740.00119 Control
(Japan)/8–1445
President Truman to General of the Army Douglas MacArthur
81
August 14,
1945
Directive to the Supreme Commander for the
Allied Powers
In accordance with the agreement among the Governments of the
United States, Chinese Republic, United Kingdom, and Union of
[Page 648]
Soviet Socialist
Republics to designate a Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers
for the purpose of enforcing the surrender of Japan, you are
hereby designated as the Supreme Commander for the Allied
Powers.
You will require the issuance of a proclamation signed by the
Emperor authorizing his representatives to sign the instrument
of surrender. The proclamation to be signed should be
substantially in the form appended hereto. You will take the
necessary steps to require and receive from the duly authorized
representatives of the Japanese Emperor, the Japanese
Government, and the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters the
signed instrument of surrender. The text of the instrument of
surrender is appended hereto. You will accept the surrender for
the four Governments concerned and in the interests of the other
United Nations at war with Japan.
I have asked the heads of state of China, Great Britain and the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics each to designate a
representative who may be present with you at the time and place
of surrender. I have designated Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz
to be present as the United States representative for this
purpose. As soon as I have received the other designations you
will be advised. You will make the appropriate arrangements.
Having accepted the general surrender of Japanese armed forces,
you will require the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters to
issue general orders which will instruct Japanese commanders
wherever situated as to the mechanics of surrender and other
details effectuating the surrender. You will effect any
necessary coordination of arrangements with the Japanese
Imperial General Headquarters with regard to the surrenders to
the Allied Commanders concerned of Japanese armed forces
abroad.
From the moment of surrender, the authority of the Emperor and
Japanese Government to rule the state will be subject to you and
you will take such steps as you deem proper to effectuate the
surrender terms.
You will exercise supreme command over all land, sea and air
forces which may be allocated for enforcement in Japan of the
surrender terms by the Allied Powers concerned.
Your appointment as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers is
effective upon receipt of this directive.
[Enclosure 1]
Proclamation by the Emperor of
Japan
Accepting the terms set forth in the Declaration issued by
the heads of the Governments of the United States, Great
Britain and China
[Page 649]
on July 26, 1945, at Potsdam and subsequently adhered to by
the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, I have commanded
the Japanese Imperial Government and the Japanese Imperial
General Headquarters to sign on my behalf the instrument of
surrender presented by the Supreme Commander for the Allied
Powers and to issue General Orders to the Military and Naval
forces in accordance with the direction of the Supreme
Commander for the Allied Powers. I command all my people
forthwith to cease hostilities, to lay down their arms and
faithfully to carry out all the provisions of the instrument
of surrender and the General Orders issued by the Japanese
Imperial General Headquarters thereunder.
[Enclosure 2]
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 by 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 continue to perform their
non-combatant duties unless specifically relieved by him or
under his authority.
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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 hereby 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 Government to
rule the state shall be subject to the Supreme Commander for
Allied Powers who will take such steps as he deems proper to
effectuate these terms of surrender.
Signed at . . . . . . . at . . . . . on the . . . . .
day of . . . . .,
1945.
_____________________________________________________
By Command and in behalf of the Emperor of
Japan and the Japanese Government.
_____________________________________________________
By Command and in behalf of the Japanese
Imperial General Headquarters.
Accepted at . . . . . . . at . . . . . on the . . . .
. day of . . . . .,
1945, for the United States,
Republic of China, United Kingdom and
the Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics, and in the interests of
the
other United Nations at war with
Japan.
_____________________________________________________
Supreme Commander for the Allied
Powers.
________________________
United States Representative
________________________
Republic of China Representative
________________________
United Kingdom Representative
________________________
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Representative
