The end of the war in the Pacific

THE END

OF THE WAR

IN THE PACIFIC

Surrender

Documents in

Facsimile

JUN 17 154?
S. M. U. LiSRARt

THE END OF THE WAR
IN THE PACIFIC

SURRENDER DOCUMENTS
IN FACSIMILE

The National •^Archives

1

NATIONAL ARCHIVES PUBLICATION
NO. 46-6

United States Government Printing Office, Washington, 1945

/■'or sail by Ihe Supirintindent of Documents, GovernmeJit Piinling i
Washington 25, D. C. Price (paper) 30 ctnts

General Jonathan M, Wainwrjuht OptNiNG the Exhibition of the Japanese Si^'Rrender Documents
Beside! the guard of honor, from left to right, are Thad Page, Administrative Secretary of the National Archives, Solon J. Buck, Archivist of the
United Slates, General Wainwright, and Sam Raybum, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

p

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

The end of the war in the Pacific 1

Radio script of the ceremonies opening the exhibit of the Japanese

surrender documents 3

Facsimiles of the documents 7

Foreign, Minister Shigemitsu's credentials authorizing him to

sign the instrument of surrender at Tokyo Bay 8

Translation of Foreign Minister Shigemitsu's credentials .... 9

General Umezu's credentials authorizing him to sign the instru-
ment of surrender at Tokyo Bay iO

Translation of General Umezu's credentials 11

Instrument of surrender signed at Tokyo Bay 12

Emperor Hirohito's rescript announcing the surrender and
ordering the people to carry out the provisions of the instru-
ment of surrender 14

Translation of Emperor Hirohito's rescript 16

Instrument of surrenderor Japanese forces in the Philippines . . 17

Instrumentof surrenderof JapaneseforcesinsouthernKorea . . 19

Instrument of surrender of Japanese forces in South East Asia . 24

r

The End of the War in the Pacific

A BOARD the battleship Missouri, anchored
/-\ in Tokyo Bay, General Douglas Mac-
■^ -*- Arthur, Supreme Commander for the
.■\llied Powers, accepted the capitulation of the
Japanese by signing the instrument of surrender.
That was at 0908 hours on Sunday the second
day of September 1945. The mighty machine
of war had already rolled to a stop, but the formal
surrender marked the end of the conflict that
some called the War for Survival, the War for
Humanity, or the War Against Fascism but that
most people termed simply World War IT.

Begun by the Japanese in treachery and prose-
cuted with a savage brutality abhorred by the
civilized world, the war in the Pacific came to an
abrupt close only three short months after the
collapse and surrender of Nazi Germany.* It
had been nearly four years, however, since the
sneak attack on Pearl Harbor had staggered
.\merica. Unprepared but undaunted, the
United States and her allies had bravely resisted
but at best could fight only delaying actions as
the conquering Japanese forces swept through the
Philippines, Malaya, and Java to the very gates of
Australia. Then, although policy dictated that
the European theater should have first call on
men, equipment, and supplies, the enemy advance
was finally stopped. In the carrier air battles
of the Coral Sea in May and of Midway in June
1942 the Jap fleet was severely damaged. On
Guadalcanal and New Guinea our troops fought
doggedly and successfully in spite of overwhelm-
ing odds against them.

The tide of victory was turned at last. It
surged up through the Solomons and up the long
ladder to the home islands of Japan. Lae,"

"Facsimiles of ihc German surrender documents are
published in National Archives, Germany Surrenders
Uncondilhnatly, which is for sale at 30 cents a copy by
the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing
Office, Washington 25, D. C.

Makin, Tarawa, Kwajalein, Eruwetok, Saipan,
Guam, and Tinian became far more than names
for pin points in the Pacific. The liberation of
the Philippines was not only a brilliant campaign,
it was a svTnbol of hope to the still-oppressed of
the East. And then with the taking of Iwo Jima
and Okinawa in the spring of 1M5 our forces
were on the threshold of Nippon and there they
stayed in spite of mass attacks by suicide planes.
With Germany out of the picture, the full force
of the Allies could now be turned on the Japanese.
From our firmly established base on Okinawa,
our planes flew on announced raids and our fleet
steamed within sight of Japan's most important
c ities — unch all en ged .

Japan was doomed. Her air force was de-
stroyed and her fleet was annihilated. Although
she still had millions of troops in the field, al-
though she still had an empire, she knew that
cut off as she was she could not maintain her
forces or hold her empire. On August 5, the
atomic bomb burst with all its awful power over
Hiroshima. On August 8, the Soviet Union
joined the fight, thus completing the encircle-
ment of Japan. The dropping of a second atomic
bomb, this time on Nagasaki, made it obvious chat
Japan was faced not just with defeat but with
possible obliteration.

