation of the 30 million votes cast gave the Liberals 139 seats, the Social Democrats 92, Progressives 91, Cooperatives 16, Communists 5, Independents 84 and minor parties 38.

One fails to win seat

The total was only 465 because Social Democrat Yoshio Domori failed by 83 votes to win the minimum total required by law, although he placed fifth in the contest for five seats in Fukui Prefecture. A re-election will be held to determine the fifth seat.

Of the total elected, 38 were women and 374 never have served in the Jap parliament before.

Ichiro Hatoyama, head of the Liberal Party, said his group would not demand the immediate resignation of the Shidehara Cabinet but that he thought “they should step out soon.”

Ready for coalition

Hatoyama reiterated that the Liberals are prepared to form a coalition with the Progressives and the Social Democrats.

A cabinet minister who wanted his name withheld said that Shidehara will resign “probably within a week or 10 days” as a result of the election.

10

The Evening Star (April 14, 1946)

Strongly conservative majority to rule Diet

TOKYO (AP, April 13) – Japan’s new House of Representatives, scheduled to meet May 10 to consider a new constitution, will have a strong conservative majority dominating its deliberations.

Preponderance of conservatives in the new house was emphasized in the virtually final unofficial returns tonight from Wednesday’s general election. The Liberal and Progressive parties together can command a small majority of seats. Both actually are conservatives despite their names and are likely to have strong support from right-wing Social Democrats and conservative elements among the independents.

The lineup, with only one seat of the 465-member house to be filled, stood: Liberals 141, Progressives 93, Social Democrats 92, Independents 80, minor parties 39, Co-operatives 14, Communists five.

A lively fight loomed between Premier Shidehara, who is determined to keep his cabinet in power until the new constitution has been adopted, and Liberal Party Leader Ichiro Hatomaya, who wants to form a coalition government.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Wataru Narahashi, explaining Shidehara’s attitude, said the elections did not involve a vote of confidence or non-confidence from the people, but were held because a new election law had been enacted. Therefore, he argued, it is not necessary that the government resign en bloc, and would not have been necessary even had one party emerged with a clear majority.

11

The Evening Star (April 15, 1946)

Session of new Diet will be convoked in Japan next month

TOKYO (AP) – The government will convoke a new Diet session next month, placing the political life of the Shidehara cabinet in the balance, it was announced today.

Meanwhile, in protest to the conduct of last week’s election, two mayors were reported to have resigned, and Kyodo News Agency said the governor of Iwate Prefecture in Northern Honshu had promised to quit if carelessness was shown in his jurisdiction, where it was charged that 10,000 were prevented from voting.

An authoritative source asserted that consideration of the election probably would dominate Wednesday’s session of the four-power Far Eastern Advisory Committee. The same sources added that the session, first business meeting of the council, would be “very important.”

Protests from widely scattered parts of the nation charged that thousands had been denied ballots because of government errors, Kyodo said, and reported that despite acknowledgement of the responsibility for the situation, the Home Ministry was urging officials in prefectures and municipalities to stand fast and not resign.

The ministry contended, the news agency said, that such errors were unavoidable under the rapid changes in government and existing election laws.

At Morioha, in Iwate Prefecture, a mass meeting sponsored by Communists, Socialists and the Labor and Farmers Federations demanded both the governor’s resignation and a new election.

The Morioha meeting also opposed formation of a coalition government headed by Ichiro Hatoyama, leader of the conservative “Liberal” party which collected the greatest single block of Diet seats at the election.

In Tokyo, Hatoyama disclosed that the Liberal Party soon would seek an alignment with the Progressives and Social Democrats.

Hatoyama also attacked the government of Premier Shidehara, asserting that a move to keep the party in power through the forthcoming new Diet’s life was unconstitutional and a disgrace to the Japanese constitutional history.

