Die Atombombe auf Nagasaki
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L’Aube (August 12, 1945)
Les Alliés acceptant sous conditions l’offre de reddition du Japon
Le Mikado sera soumis au contrôle américain
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La France et l’arme atomique –
Comment un de nos officiers put soustraire aux Allemands 185 kilos d’« eau lourde »…
…et comment aussi la Grande-Bretagne en bénéficia après l’armistice
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U.S. State Department (August 12, 1945)
740.00119 PW/8-1245: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union to the Secretary of State
Moscow, August 12, 1945
[Received August 12 — 7:38 a.m.]
M 25277
Reference White House message 324, August 11. Molotov has informed me that the Soviet Government agrees to the changes made in the reply to the Japanese Government.
[HARRIMAN]
740.00119 PW/8-1245
Memorandum by the Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs to Mr. Eugene H. Dooman, Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of State
[Washington,] 12 August, 1945
Mr. Balfour, of the British Embassy, called and left with me the attached text of a telegram from Mr. Bevin to Mr. Balfour containing a draft of surrender terms.
Mr. Balfour said that this draft was tentative as it had not yet cleared with the Chiefs of Staff and with the Dominion Governments but represented in general the views of the British Government. He said that the British Government attached great importance to having the text and procedure settled and desire an opportunity to clear with the Dominion Governments before action and publication.
I told him that I would see that the document reached our military authorities promptly.
He read me also a telegram from the Foreign Office quoting the text (somewhat garbled) of a telegram sent by the Prime Minister to the President in which it was stated that the Prime Minister was in general accord with the procedure which the President proposed and designated Admiral Sir Bruce Austin Fraser as the British representative.
JOSEPH W. BALLANTINE
740.00119 PW/8-1245
The British Embassy to the Department of State
August 12, 1945
Text of Telegram from Mr. Bevest to Mr. Balfour Dated 12th August
Following is draft act of surrender referred to in my immediately preceding telegram. Begins.
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We, the undersigned representing the Imperial Japanese Government and Japanese Imperial General Headquarters, and duly authorised by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan hereby surrender unconditionally to the (Allied High Command) all Japanese armed forces and forces under Japanese control on land, at sea and in the air wherever they are located.
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The Imperial Japanese Government and Japanese Imperial General Headquarters will at once issue Imperial Commands to all Japanese military, naval and air authorities and to all forces under their control to cease active operations at (time and date), to remain in the positions occupied at that time and to disarm completely, handing over their weapons and equipment to an Allied Commander duly authorised by an Allied Supreme Command. No ship, vessel, or aircraft is to be scuttled or any damage done to its hull, machinery or equipment nor to machines of any kind, armament, apparatus, means of production, buildings, stores of food or any other commodities or materials.
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The Imperial Japanese Government and Japanese Imperial General Headquarters will at once issue orders for the liberation of all Allied prisoners of war and all Allied civilians in Japanese custody, for their protection, care and maintenance and for handing them over safely at the earliest possible moment to an Allied Commander duly authorised by an Allied Supreme Command.
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The Imperial Japanese Government and Japanese Imperial General Headquarters will immediately comply with any orders or instructions for the carrying out of this act of surrender.
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The Imperial Japanese Government and Japanese Imperial General Headquarters undertake to fulfil without question any other terms of whatever kind which the Allies may decide to impose upon Japan.
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In the event of the Imperial Japanese Government or Japanese Imperial General Headquarters or any forces under their control failing to act in accordance with this act of surrender, the (Allied High Command) will take such punitive or other action as they deem appropriate.
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This act is drawn up in the English (Chinese, Russian, Japanese) languages. English is the only authentic text.
Ends.
740.00119 Control (Japan)/8-3045
The Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars of the Soviet Union to President Truman
[Moscow,] August 12, 1945
[Translation]
I have received your message of August 12 regarding the appointment of Army General Douglas MacArthur as Supreme Commander of the Allied armies for the acceptance, coordination and conduct of the general capitulation of the Japanese armed forces.
The Soviet Government agrees to your proposal.
It also agrees to the proposed by you procedure, which provides that General MacArthur will give the Imperial Staff Quarters orders about the unconditional surrender of the Japanese troops also to the Soviet Supreme Commander in the Far East. Lieutenant General Dere-vianko has been appointed as representative of the Soviet Military Supreme Command and has been given all necessary instructions.
