America at war! (1941–) – Part 5

Musel: Cider to brandy

By Robert Musel

Stokes: Work not done

By Thomas L. Stokes

Othman: Our Mr. Fulton

By Fred Othman

Maj. Williams: Destroying Japan

By Maj. Al Williams

‘Enemy plot’ in death denied

Gracie Allen Reporting

By Gracie Allen

HOLLYWOOD – My goodness, if American housewives had any inkling how the delegates were going to live during the Big Three Conference in Potsdam, that cruiser carrying President Truman would have been full of stowaways.

The story says the living quarters there are furnished with 20 electric refrigerators, 50 vacuum cleaners and 90 electric irons. The eyes of every woman will be on that conference waiting to see the fate of all those scarce appliances. Twenty lawnmowers and a hundred bedside lamps were also mentioned. I guess the lawnmowers are there because President Truman doesn’t want any grass to grow under his feet.

And those bedside lams probably were provided so the American delegates won’t miss their comic strips. It will be nice for them to read about characters who have more problems than they have.

Giants lead Pirates, in first game

Dan Gardella hits home run with two on
By Chester L. Smith, sports editor

Better understanding of malaria urged

Hit tune author nips Japs

Serves Second World War
By Si Steinhauser

Vinson ready to take oath for Cabinet

He will succeed Henry Morgenthau

Head of WAVES to wed minister

Youngstown Vindicator (July 18, 1945)

Eliot: Japs’ best units not in home isles

Believes big blow came before foe completed troop shift
By Maj. George Fielding Eliot

Editorial: Our policy toward Hirohito

Allies in need of anti-Nazis

Group in Germany to play big role in political reeducation of Reich
By Max Werner

ON THE RECORD —
The unconditional surrender of Japan

By Dorothy Thompson

Lawrence: Russians seen in peace role

Molotov’s talk with Jap envoy may foreshadow surrender move
By David Lawrence

*Mussolini says he erred in 1922, let king remain

Duce believed Fascists were welcome in Rome but after that began complex diarchy

U.S. State Department (July 18, 1945)

761.94/7-2145: Telegram

The Japanese Ambassador in the Soviet Union to the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs

Moscow, July 18, 1945 — 11:28 p.m.
[Translation]
very secret
very urgent

1416

Re your telegram No. 913-2

The so-called unconditional surrender or peace obtained by some-thing close to unconditional surrender referred to in my telegram No. 1392 and others which I sent from time to time, omits the problem of protecting the fundamental character of our nation. It goes without saying that even in conducting negotiations with the Soviets on the subject of your telegram, the absolute desire on the part of 70 million citizens as regards our form of government should be forcefully stressed. Therefore I have already added a statement in the latter portion of my telegram No. 1143, believing that there should be no fear of a misunderstanding arising therefrom on this matter; I mention this only in order to make sure.

If the matter of the preservation of our form of government were already taken care of, whether you call it unconditional surrender or whether you call it something close to this condition, in the final analysis it is a matter of degree. As for us I think it should not be made an absolute condition. Concerning the early portion of the telegram, I would like to express my humble opinion at another time after giving the matter full consideration.

Log of the President’s Trip to the Berlin Conference

Wednesday, July 18:

Sergeant Truman had breakfast with the President this morning.

The President conferred with the Secretary of State and a number of his advisers during the forenoon.

At 1315 the President, accompanied by Mr. Ross, General Vaughan, and Captain Vardaman, left the Little White House by foot for the Prime Minister’s quarters. There the President lunched privately with the Prime Minister while Mr. Ross, General Vaughan, and Captain Vardaman had lunch with Junior Commander Mary Churchill and some, other members of the Prime Minister’s personal staff.

At 1450 the President, together with the Prime Minister and Miss Churchill, left the Prime Minister’s residence and walked down the street to Mr. Eden’s quarters where they met Mr. Eden and Secretary Byrnes. The party then returned to the Prime Minister’s house. The President’s party assembled at the Prime Minister’s and left with him for Generalissimo Stalin’s quarters so that the President could return Marshal Stalin’s earlier call.

At 1500 a pouch with mail for the White House was dispatched to Washington.

1504: The President and his party arrived at the Generalissimo’s quarters. The President was met as he alighted from his car by Mr. Molotov who escorted him and his party inside where Mr. Stalin awaited. Although most of our party had just left the luncheon table, we were ushered to a large dining table where a buffet lunch was served us. After lunch with attending toasts, the President talked briefly with the Generalissimo. Then they posed for still and motion pictures. The President and party left the Generalissimo’s house at 1600 for Cecilienhof. We arrived at the Palace at 1608.

At 1615 the second meeting of the Berlin Conference was convened. The meeting adjourned at 1800, and the President and his party left immediately to return to the Little White House.

1930: Assistant Secretary Clayton, Assistant Secretary Dunn, and Mr. Donald Russell were dinner guests of the President. The U.S. Headquarters, Berlin District, Army Band, under the direction of Warrant Officer Frank J. Rosato, played during the dinner hour…

The Syonan Shimbun (July 19, 1945)

Enemy admits 291 B-29s lost in recent raids on Nippon homeland

Foe air strength being steadily destroyed