12

The Evening Star (April 16, 1946)

Shidehara sees duty to stay as premier; hints at coalition

TOKYO (AP) – Premier Shidehara said today he feels it is his duty to Japan to stay on the job and that he might break a lifelong precedent by “making connections with” existing political parties to keep his cabinet in office.

The 73-year-old baron was asked at a press conference whether any suggestion from Gen. MacArthur had persuaded him to retain office since Wednesday’s general election. “Absolutely not,” he declared.

He firmly rebuffed a Japanese reporter’s sharp challenge that public opinion demanded that he step down “and abide by the outcome” of the nation’s first democratic election.

Shidehara said no party had won a majority and that the situation could not be stabilized by the resignation of his government. On the other hand, he said, he felt a responsibility in seeing Japan’s new constitution – which outlaws war through the special Diet session, scheduled to open May 13.

In the past, whatever government happened to be in power “unfortunately influenced every election,” but his government took no part in the balloting, he said. The government had no party on the ballot.

Liberals received the largest number of Diet seats – approximately one-third – and immediately suggested a coalition with other conservative elements to form a new government. The Liberal Party leader, Ichiro Hatoyama, demanded Shidehara’s resignation and frankly told newsmen he expected to become premier. However, he is moving cautiously.

The premier said he was “giving deep consideration” to making connections with existing political parties to form a majority party of which he possibly would be the president. This would give his government the necessary support in the Diet.

Shidehara recalled that he never had been connected with any party. He commented “democratic practice now would require me or my government to establish relations with the parties. There must be a base in one of these parties from which to create a majority party.”

13

Editorial: Japan’s election results

Almost complete returns from Japan’s first general election under the new dispensation, with an electorate doubled by woman suffrage and aggregating nearly 40,000,000, bear out pre-election predictions that the new Parliament would be controlled by the conservative and moderate parties. The score is as follows: Liberals, 141; Progressives, 93; Social Democrats, 92; Co-operatives, 14; Communists, 5; Independents, 8, and minor parties, 39.

For the outsider these party labels need interpreting. Realistically translated, we find that the so-called Progressives are doctrinally the most conservative of all the parties represented in the coming Parliament – the former militarist and jingo nationalist organizations having been screened out by the Allied high command and debarred from participation in the elections. Somewhat less conservative are the Liberals, who head the poll. Taken together, these two parties, with so much in common, fall just short of a majority in the coming Parliament and will thus form the backbone of any cabinet. The large block of Independents are ideologically not far from the two leading groups and might be the third member of a government fairly agreed in general outlook and on basic policies.

The chief surprise of the elections was the unexpectedly strong showing made by the Social Democrats. Though not nearly as radical as their name suggests, the Social Democrats stand considerably to the left of the parties just mentioned in their economic and social outlook. Politically, their outstanding difference from the conservatives and moderates is their belief that the status of the imperial house should be modified, with the emperor becoming a symbol, as in Britain, standing above politics and with no direct participation therein. Their social progressivism can be judged by the decisive victory won by one of their woman candidates, Mrs. Shizue Kato, long known as the “Margaret Sanger of Japan,” her advocacy of birth control having brought down upon her official persecution in prewar days. The Communists, open advocates of a social revolution and the abolition of the throne, got nowhere, with only five seats in the coming Parliament, despite the noise and tumult they made during the campaign.

Setting at rest fears of many Japanese that a victory of the conservative and moderate groups might cause the Allied control to set aside the elections, Gen. MacArthur’s headquarters has indicated that the results were “satisfactory,” thereby turning down objections voiced before the Far Eastern Commission, especially by Soviet Russia, that the elections should have been postponed until the Japanese were more “politically conscious.” MacArthur is known to feel that delay would probably have resulted in a more, rather than less, conservative Parliament, as Japan’s growing difficulties might increase popular feelings of disillusionment, frustration and discontent at a bleak future.

