JAPANESE ELECTION OUTCOME PROSPECTS FOR REARMAMENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79R00890A000500030044-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 6, 2003
• Sequence Number: 44
• Publication Date: March 12, 1955
• Content Type: BRIEF

Approved For Releas03/08 79R00890A0005Q4p30044-1
ctloa
pate d.
ult--nearly exact reversal in positiou
of Jap
12 Itarch X955
0$ OUTCOME PROSPECTS lO l'
toya*a's ; a :.rats emerged
ati ?e parti4s.
in the Diet, with substantial
plurality over two Socialist parties combined
C. De Brats now have 185 ozo Diet's 467 seats,
umber as Yoshida' s Liberals held after
tion.
D. Liberals now hold only 1L seats .
wince war's ewe., Jaau's
role of real importance.
A. The Demwcrats have only l seat in -4S O-- :at
Dow,crats
urinated by pro-Yoshi con-
ly block lower Roux
so-th.irc
use rejection.
hoe to muster such a
majority on issues mere Liberals are, split.
000WENTNO.
-trt nu w~:w,r r.e r,. w~ ..,......w,
ECIA IF!t7 !
State Dept. review completed ~~+ NEXTr ~.+
Approved For Release 2003/08/08: CIA-RDP7
25X1
 Approved For ReleaseJ?003/08/0
election result t
occupation reforms, and restore some
e with then on key issues, this offers
opportunity for some blocking.
A. maple--it Is enough to block any :onstitu-
revisIon. .
aaaen .ents as would enhance Zn eror, water
leftist strength would like to make one
conservatives alarmed over gradual grow
Article 9, which pro!
Socialists stick together, they can block
21 seats, for total 156 (exactly l/3
line,.
-es-
Japanese peopl,
tutional issue
the nation. or
ve purpose, land, sea any
of settling disputes with other nay
threat or use
by
ces, as well.
war potential
l never be maintained
:gerency of the State will not be recognized."
a favors dumping Article 9, to elimina
sunderstanding" about rearmament
B. l arsanent moasures to date are t'iater
Japan's "natural
t cmeatiag
0890A0005Q930044-1
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 Approved For Release03/08/,.79R00890A000504Q,30044-1
would, of co
continued expansion of rearnamen;
pout
constitutional issue.
vertho less , postwar Japanese Ter ent,s have all d:
itivity on this
outdistance public Opinion.
followers have probably
defeat in 1953 when they o ezl
advocated rearmament, as op,*sed to io6hi"'
of economically more - ralatable gradual
%se in " 61I-defen
Japan
ntidence vote (simple Majority)
pluxra l i t
rmaient in order to
would overthrow it.
Actually, statements by Democratic leaders
rearmament i seco
recovery, which will continue to
ty.
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 Approved For Release '2603/08/08 . 98 OA00050QW0044-1
. .8atoyana, stated (following elections)
that he planned to finance a new
Wising program through reduction
Japan's contribution to the support of
United States Security Forces.
an attempt to cover up, Foreign
on this F-IfIscal year.)
Office adviser explained
to 41mmb Allison that Ratoyaea "sprayed
his tea shots rather widely, sometimes
he fairway.,,
er Ichiaade campaigned
on promise to lover defense costs.
Japanese Cabinet decided (19 Jan) that defense
expenditures for fiscal year beginning 1 Apr 55
not exceed past year's.
1. That appropriation was $220 Billion
for E:Iforcej, $148 million for
support of US forces, was later
reduced by $12.5 million,
0
planning for future implies
T3 will have to ay for any incre
cut in
contribution
ntenance fore
Approved For Release 2 l1i%-RDP79R00890A000500030044-1