JAPAN COMMUNIST PARTY:
MOVES FURTHER FROM PEKING
The Japan Communist party, which had sided strongly with Peking in the Chinese-Soviet dispute, has continued in recent weeks to move away from Mao's camp. At the same time, it is cautious about once again being considered to be uncritical of Moscow. The August 9 issue of Akahata (Red Flag), for instance, criticized the Soviet leadership for "following in the footsteps of America" in connection with the visit of Foreign Minister Gromyko to Japan July 24-30. .
“ -On the previous day, Akahata voiced a veiled criticism of the Chinese leadership for rejecting a united front with the Soviet Union:in the common struggle against American imperialism.
The article criticizing Gromyko's trip, which was signed by Kanichi Masuda, deputy editor in chief of the party's official organ, attacked the Sato government as "a positive and deliberate partici- Re in American imperialism's war of aggression on Vietnam and sia.
The efforts of the Soviet leaders to attain "peaceful coexistence" with such a government clearly indicate their "lack of thoroughness in the fight against the revival and revitalization of Japanese militarism as well as American imperialism."
The joint communiqué, which Gromyko signed with Japanese officials before his return home, promised efforts for peaceful | coexistence. This, said Masuda, was a "literal reproduction of the errors of the unprincipled peaceful coexistence theory since Khrushchev and euphemization of American imperialism."
By "eulogizing" the Sato government, the article said in conclusion, the Soviet government is clearly "doublecrossing the world, Asia and. the Japanese people" and “increasing the menace to peace and security of Asia and the world."
In a meeting hela August 27-20, the Central Committee of the Japan Communist party officially adopted "an independent course of its own free from either Chinese or Russian influence. =
As reported in the September 1 issue of Akahata, the decision will be submitted to the tenth party convention scheduled ‘to bee held for five days beginning October a4.
The Central Committee will propose the insertion of a new paragraph in the party's bylaws, reading in part: "All JCP members shall observe the principle of Marxism-Leninism and proletarian internationalism and firmly adhere to a position worthy of members of an independent party responsible for Japan! s revolution.
A draft report calls for further persistent pursuit of "an independent course of action free from the influence of either the Peking or Moscow line, laid down during the ninth party convention of 1964."
The draft proposes the formation of a united international front, including the People's Republic of China and the Soviet Union, against U.S. imperialism in Vietnam.
In. ébvious retaliation to these moves of the leadership of the Japan. Communist party, the Mao regime expelled the representatives of three trading firms, Sanshin, Mutsumi and Haga, considered to be connected with the Japan Communist party. They are regarded in Japan as’ the three leading firms engaged in trade with China on a friendly basis.
Peking took this step by simply refusing to extend the period of stay: permitted to the representatives. The representative of the Japan-China Trade Promotion Association, reportedly also linked with the Japan Communist party, indicated he was leaving Peking in anticipation of a Similar move against him.
Four Japanese promoters of a Chinese trade fair in Tokyo were criticized by Sun Pi-chi on September 3 as "uncooperative." The four were said to be connected with the Japan Communist party. Three of them were then replaced with figures believed to be under the influence of the Japan Socialist party.
One of the three deposed officials, Saburo Okamoto, who was... secretary general of the National Cooperative Association for the Chinese Exposition, indignantly denied the allegations that they had been "uncooperative." There was "hardly any ground," he said, "for accusing me or the association of noncooperation."