14

The Evening Star (April 17, 1946)

Criticism by Russia brings sharp reply from MacArthur

Allied Council is told probe of past actions is not part of its job

TOKYO (AP) – Gen. MacArthur replied to Russian criticism by bluntly telling the four-power Allied Council today that consideration of his past actions in administering Japan was no part of its job.

And his military government officer asserted that Russia’s questioning of Allied occupation policy, “whether in good faith or not… is a warning that success of the occupation is threatened.”

Gen. MacArthur told the council in a written statement that its “responsibility, being exclusively advisory and consultative, does not involve a review of action heretofore taken in the administration of Japan.”

His military government officer, Brig. Gen. Courtney Whitney, said the Japanese government was complying with the purge directive “as fast as consistent with occupation policies.”

Gen. MacArthur also replied to a Russian request that a new election be held if an “undesirable” Diet were chosen in last Wednesday’s balloting. He indicated some successful candidates would be investigated further, and added: “It is essential that the supreme commander issue no statement and avoid any action which might seem to bring pressure for or against any particular party or group.”

Gen. MacArthur also refused a request for drafts of imperial rescripts, government legislative acts and orders of the ministers and ministries at least 10 days prior to issuance. “To require such delay of the Japanese government,” he said, “would but cause practical suspension of its administrative functions.”

Russian charges that certain undesirable persons were not being removed from office and that democratization of Japan was thus endangered brought a brusque reply from Gen. Whitney before Gen. MacArthur’s statement was read.

“So far as I know,” Gen. Whitney declared, “neither the member from the USSR nor others have any knowledge of the manner of Japanese compliance with the purge directive, as they haven’t sought this information” from Allied headquarters.

Cites election against charge

The military government officer cited the election a week ago as refutation of the Soviet charge. Seventy-three percent of the eligible voters went to the polls, he said, ousting “the party in political power and moving sharply toward a more liberal concept of the relationship between government and the people.

“He who fails to see in this election a demonstration of democracy on the march… either fails to understand the meaning of democracy or is blinded by prejudice,” Gen. Whitney asserted.

Gen. Whitney asked that Allied occupation policies be given credit for the “demonstration of democracy” on election day, and that the Japanese be credited for an attempt to attain democracy.

Gen. MacArthur, replying to a council suggestion that it be given copies of all directives exchanged between headquarters and the Japanese government, said members already had enough material, which “if digested, should bring them fully abreast of the present situation.”

Gen. Whitney, however, declared he would furnish the Russians with all requested information on the purge program “if it takes all summer.”

‘Whitney’s filibuster’

With that, he launched into a review of the background, reasons for and effects of the purge. Observers termed the discussion “Whitney’s filibuster,” suggesting it might discourage questioning in the future.

As the Council reconvened for the afternoon session, British and Russian members indicated they would like Gen. Whitney to suspend his review. However, the Chinese member, Gen. Chu, suggested Gen. Whitney be allowed to continue “as a matter of courtesy.” The British member agreed and Gen. Whitney went on.

Russia’s request for information on a possible purge of new Diet members and a possible investigation of Japanese compliance with Allied decrees in general was submitted before today’s business session.

“Official matters” listed for Council discussion include the land reform program, Allied food policy in Japan and means of enforcing the dissolution of Japanese holding companies.

The United States, Russia, the British Commonwealth and China make up the Council.

15

The Evening Star (April 19, 1946)

Shidehara refuses to quit as premier

TOKYO (AP) – Premier Shidehara flatly refused today to accede to demands of four political parties that he resign.

He gave his answer only a few hours after Welfare Minister Titoshi Ashida turned in his portfolio in support of the Liberal Party’s move to oust the Shidehara government. Ashida is a liberal.

The Liberal Party demand for the cabinet’s resignation was supported by the Social Democrats, and two minor parties, the Cooperative and Communist. Although the Liberals led in the number of seats won with 139, no party obtained a majority of the 466-seat Diet at the recent election.

Shidehara said he would increase his efforts to form a coalition government for the May Diet session.