大象传媒

This document was entered onto the Peoples War website by Rod Sutton on behalf of Pat Wilson who fully understands the sites terms and conditions.

I was only a schoolgirl during the war. After it I was given a copy of the Instrument of Surrender of the Japanese. The wording on it is as follows.

INSTRUMENT OF SURRENDER

We, acting by command of and in behalf of the Emperor of Japan, the Japanese Government and the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters, hereby accept the provisions set forth in the declaration issued by the heads of the Governments of the United States, China and Great Britain on 26 July 1945, at Potsdam, and subsequently adhered to by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, which four powers are hereafter referred to as the Allied Powers.

We hereby proclaim the unconditional surrender to the Allied powers of the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters and of all Japanese armed forces and all armed forces under Japanese control wherever situated.

We hereby command all Japanese forces wherever situated and the Japanese people to cease hostilities forthwith, to preserve and save from damage all ships, aircraft, and military and civil property and to comply with all requirements which may be imposed by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers or the agencies of the Japanese Government at his direction.

We hereby command the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters to issue at once orders to the Commanders of all Japanese forces and all forces under Japanese control wherever situated to surrender unconditionally themselves and all forces under their control.

We hereby command all civil, military and naval officials to obey and enforce all proclamations, orders and directives deemed by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers to be proper to effectuate this surrender and issued by him or under his authority and we direct all such officials to remain at their posts and to continue to perform their non-combatant duties unless specifically relieved by him or under his authority.

We hereby undertake for the Emperor, the Japanese Government and their successors to carry out the provisions of the Potsdam Declaration in good faith, and to issue whatever orders and take whatever action may be required by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers or by any other designated representative of the Allied Powers for the purpose of giving effect to that Declaration,

We herby command the Japanese Imperial Government and the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters at once to liberate all allied prisoners of war and civilian internees now under Japanese control and to provide for their protection, care, maintenance and immediate transportation to places as directed.

The authority of the Emperor and the Japanese Commander to rule the state shall be subject to the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers who will take such steps as he deems proper to effectuate these terms of surrender.

Below this was a short piece about the signing of this document:

THE END OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR

After 1364 days, 5 hours and 14 minutes, world war II, Pacific, ended officially at 0904 September 2,1945 with the signing of this Instrument of Surrender on the battleship USS Missouri, anchored in Tokyo Bay. This is an exact copy of that document, which ended the costliest war in history

On board to sign and/or observe the signing were representatives of the allied nations. Signing on behalf of the Japanese were Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu who signed on behalf of the Emperor of Japan (top right signature) and General Yoshijiro Umezo who signed on behalf of Imperial General Headquarters (lower top right signature). The ceremony was conducted by General of the Army Douglas McArthur, Supreme Commander. Signing for the United States was Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN, Commander-in-Chief, Pacific and Pacific Ocean Areas. The signatures below his are as follows: General Hsu Yung-Chang (China), Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser (United Kingdom), Lt. General Derevyanko (Soviet Union), General Sir Thomas Blamey (Australia), Colonel Moore Cosgrove (Canada), General Jacque Lo Clerk (France),Admiral C.E.L. Heifrich (the Netherlands) and Air Marshall Ishitt (New Zealand).

General McArthur stated the purpose of the occasion and an expression of hope for the future: 鈥淚t is my earnest hope 鈥� indeed the hope of all mankind 鈥� that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past, a world founded upon faith and understanding, a world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of his most cherished wish for freedom, tolerance and justice.鈥�

Admiral Nimitz, remembering those who gave their lives in the Pacific War, said 鈥淭hey fought together as brothers in arms; they died together and now lie side by side. To them we have a solid obligation 鈥� the obligation to insure that their sacrifice will help make this a better and safer world in which to live.鈥�

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