<論説>民主党の成立 : 二・一ゼネスト後のマッカーサーの政治志向と「革新」的保守新党樹立運動

Abstract

一九四七年の二・一ゼネストを用意した変革情勢は、同年四月二五日の第二三回総選挙を経て、中道連立片山内閣の誕生へと収斂していった。小論は、この政治過程を、二・一ゼネスト後から第二三回総選挙前までに限定して解明した。その際、とくに、焦点を当てたのは、この時期の連合国最高司令官(SCAP) マッカーサーの政治志向と保守勢力の動向という二つの問題である。前者については、マッカーサーが、二・一ゼネスト期の変革情勢の波を緩和し、加えて「三月危機」に対処するために、吉田内閣に代わり、極右と極左を排した「中道」の枠組みの中に「統制経済政策」を実施しうる政権の誕生を望んでいたことを明らかにした。後者については、それまで日本進歩党内において保守「革新」運動を積み上げてきた犬養健を要とする進歩党少壮派が、二・一ゼネスト後、同派を母体に政治グループ新進会を結成して第三次連立工作に乗り出し、工作の挫折後は、曲折を経つつ、犬養健や日本自国党政務調査会長芦田均らとともに、「革新」的保守新党樹立運動を展開し、一九四七年三月三一日の民主党結成に向かう過程を辿った。「中道」と「修正資本主義」を標榜する保守中道政党として民主党が成立したことは、二・一ゼネスト後のマッカーサーの政治志向が現実化する条件が形成されたことを意味した。

The unprecedented revolutionary upsurges during the period of the General Strike of February 1, 1947 in Japan convereged into the birth of the, Katayama Tetsu 片山哲 centrist coalition cabinet, through the 23rd general election on April 25. What occurred during this political process? This problem is treated here by focusing on the period from after the General Strike until the 23rd general election. The objects examined are as follows. First, the political orientation of Douglas MacArthur as the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers is considered. MacArthur hoped a government would be formed that could carry' directed economy policies' into effect within the framework of 'the middle course' excluding the extreme right and the extreme left, in place of the first Yoshida Shigeru 吉田茂 cabinet, with a view to moderating the surging waves of the revolutionary situation as well as coping with the 'March Crisis'. Second, the movement of the conservative political forces is illuminated. The up-and-coming young members of the House of Representatives belonging to the Japan Progressive Party (日本進歩党), of whom Inukai Takeru 犬養健 was the leading figure, were developing the conservative 'reform' movement. After tlte General Strike they organized a political group, named Shinshinkai (新進会) and ventured on a third political maneuver to form a coalition government with the Social Democratic Party of Japan (日本杜会党). Though their attempt collapsed, they, together with Inukai Takeru and Ashida Hitoshi 芦田均, head of the political affairs investigation committee of the Japan Liberal Party (日本自由党), went on to push the movement forward for the establishment of the new conservative 'reformist' party and, overcoming difficulties, succeeded in forming the Democratic Party on March 31, 1947. The formation of the Democratic Party, a conservative centrist party adovocating 'the golden mean' and 'modified capitalism', meant that the conditions for the realization of the political orientation of Douglas MacArthur after the General Strike had been generated.