Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-06
STRENGTH AND WEAKNESSES
Japan Entering Period Of Vital Decision

law firm headed by former New
York Gov. Thomas z. Dewey to
handle legal matters pertaining to
Japanese trade in America.
This climate of prosperity has
helped tip the battle over neutral
ity in favor of Prime Minister
Kishi's Conservatives. His LIBERAL
Democrats have won the last three
elections, including the June 2 up
per house parliamentary balloting
in which the Socialist popular
vote declined for the first time in
the past 10 years.
This has intensified Socialist
bitterness and brought ominous
talk Of cooperation with the
Communists from the party's
dominant left wing.
A continuing population explo-
sion places all employed Japanese
in a precarious position. 1t jams
an additional 10000 workers and
nearly one million persons an
nually into the home islands de-
spite efforts for birth control.
Add to this the fact that Japan
must import rs per cent of its raw
materials and % per cent OF its
food and the tremendous scope Of
Japan's economic problem becomes
apparent.
The average japanese is a
friendly, honest. intelligent and
almost tireless worker eagerly de-
vouring and applying the best the
goth century has to offer. But he
is crippled by an all-too-near
feudalistic past that has given him
virtually no background for dis
eliminating political thought or
parliamentary democracy.
How Much They Eorn
In seven major fields Of eco
nomic activity he can earn an
average of $160 monthly with
fringe benefits ranging from a
place to sleep and his keep to sub
stantial housing, medical, trans
portation and recreational bene-
fits.
If he is a regular employe he is
hired for life and has no worries
over security, an elite member of a
laboring force totaling 1890. 900.
But If he is one of thousands of
young persons damned up on
farms. ready and willing to accept
unSkilled industrial work for as
little as about $40 monthly plus
food and lodging, life is a constant
bitter struggle.
1t has been estimated there
could be 10 million unemployed or
underemployed.
Many of Japan's college gradu-
ates end up in this group, poor,
their future uncertain, often I'M
dernourished. a ripe product for
the strong leftist influences that
pervade their student groups and
labor unions if they do find work.
In their eagerness for something
to believe in. they snap UP pat.
far-left ideas that send them
surging through the streets chant
ing, "Haiwa! HAWAI-" peace!
PeaceD in demonstrations against
American bases and the security
pact.
In fact. the Supreme Court
hearings beginning next week on
American bases stems from a stu
dent demonstration.
On March 80 the Tokyo district
court accused seven leftist stu
dents of breaking into the big
United States Tachikawa Air Base
west of Tokyo during a Demon
stration against its expansion in
the bordering village of Sunakawa.
The chief judge held Article 8 of
the Japanese constitution pro-
hibits war potential of any type.
and therefore the United States
base was illegal and the students
should go free.
The decisions that lie ahead on
neutrality or alignment with the
West will have far-reaching effects
on Japan's chances for gaining
the time it needs to solve its
problems. .t...