A kiss at Times Square (Photo: Alfred Eisenstadt)
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Presidential News Conference
August 14, 1945, 7 p.m. EWT
THE PRESIDENT [reading]: “I have received this afternoon a message from the Japanese Government–”
Before I go any further, this will be in the form of releases, so you don’t have to copy it unless you want to. "–in reply to the message forwarded to that Government by the Secretary of State on August 11. I deem this reply a full acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration which specifies the unconditional surrender of Japan. In the reply there is no qualification.
"Arrangements are now being made for the signing of the surrender terms at the earliest possible moment.
"General Douglas MacArthur has been appointed the Supreme Allied Commander to receive the Japanese surrender. Great Britain, Russia, and China will be represented by high-ranking officers.
"Meantime, the Allied armed forces have been ordered to suspend offensive action.
"Proclamation of V-J Day must wait upon the formal signing of the surrender terms by Japan.
“The following is the Japanese Government’s message accepting our terms .”
But before I start to read that, there are three releases to come; one has to do with a 2-day holiday. The reason we are making it 2 days is because we didn’t get to celebrate for the other. [Laughter] Then there is one that has to do with the draft.
This is the official Swiss communique handed to the Secretary of State:
"Sir: I have the honor to refer to your note of August 11, in which you requested me to transmit to my Government the reply of the Governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and China to the message from the Japanese Government which was communicated in my note of August 10.
"At 20.10 today (Swiss Time) the Japanese Minister to Switzerland conveyed the following written statement to the Swiss Government for transmission to the four Allied governments:
"'Communication of the Japanese Government of August 14, 1945, addressed to the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and China:
"'With reference to the Japanese Government’s note of August 10 regarding their acceptance of the provisions of the Potsdam declaration and the reply of the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and China sent by American Secretary of State Byrnes under the date of August 11, the Japanese Government have the honor to communicate to the Governments of the four powers as follows:
"'1. His Majesty the Emperor has issued an Imperial rescript regarding Japan’s acceptance of the provisions of the Potsdam declaration.
"‘2. His Majesty the Emperor is prepared to authorize and ensure the signature of his Government and the Imperial General Headquarters of the necessary terms for carrying out the provisions of the Potsdam declaration. His Majesty is also prepared to issue his commands to all the military, naval, and air authorities of Japan and all the forces under their control wherever located to cease active operations, to surrender arms and to issue such other orders as may be required by the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces for the execution of the abovementioned terms.’
"Accept, Sir, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.
“Charge’ d’ Affaires of the Swiss Government in the United States”
Voice: I congratulate you!
THE PRESIDENT. That is all.
Joe Fox, Washington Star: Thank you, Mr. President.
[Applause and further congratulations]
Address by British Prime Minister Attlee on Japanese Surrender
August 14, 1945
Japan has today surrendered. The last of our enemies is laid low. Here is the text of the Japanese reply to the Allied demands.
“With reference to the Japanese Government’s note of August 10 regarding their acceptance of the provisions of the Potsdam declaration and the reply of the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and China sent by American Secretary of State Byrnes under the date of August 11, the Japanese Government have the honor to communicate to the Governments of the four powers as follows:
“1. His Majesty the Emperor has issued an Imperial rescript regarding Japan’s acceptance of the provisions of the Potsdam declaration.
“2. His Majesty the Emperor is prepared to authorize and ensure the signature of his Government and the Imperial General Headquarters of the necessary terms for carrying out the provisions of the Potsdam declaration. His Majesty is also prepared to issue his commands to all the military, naval, and air authorities of Japan and all the forces under their control wherever located to cease active operations, to surrender arms and to issue such other orders as may be required by the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces for the execution of the abovementioned terms.”
Let us recall that on the 7th of December, 1941, Japan, whose onslaught China had already resisted for over four years, fell upon the United States of America, who was then not at war, and upon ourselves, who were so pressed in our death struggle with Germany and Italy. Taking full advantage of surprise and treachery, the Japanese forces quickly overran the territory of ourselves and our Allies in the Far East, and at one time it appeared as though they might even invade the mainland of Australia and advance far into India.
But the tide turned, first slowly, then with an ever-increasing speed and violence, as the mighty forces of the United States and of the British Commonwealth and Empire and of their Allies, and finally of Russia, were brought to bear. Their resistance is now everywhere being broken.
