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Documents Relating to New Zealand's Participation in the Second World War 1939–45: Volume III

474 — The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to the Prime Minister of New Zealand

474
The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to the Prime Minister of New Zealand

11 August 1945

Following is the text of the Note sent by the United States Government to the Swiss Government for the Japanese Government:

‘I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Note of 10 August1 and in reply to inform you that the President of the United States has directed me to send to you for transmission by your Government to the Japanese Government the following message on behalf of the Governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and China:

“With regard to the Japanese Government's message accepting the terms of the Potsdam Proclamation but containing the statement, ‘with the understanding that the said Declaration does not comprise any demand which prejudices the prerogatives of His Majesty as a sovereign ruler’, our position is as follows:

“From the moment of surrender the authority of the Emperor and the Japanese Government 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 the surrender terms.

page 508

“The Emperor will be required to authorise and ensure the signature by the Government of Japan and the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters of the surrender terms necessary to carry out the provisions of the Potsdam Declaration, and shall issue his commands to all the Japanese military, naval and air authorities and to all the forces under their control, wherever located, to cease active operations and to surrender their arms, and to issue such other orders as the Supreme Commander may require to give effect to the surrender terms.

“Immediately upon the surrender the Japanese Government shall transport prisoners of war and civilian internees to places of safety, as directed, where they can quickly be placed aboard Allied transports.

“The ultimate form of government of Japan shall, in accordance with the Potsdam Declaration, be established by the freely expressed will of the Japanese people.

“The armed forces of the Allied powers will remain in Japan until the purposes set forth in the Potsdam Declaration are achieved.”

‘Accept, sir, etc.’

1 See No. 471.