Draft Report by the Chairman of the State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee
August 12, 1945
Report by Mr. Dunn at approximately 6:30 p.m. respecting his and Mr. McCloy’s interview with Mr. Byrnes, 12 August 1945:
Mr. Dunn stated that Mr. Forrestal and Mr. Byrnes had had a discussion previous to Mr. McCloy’s and Mr. Dunn’s arrival in Mr. Byrnes’ office and that Mr. Byrnes was going to talk to the President in regard to the matter. Mr. Dunn and Mr. McCloy discussed the various alternatives with Mr. Byrnes, and the matter was argued back and forth. Mr. Dunn stated that those at the meeting would be advised later during the evening of the decision respecting the role Admiral Nimitz would play in the acceptance of the surrender.
Mr. Dunn also stated that Mr. Byrnes has approved the operational line in the Kuriles for use by Admiral Nimitz as a surrender line (this line runs through Onnekotan Sts. which is just S of Paramushiru). Mr. Dunn stated, however, that he would check up with Mr. Harriman respecting whether any agreements on an airbase had been made by him and also that he would request Mr. Byrnes to check with Mr. Hopkins in regard to the matter. Mr. Dunn requested that Admiral Nimitz be directed to pick up the operational line in the surrender, and Mr. McCloy requested that Admiral Gardner be told to get out preliminary orders to Admiral Nimitz respecting this matter as well as the island that we want for an airbase.
Minutes of 21st Meeting of the State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee
August 12, 1945
[Extracts]
Proclamation by the Emperor of Japan
MR. MCCLOY stated that, after the 20th SWNCC meeting yesterday at which it was considered that no proclamation by the Emperor would be required, it had been agreed in a meeting with the Secretary of State that the Emperor of Japan, although not required to sign the instrument of surrender, should issue a proclamation authorizing representatives to sign the instrument of surrender on his behalf for delivery by them to the Supreme Commander and for publication to the people of Japan. He presented a draft proclamation. Certain revisions were discussed and agreed to.
THE COMMITTEE approved the draft Proclamation by the Emperor, with amendments. (The Proclamation, as approved, appears as Enclosure “D” of SWNCC 21/6.)
THE COMMITTEE approved the Instrument of Surrender, after providing space for signature by the representatives of the four powers and amending it (a) to include the two provisions taken from the British draft and (b) to be consistent with the issuance of a proclamation by the Emperor. (The approved Instrument of Surrender appears as Enclosure “A” of SWNCC 21/6.)
Instrument of Surrender (SWNCC 21/5, Enclosure “A”)
THE COMMITTEE reviewed this document. Mr. Gates referred to a letter from Secretary Forrestal to the Secretary of State recommending that acceptance of the instrument be countersigned by the United States, Chinese, United Kingdom and Soviet representatives. ADMIRAL GARDNER stated, in support of this recommendation, that signature by representatives of all four powers would serve to impress upon the Japanese from the beginning the unity of the powers. MR. MCCLOY and MR. DOOMAN felt that this is a political matter and that, if counter signatures were provided, this might form the basis for insistence by the other powers not only that they pass on the surrender documents but also that every subsequent decision of the Supreme Commander be concurred in by them in advance, thus prejudicing his freedom of action. This question was discussed at length throughout the meeting and was not resolved until after the meeting when provision of spaces for signature by representatives of the four powers, who will be present with the Supreme Commander at the time and place of surrender, was directed by the President.
MR. DUNN read a draft of surrender terms proposed by the British. It was agreed that this draft contained desirable provisions not contained in our draft with respect to (a) the preservation and saving from damage of ships, aircraft and other military and civil property and (b) the liberation, protection, care and maintenance of allied prisoners of war and civilian internees. Similar provisions were incorporated in the United States draft instrument of surrender.
THE COMMITTEE further revised the instrument of surrender to make it consistent with the signing of a proclamation by the Emperor.
General Order No. 1 (SWNCC 21/5, Enclosure “B”)
ADMIRAL GARDNER recommended that further study be given to the division of areas for the purposes of surrender to various allied commanders as provided in paragraph I. The Kuriles, Ryukyus, the Admiralties and Korea, among others, were specifically discussed in this connection.