At this time we should pay tribute to the men from this country, from the Dominions and India and the colonies, to our fleets, armies and air forces, that have fought so well in the arduous campaign against Japan. Our gratitude goes out to all our splendid Allies and, above all, to the United States, without whose prodigious efforts this war in the East would still have many years to run
We also think especially at this time of the prisoners in Japanese hands, of our friends in the Dominions and Australia and New Zealand, in India, in Burma and in those colonial territories upon whom the brunt of the Japanese attack fell. We rejoice that their sufferings will soon be at an end and that these territories will soon be purged of the Japanese invader.
Here at home you have a short rest in the unceasing exertions which were all borne without flinching or complaint for so many dark years. I have no doubt that throughout industries generally the Government’s lead in the matter of victory holidays will be followed, and that tomorrow-Wednesday-and Thursday may everywhere be treated as days of holiday.
There are some who must necessarily remain at work on these days to maintain essential services, and I am sure they can be relied upon to carry on. When we return to work on Friday morning, we must turn again with energy to the great tasks which challenge us. But for the moment let all who can relax and enjoy themselves in the knowledge of a work well done.
Peace has once again come to the world. Let us thank God for this great deliverance and for His mercies.
Long live the King!
Victory Message by Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek
August 15, 1945
Right will triumph over might – this great truth which we never once doubted has been finally vindicated. Our faith in justice through black and hopeless days and eight long years of struggle has today been rewarded. The historical mission of our National Revolution has at last been fulfilled.
For the peace that lies before us we pay grateful tribute, first to the millions of our soldiers and civilians who so bravely sacrificed their lives, to our Allies who fought by our side for freedom and right, and to the Father of our Republic, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, who labored all his lifetime to guide our National Revolution to success. But for him we would not be enjoying this day of victory. Above all, we join in thanksgiving to our righteous and merciful God.
The people of China suffered and sacrificed more each year as our long war of defense went on. But the confidence that we would emerge victorious also grew from day today. Our fellow countrymen in the enemy-occupied areas had to endure a long night of devastation and disgrace. Today they are liberated and can see again the White Sun in the Blue Sky. The cheers and rejoicings of our armies and people have their deepest meaning in this new freedom of our long-oppressed compatriots.
We have won the victory. But it is not yet the final victory. The universal power of righteousness has not simply achieved one more triumph. We and the people of all the world fervently hope that this war may be the last war in which civilized nations engage.
If this is really to be the last war in human history then our people will not feel that the indescribable cruelties and humiliations they have endured are too big a price to have paid or that peace for them has been too long delayed.
Even in periods of deepest gloom and despair our people, with a fine inherited loyalty, fortitude, magnanimity and goodwill, held to the conviction that sacrifices made for justice and humanity would surely be followed by rightful compensations.
The greatest compensation has been the mutual trust and confidence between peace-loving peoples of the world born out of our common struggle. With the flesh and blood of their armed youth the United Nations built a long continuous dyke against the tide of aggression. All who took part in the great conflict are now allies, united not simply for temporary advantage, but rather because of a great common faith-noble and enduring-that binds us together. No intrigues can wreck this great union.
It is my sincere belief that all men on earth – wherever they live, in the East or the West, and whatever the color of their skin may be – will someday be linked together in close fellowship like members of one family. World war is indivisible and world peace, too, is indivisible. It has encouraged international understanding and mutual trust which will serve as a powerful barrier against future wars.
I am deeply moved when I think of the teachings of Jesus Christ that we should do unto others as we would have them do unto us and love our enemies. My fellow countrymen know that “Remember not evil against others” and “Do good to all men” have been the highest virtues taught by our own sages. We have always said that the violent militarism of Japan is our enemy, not the people of Japan. Although the armed forces of the enemy have been defeated and must be made to observe strictly all the terms of surrender, yet we should not for a moment think of revenge or heap abuses upon the innocent people of Japan. We can only pity them because they have been so sadly deceived and misled, and hope that they will break away from the wrong-doing and crimes of their nation. Let all our fellow citizens, soldiers and civilians remember this.
The enemy’s imperialistic designs on China have been thoroughly crushed. But relaxation and pride are not rewards of victory that we seek. Peace, when fighting has entirely ceased, will confront us with stupendous and difficult tasks, demanding greater strength and sacrifice than the years of war. At times we may feel that the problems of peace that descend upon us are more trying even than those we met during the war.
