The Evening Star (April 22, 1946)
Tokyo cabinet resigns under party pressure
Step held necessary to stabilize politics after election split
TOKYO (AP) – Premier Kijuro Shidehara and his cabinet resigned in a group tonight under pressure from the leading political parties, who were expected to join the deposed leaders in forming a new cabinet.
All ministers agreed to the resignation after Shidehara and Cabinet Secretary Wataru Narashi explained that this action was “necessary to stabilize the political situation,” Narashi said in announcing the decision.
Shidehara became premier six months ago after a series of political shakeups which followed Japan’s surrender.
Next regime uncertain
The action, predicted since no party succeeded in gaining a majority in the April 12 election, came after a series of political maneuvers so complex that they dazzled the ordinary Japanese and left the makeup of the next government obscure.
The 74-year-old premier took his resignation to the Imperial Palace shortly after 7 p.m. Tokyo time (5 a.m. EST). Emperor Hirohito accepted it in a one-hour audience, but followed with the traditional practice of asking Shidehara to remain in office until his successor could be appointed.
Foreign Minister Shigeru Yoshida conveyed the resignation decision to Gen. MacArthur previously through one of supreme headquarters’ staff officers.
The first full-time occupation cabinet, appointed soon after the surrender, ended its six months’ reign under fire from all but one political party, all Tokyo newspapers, most trade unions and other organizations.
Criticized for months
Criticism has been almost constant the last four months over the cabinet’s failure to solve the food problem and other difficulties connected with living under rehabilitation conditions.
Blame for the livelihood problems and growing distrust of what was called a “do nothing” cabinet were the basic factors in Shidehara’s downfall. But organized political opposition finally forced the resignations – evidently made according to plan – after Shidehara repeatedly announced he intended to remain in office until the next Diet.
The Progressive Party, of which Shidehara is scheduled to become president tomorrow, supplied the final push to the cabinet which teetered precariously in two other major crises in the past few months. The Progressives refused to accept Shidehara as president until he resigned as premier.
Shidehara, as Progressive (a conservative party) president, was expected to start individual conferences immediately for a coalition cabinet with Ichiro Hatoyama, president of the Liberals (conservative) and Tetsu Katowyma, Social Democrat leader (left of center). He plans then to hold a combined conference with them. On the basis of their meetings the next premier will be named, providing the political leaders can agree.
May head new coalition
This will be the first party government in more than 10 years.
Informed Japanese said Hirohito will have no part in actual selection of the next premier.
Many believe Shidehara will be chosen to head a new coalition cabinet.
Japanese speculated that the Liberal Party, which gained 139 seats in the recent Diet election, might be given four portfolios, and the Progressives and Social Democrats each three. The Progressives won 93 seats, the Social Democrats 92. The cabinet consists of eight regular ministries and a maximum of four without portfolio.
The biggest question mark is the status of Hatoyama. He has said he wanted to be premier, but he still is under investigation by supreme headquarters and the Japanese government for possible disqualification. He once wrote a book expressing admiration for Hitler and Mussolini.
Stabilizing factor sought
Others mentioned in preliminary speculation include Yukio Ozaki, 87, parliamentary veteran who was re-elected as an Independent.
Narashi, explaining the cabinet resignation, said, “the Shidehara cabinet prior to the election had the function of conducting the elections fairly and with justice. The mission of the cabinet after the elections was to find the Democratic stabilizing factor among the parties elected by this fair election and to give a start to the construction of a new Japan.”
Shidehara apparently decided to resign after a conference this morning with Ken Inukai, a Progressive leader who informed the premier he could not assume the party presidency until he resigned.
Previously two of Shidehara’s ministers, Narahashi and Takeshige Ishiguro, minister with portfolio, had been active lining up Progressives and Independents to give the nonpartisan premier a political backing in the newly elected House of Representatives. As a result Shidehara will have votes to bargain with in conversations with the Liberals and Social Democrats.
Shidehara wras named premier unwillingly, he said, October 9, 1945, after the resignation of Prince Naruhiko Higashi-Kuni.
The Shidehara cabinet almost fell in December as a result of Supreme Headquarters’ order for agrarian reform and elimination of military pensions.
It wavered again in January when formed to reorganize after Gen. MacArthur ordered a purge of ultra-Nationalists. The cabinet was reorganized a second time as the purge extended.
Shidehara remained in office despite increasing opposition, because political opponents were not organized sufficiently until after the election.
Demands for resignation – which included several leftist-sponsored rallies – reached a crescendo just before the election when demonstrations clashed with police at Shidehara’s residence.