MR. DUNN stated that the provisions of the General Order as drafted were acceptable to the State Department, subject to further study of the allocation of areas contained in paragraph I.
THE COMMITTEE agreed to defer consideration of General Order No. 1 until it has been reviewed and revised as deemed necessary by representatives of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It was agreed that Mr. Dunn would obtain further data as to commitments made as to the Kuriles prior to further consideration of the matter by the Committee.
Directive to Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers (SWNCC 21/5, Enclosure “C”)
THE COMMITTEE approved the directive after revising it: (a) to cover the requirement that the Emperor sign a proclamation; (b) to conform more closely to the language contained in the communications addressed to our three allies on 11 August wherein it was proposed that the Supreme Commander accept, coordinate and carry out surrender terms; (c) to permit signing of the acceptance by the representatives of the four powers and to provide for the presence of Fleet Admiral Nimitz as U.S. representative; (d) to provide for the issuance of general orders; and (e) to clarify the directive in certain other respects. (The directive, as approved, appears as Enclosure “C”, SWNCC 21/6.)
The Pittsburgh Press (August 12, 1945)
QUICK TOKYO ACCEPTANCE DUE
Enemy radio prepares for defeat news
U.S. broadcasts peace terms to people
…
Japs told Emperor can stay if he obeys Allied orders
Reply to enemy’s bid for surrender sped by cable and radio
…
If atomic bomb is improved, it could wipe out world
War Department reveals mind-numbing potentialities of mightiest of weapons
By Fred H. Scherff, United Press staff writer
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Game’s over, let’s shake be pals, Jap general urges
Atomic bomb did it, military attaché says; calls war sporting match with heroism
…
Steel won’t be hit seriously –
District war machine to skid to quick stop as U.S. cancels orders
Munitions production to halt on signal; many will be idle before week ends
By Dale McFeatters, Press business editor
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LATE BULLETINS!
Halsey stands by for surrender
SAN FRANCISCO, California (UP, Aug. 11) – The men of the U.S. Third Fleet, standing off Japan, are “expecting word of Japan’s surrender sometime today,” a broadcast from the fleet said tonight.
Worn and tired after 48 hours without sleep, Adm. William F. Halsey was grimly confident that the war was about to end, the broadcast said.
Adm. Halsey was quoted as saying he was “ready to strike again at Japan” if they refuse the Big Four surrender terms but “personally I think it’s over.”
Hirohito receives foreign minister
SAN FRANCISCO, California (UP, Aug. 11) – Foreign Minister Shigenori Togo of Japan was received by Emperor Hirohito at the Imperial Palace at 11 a.m. Sunday Tokyo Time (10 p.m. Saturday ET) Tokyo Radio reported tonight. The broadcast said that “Foreign Minister Togo is understood to have reported to the throne on matters under his jurisdiction.”
‘If worst comes to worst!’
SAN FRANCISCO, California (UP, Aug. 11) – The Tokyo newspaper Asahi Sunday (Tokyo time) called on “every Japanese to do his part” in fulfilling the “august wish of his majesty.”
It exhorted the nation to “maintain firmest unity if worst comes to worst.” The Tokyo broadcast, recorded by United Press, quoted Asahi as follows:
The Soviet Union’s abrupt declaration of war on Japan, coupled with United States’ resort to atomic bombs, entailing the mass slaughter of civilians on a scale unprecedented in human history has greatly intensified the gravest national crisis.
She [Japan] stands at the crossroads – whether or not she will be able to maintain her unique national policy and uphold the honor of the Japanese race.
Jap rejection rumors denied
NEW YORK (UP, Aug. 11) – The Office of War Information reported tonight that various rumors of the Federal Communications Commission having recorded a Tokyo broadcast or a Chungking broadcast quoting Tokyo to the effect that Japan has rejected Allied surrender terms were without foundation.
The FCC has recorded no such broadcast, it said.
Another rumor, to the effect that the Japanese War Minister has called on Japanese forces to continue the fight, was a garbled version of an appeal he issued to the troops yesterday (Friday) three hours before Domei transmitted its surrender offer, OWI said.