I think first of one very serious problem – how to make the peoples misguided by fascist rulers admit their mistakes and defeat, and recognize that our struggle for national independence, democracy and the welfare of all the people is more in harmony with truth and human rights than their struggle for land and power by means of violence and terrorism.
Permanent world peace can be established only upon the basis of democratic freedom and equality and the brotherly co-operation of all nations and races. We must march forward on the great road of democracy and unity and give our collective support to the ideals of lasting peace.
I urge all of our friends of the Allied nations and all my own countrymen to face the fact that the peace we have gained by arms is not necessarily the beginning of permanent peace. Only if our enemies are conquered on the battleground of reason, only if they repent thoroughly of their folly and become lovers of world peace like ourselves, can we hope to satisfy the yearning for peace and achieve the final goal of the great war that has just ended.
Japanese Imperial Rescript
August 15, 1945, 12 noon JST
Broadcast by Emperor Hirohito (NHK):
詔書
朕󠄁深ク世界ノ大勢ト帝國ノ現狀トニ鑑ミ非常ノ措置ヲ以テ時局ヲ收拾セムト欲シ玆ニ忠良ナル爾臣民ニ吿ク
朕󠄁ハ帝國政府ヲシテ米英支蘇四國ニ對シ其ノ共同宣言ヲ受諾スル旨通󠄁吿セシメタリ
抑〻帝國臣民ノ康寧ヲ圖リ萬邦共榮ノ樂ヲ偕ニスルハ皇祖皇宗ノ遺󠄁範ニシテ朕󠄁ノ拳々措カサル所󠄁曩ニ米英二國ニ宣戰セル所󠄁以モ亦實ニ帝國ノ自存ト東亞ノ安定トヲ庻幾󠄁スルニ出テ他國ノ主權ヲ排シ領土ヲ侵󠄁スカ如キハ固ヨリ朕󠄁カ志ニアラス然ルニ交󠄁戰已ニ四歲ヲ閱シ朕󠄁カ陸海將兵ノ勇戰朕󠄁カ百僚有司ノ勵精朕󠄁カ一億衆庻ノ奉公󠄁各〻最善ヲ盡セルニ拘ラス戰局必スシモ好轉セス世界ノ大勢亦我ニ利アラス加之敵ハ新ニ殘虐󠄁ナル爆彈ヲ使󠄁用シテ頻ニ無辜ヲ殺傷シ慘害󠄂ノ及フ所󠄁眞ニ測ルヘカラサルニ至ル而モ尙交󠄁戰ヲ繼續セムカ終󠄁ニ我カ民族ノ滅亡ヲ招來スルノミナラス延󠄁テ人類ノ文󠄁明ヲモ破却スヘシ斯ノ如クムハ朕󠄁何ヲ以テカ億兆ノ赤子ヲ保シ皇祖皇宗ノ神靈ニ謝セムヤ是レ朕󠄁カ帝國政府ヲシテ共同宣言ニ應セシムルニ至レル所󠄁以ナリ
朕󠄁ハ帝國ト共ニ終󠄁始東亞ノ解放ニ協力セル諸盟邦ニ對シ遺󠄁憾ノ意ヲ表セサルヲ得ス帝國臣民ニシテ戰陣ニ死シ職域ニ殉シ非命ニ斃レタル者及其ノ遺󠄁族ニ想ヲ致セハ五內爲ニ裂ク且戰傷ヲ負ヒ災禍ヲ蒙リ家業ヲ失ヒタル者ノ厚生ニ至リテハ朕󠄁ノ深ク軫念スル所󠄁ナリ惟フニ今後帝國ノ受クヘキ苦難ハ固ヨリ尋󠄁常ニアラス爾臣民ノ衷情󠄁モ朕󠄁善ク之ヲ知ル然レトモ朕󠄁ハ時運󠄁ノ趨ク所󠄁堪ヘ難キヲ堪ヘ忍󠄁ヒ難キヲ忍󠄁ヒ以テ萬世ノ爲ニ太平󠄁ヲ開カムト欲ス
朕󠄁ハ玆ニ國體ヲ護持シ得テ忠良ナル爾臣民ノ赤誠ニ信倚シ常ニ爾臣民ト共ニ在リ若シ夫レ情󠄁ノ激スル所󠄁濫ニ事端ヲ滋クシ或ハ同胞排擠互ニ時局ヲ亂リ爲ニ大道󠄁ヲ誤󠄁リ信義ヲ世界ニ失フカ如キハ朕󠄁最モ之ヲ戒ム宜シク擧國一家子孫相傳ヘ確ク神州ノ不滅ヲ信シ任重クシテ道󠄁遠󠄁キヲ念ヒ總力ヲ將來ノ建󠄁設ニ傾ケ道󠄁義ヲ篤クシ志操ヲ鞏クシ誓テ國體ノ精華ヲ發揚シ世界ノ進󠄁運󠄁ニ後レサラムコトヲ期スヘシ爾臣民其レ克ク朕󠄁カ意ヲ體セヨ
昭和二十年八月十四日
內閣總理大臣 男爵󠄂 鈴木貫太郞
海 軍 大 臣 米內光政
司 法 大 臣 松阪廣政
陸 軍 大 臣 阿南惟幾󠄁
軍 需 大 臣 豐田貞次郞
厚 生 大 臣 岡田忠彥
國 務 大 臣 櫻井兵五郞
國 務 大 臣 左近司政三
國 務 大 臣 下村宏
大 藏 大 臣 廣瀨豐作
文󠄁 部 大 臣 太田耕造󠄁
農 商 大 臣 石黑忠篤
內 務 大 臣 安倍源基
外務大臣兼󠄁大東亞大臣 東鄕茂德
國 務 大 臣 安井藤治
運 輸 大 臣 小日山直登
Salzburger Nachrichten (August 15, 1945)
