Potsdam Declaration
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The Potsdam Declaration or the Proclamation Defining Terms for Japanese Surrender is a statement calling for the Surrender of Japan in World War II. (Quoting from a copy of the original document. Dated 26th July, 1945 - Following is the text of the proclamation signed by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Mr Winston Churchill and the President of the United States Mr Harry S. Truman at Potsdam, and concurred in the by the President of the National Government of China, who communicated with President Truman by despatch :-
NOTE - Japan's initial rejection of the ultimatum led directly to Truman's decision to drop atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and August 9, respectively.
==Terms of the Declaration==
(1) We, the President of the United States, the President of the National Government of the Republic of China, and the Prime Minister of Great Britain, representing the hundreds of millions of our countrymen, have conferred and agree that Japanshall be given an opportunity to end this war. (2) The prodigious land, sea and air forces of the United States, the British Empire]] and of China, many times reinforced by their armies and air fleets from the west, are poised to strike the final blow upon Japan. This military power is sustained and inspired by the determination of all the Allied Nations to prosecute the war against Japan until she ceases to resist. (3) The result of the futile and senseless German resistance to the might of the aroused free peoples of the world stands forth in awful clarity as an example to the people of Japan. The might that now converges on Japan is immeasurably greater than that which, when applied to the resisting Nazis, necessarily laid waste to the lands, the industry and the method of life of the whole German people. The full application of our military power, backed by our resolve will mean the inevitable and complete destruction of the Japanese armed forces and just as inevitably the utter devastation of the Japanese homeland. (4) The time has come for Japan to decide whether she will continue to be controlled by those self-willed advisers whose unintelligent calculations have brought the Empire of Japan to the threshold of annihilation, or whether she will follow the path of reason. (5) Following are our terms. We will not deviate from them. There are no alternatives. We shall brook no delay. (6) There must be eliminated for all time the authority and influence of those who have deceived and misled the people of Japan into embarking on world conquest, for we insist that a new order of peace, security and justice will be impossible until irresponsible militarism is driven from the world. (7) Until such a new order is established and there is convincing proof that Japan's war-making power is destroyed, points in Japanese territory to be designated by the Allies shall be occupied to secure the achievement of the basic objectives we are here setting forth. (8) The terma of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out and Japanese sovereignty shall be limited to the islands of Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku and such small islands as we determine. (9) The Japanese military forces, after being completely disarmed shall be permitted to return to their homes with the opportunity to lead peaceful and productive lives. (10) We do not intend that the Japanese shall be enslaved as a race or destroyed as a nation, but stern justice shall be meted out to all war criminals, including those who have visited cruelties upon our prisoners. The Japanese Government shall remove all obstacles to the revival and strengthening of the democratic tendencies among the Japanese people. Freedom of speech, of religion, and of though, as well as respect for the fundamental human rights shall be established. (11) Japan shall be permitted to maintain such industries as will sustain her economy and permit the exaction of just reparations in kind, but not those which would enable her to re-arm for war. To this end, access to, as distinguished from the control of, raw materials shall be permitted. Eventual Japanese participation in world trade relations shall be permitted. (12) The occupying forces of the Allies shall be withdrawn from Japan as soon as these objectives have been accomplished and there has been established in accordance with the freely expressed will of the Japanese people a peacefully inclined and responsible government. (13) We call upon the government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces, and, to provide proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action. The alternative is prompt and utter destruction.
Leaflets and radio broadcasts
The government did not disclose the declaration to the Japanese people. However, the ultimatum was broadcast to the Japanese Home Islands on the radio while leaflets describing it were dropped from American bombers. Although picking up leaflets and listening to foreign radio broadcasts had been banned by the government, the American propaganda efforts were successful in making the key points of the declaration known to most Japanese. As a result, Prime Minister Suzuki felt compelled to meet the Japanese press, to whom he reiterated his government's commitment to ignore the Allies' demands and fight on.[1]
The extent of the Allies' demands brought home the extent of the success Japan's enemies had achieved in the war.[2]
Aftermath
The subsequent destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki coupled with Soviet declaration of war compelled Hirohito and his government to reconsider their position. Ultimately, Japan accepted all of the demands contained in the Potsdam Declaration - however, the Japanese were able to secure critical assurances regarding the safety and position of the Emperor prior to the surrender.
See also
- Cairo Declaration (1943)
- Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945)
- General Order No. 1 (Aug. 1945)
- Japanese Instrument of Surrender (Sep. 1945)
- Treaty of San Francisco (1951)