余録：財務相のＧ７会見

(Mainichi Japan) February 17, 2009

Disgraceful Nakagawa not fit to serve as finance minister

余録：財務相のＧ７会見

In his book, "Diplomacy," British diplomat Harold Nicolson (1886-1968) cited a "good temper" as one of the ideal qualities of diplomats who engage in negotiations with foreign governments. He meant that even in unpleasant situations, diplomats must control their emotions and keep a good temper. He also cited an example of a diplomat who failed to do so and consequently exposed his country's shame.

　英外交官だったＨ・ニコルソンはその名著「外交」で、対外交渉に携わる者に必要な徳の一つに「上機嫌」を挙げた。どんなに不快な局面でも自らをコントロールし、機嫌よくすること。それに失敗した外交官が自国を屈辱にさらした例も挙げている

Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa's abnormal behavior at a news conference after he attended the latest meeting of the Group of Seven finance ministers and central bank governors in Rome have stirred controversy. His incoherent remarks and drowsy face were particularly terrible. It goes without saying that he was far from being in good temper at the time.

なのに経済危機への対応をめぐり先進７カ国の財務相・中央銀行総裁が協議したＧ７での中川昭一財務・金融担当相の常軌を逸した言動が物議をかもしている。ひどかったのは記者会見でのしどろもどろのやりとりや、終始眠そうな表情だ。いうまでもなく上機嫌からほど遠い

He has since said he will resign to take responsibility for his actions, but one reporter for an overseas news organization ridiculed Nakagawa by comparing the minister's behavior as asleep at the wheel, and footage of his behavior spread throughout the world. It is disgraceful that Nakagawa raised concern in the international community about Japan's dependability even though he was supposed to announce the country's response to the economic crisis as the world's second largest economic power.

海外メディアには「日本の財務相の居眠り運転」とやゆする記者も現れ、その映像も世界に流された。世界第２の経済大国の危機への対処策を世界に発信すべき場で、あの国は大丈夫なのかと疑いの視線を浴びるはめになったのが情けない

In particular, his factually incorrect remarks on Japan's assistance to the Asian Development Bank and the current situation of the country's policy toward key interest rates have caused grave concern to the public.

なかでも心配になってくるのがアジア開発銀行への支援や、政策金利の現状をめぐる事実と異なる発言である。

It reminds us that the 1927 financial crisis was triggered by the Japanese finance minister's incorrect remarks as a result of his misunderstanding.

こうなると、昭和史の暗転をもたらした１９２７年の金融恐慌が大蔵大臣の事実誤認の失言から起こった故事までが頭をよぎる

When asked about his abnormal behavior, Nakagawa replied, "I was sick. Medicine and alcohol had a synergistic effect on me."

財務相は「体調が悪く、風邪薬と酒が相乗効果を起こした」と釈明した。

Given his illness, one cannot help but wonder if he should have attended such crucial diplomatic negotiations on which the nation's fate hinges. It also reminds us again that he made 26 reading mistakes during his fiscal policy speech at the Diet.

どうであれ、そんな体調で国民の命運がかかる対外交渉に臨んでいいのだろうか。いきおい２６カ所も言い間違いをした国会での先の財政演説も改めて思い起こされる

Amid growing concern about his qualifications to serve as finance minister, the government announced that Japan's gross domestic product over the October-December quarter posted a double-digit decline from the year earlier for the first time in 35 years. A cool temperament is necessary in not only diplomacy but also economic policies. Politicians who are responsible for fiscal and financial policies should not be a cause of concern for the public amid a recession that many experts describe as the worst in the post-war period. ("Yoroku," a front-page column in the Mainichi Shimbun)

折しも昨年１０～１２月期の国内総生産の３５年ぶり２ケタ減が発表された。良い機嫌が必要なのは外交だけに限らない。戦後最悪に近い不況を前に、財政や金融のかじ取りにあたる政治家自身が国民の不安の元になっては話にならない。

毎日新聞　2009年2月17日　0時01分