JAPAN KAPITULIERT
WASHINGTON (OWI) – Nach der von Präsident Truman um 01.00 Uhr (mitteleuropäische Sommerzeit) gemachten Ankündigung hat die japanische Regierung die Kapitulationsbedingungen ohne Vorbehalte angenommen.
Präsident Truman gab überdies bekannt, dass die Verkündigung des Endsieges erst erfolgen könne, wenn Japan die Kapitulationsbedingungen formell unterzeichnet habe. Radio Moskau meldete heute früh, dass Kaiser Hirohito an alle japanische Streitkräfte, wo immer sie sich befinden, den Befehl erteilt habe, das Feuer einzustellen, die Waffen zu übergeben und die Anordnungen des alliierten Oberbefehlshabers zu befolgen. Die Ankündigung der japanischen Kapitulation wurde zu gleicher Zeit in London durch Ministerpräsident Attlee und durch den Moskauer Rundfunk vollzogen.
Text zur Kapitulationserklärung
WASHINGTON (OWI) – Die Mitteilung der japanischen Regierung vom 14. August 1945, die an die Regierungen der Vereinigten Staaten, Großbritanniens, der Sowjetunion und Chinas gerichtet war, lautet:
Unter Bezugnahme auf die Note der japanischen Regierung vom 10. August, betreffend die Annahme der Bedingungen der Potsdamer Erklärung und die Antwort der Regierungen der Vereinigten Staaten, Großbritanniens, der Sowjetunion und Chinas, die vom amerikanischen Außenminister Byrnes mit Datum vom 11. August der japanischen Regierung überreicht worden ist, haben, wir die Ehre, den Regierungen der vier Mächte folgendes mitzuteilen:
Seine Majestät, der Kaiser, hat ein kaiserliches Reskript, betreffend die Annahme der Potsdamer Erklärung durch Japan erlassen. Seine Majestät, der Kaiser, ist gewillt, die Unterzeichnung aller erforderlichen Bedingungen zur Erfüllung der Bestimmungen, die in der Potsdamer Erklärung enthalten sind, durch seine Regierung und das kaiserliche Hauptquartier zu genehmigen und durchzusetzen. Seine Majestät ist auch geneigt, Befehle an sämtliche japanische Stellen des Heeres, der Marine und der Luftwaffe sowie an alle Streitkräfte unter deren Kommando, wo immer sie sich befinden mögen, zu erlassen, denen zufolge die Kampfhandlungen einzustellen und die Waffen abzuliefern sind. Seine Majestät ist auch geneigt, alle weiteren Befehle, die vom alliierten Oberbefehlshaber gefordert werden, zur Erfüllung der erwähnten Bedingungen zu erlassen.