#14 Itō Hirobumi
"Transwar continuity," Gordon, pp. 250-51
Avoided purge
Yoshida's strategy
1) Bureaucratic and business power
2) Pursue economic growth
3) Passivity in international politics
Clauses favoring US
US military bases in Japan for peace in E. Asia
US servicemen extraterritorial privileges
Japan had no say about the location of the bases
US consent for military bases to other powers
US military intervention in Japan
Clause favoring Japan
Japan not obligated to defend US
Why would conservatives, socialists and communists oppose the treaty?
Right Wing
“New unequal treaty”
Left Wing
Threat to peace constitution
No confidence vote
Descended from the Minseitō, (People's Politics Party)
Largest block, less than majority
Advocated active foreign policy, constitutional revision
Prewar bureaucrats and politicians
Hatoyama Ichirō (Prime Minister, 1954-56)
Purged and rehabilitated
*Kishi Nobusuke (Prime Minister, 1957-60)
Manchukuo bureaucrat, served in wartime cabinets
Class A war criminal, purged and rehabilitated
Grandfather of Shinzō Abe, (PM 2012-2020)
Liberals, Right and Left Socialists
1/2 *Japan Socialist Party (JSP), Oct. 1955
"Protect peace constitution"
1 *Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Nov. 1955
Liberals+Democrats
*Kishi Nobusuke, Prime Minister 1957-60
Resigned after treaty signed
Clauses favoring US
US military bases in Japan for peace in E. Asia
US servicemen extraterritorial privileges
Japan had no say about the location of the basesUS consent for military bases to other powers
US military intervention in Japan
Clause favoring Japan
Japan not obligated to defend US
Bound by political patronage
Ex: Tanaka Kakuei faction
PM 1972-74
Resigns in corruption scandal, 1974
Remained LDP power broker
Internal competition
Party Presidency
Party president becomes Prime Minister
Diet seats
Electoral districts not redrawn, 1946-85
Inept opposition in 1 and 1/2 Party system
Lack contacts in bureaucracy
Pork barrel spending pioneered by Seiyūkai in 1900
Public works projects
Farm subsidies
Tax benefits for business
Social security and welfare