On Friday morning, August 10, Americans
listening to their radios were electrified by the
flash— "The Japs accept the Potsdam Declara-
tion." A Japanese broadcast saying that Japan
was ready to surrender if the Emperor's pre-
rogatives were not prejudiced had been picked
up. That evening Washington confirmed the
fact that a peace proposal had been received and
the next day the United States, on behalf of
herself, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union,
and China, replied that the Emperor and the
Japanese Government would be subject to the
Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers.
Three days later word of Japan's acceptance was

Page one

received in Washington. At 7 p. m. on August
14, President Truman announced the uncondi-
tional surrender of the last of our enemies. There
was peace once more in the world.

At the formal surrender aboard the Missouri,
Japan was represented by Foreign Minister
Mamoru Shigemitsu and General Yoshijiro
Umezu, whose credentials, in Japanese, are
signed by Emperor Hirohito above the seal of the
Empire. The English translations of these docu-
ments were furnished by the Japanese.

Escorted by Lieutenant General Jonathan M.
Wainwright, hero of Corregidor, and Lieutenant
General Arthur E. Percival, British Commander
at Singapore when it fell to the Japanese — both
prisoners of war for more than 3 years — General
Douglas MacArthur signed the instrument of
surrender as Supreme Commander, He was
followed by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, who
signed for the United States, by General' Hsu
Yung-Ch'ang for China, Admiral Sir Bruce A.
Eraser for the United Kingdom, Lieutenant Gen-
eral Kuzma Derevyanko for the Soviet Union,
General Sir Thomas Blamey for Australia,
Colonel L. Moore Cosgrave for Canada, General
Jacques Le Clerc for France, Admiral C. E. L.
Helfrich for the Netherlands, and Air Vice Mar-
shall Leonard M. Isitt for New Zealand.

In a rescript, or proclamation, signed by the
Emperor above his seal, Hirohito announced the
surrender and commanded the Japanese to lay
down their arms and to carry out the provisions
of the instrument of surrender. The Japanese
furnished the English translation of this document
also.

These four documents and the translations
were flown from General MacArthur's head-
quarters to Washington. There on September 7
at ceremonies in the White House they were pre-
sented by Seci^etary of War Stimson to President
Truman, who announced that the documents
were to be placed on exhibition in the National
Archives where the German surrender papers
were already on display. The State Department,
which assumed custody of the records, turned
them o\'er to the National Archives and on Wed-
nesday morning, September 1 2, at 11 o'clock
General Jonathan M. Wainwright opened the
exhibition of these documents.

In obedience to the imperial rescript, the gen-
eral surrender at Tokyo Bay was followed by the

capitulation of Japanese armies in the field. The

National Archi\'es has rccci\'ed three of these
instruments of surrender for permanent prescr\'a-
tion and they too have been placed on exhibition.
Lieutenant General Jonathan M. Wainwright
was given the honor of receiving the surrender
of the Japanese in the Philippines, where he had
made surh a gallant fight and had endured with
his men the indignity of defeat and captivity.
This surrender look place at Camp John Hay,
Baguio, Mountain Province, Luzon, on Septem-
ber 3, 1945. The instrument was not signed by
Wainwright but by Major General Edmond H.
Leavey, Deputy Commander of the United States
Army Forces in the Western Pacific. General
Tomoyuki Yamashita, the cruel "Tiger of
Malaya," and Vice Admiral Dcnhichi Okochi
signed for the Japanese.

The surrender of the Japanese forces in south-
ern Korea took place at Seoul on September 9,
1 945, at 1 630 hours. Lieutenant General Yoshio
Sozuki, senior commander of the ground and air
forces in Korea, and Gisaburo Yamaguchi, senior
commander of the naval forces in the area, acted
on behalf of the Japanese. Nobuyuki Abe, Gov-
ernor General of Korea, also signed in recognition
of his duty to carry out orders of the Commanding
General of the United States Army Forces in
Korea, Lieutenant General John R. Hodge, who
accepted the surrender. Admiral Thomas C.
Kinkaid, representative of the United States
Navy, also signed this instrument.

Admiral The Lord Louis Mountbatten, Su-
preme Allied Commander, South East Asia, ac-
cepted the surrender of the Japanese in that area.
The instrument of surrender was signed at Singa-
pore at 0341 hours on September 12, 1945. The
Supreme Commander of the Japanese Expedi-
tionary Forces in the Southern Regions, Field
Marshal Count Juichi Terauchi, was supposed to
surrender his sword to Lord Mountbatten but
he was too ill to appear. Instead, General
Seishiro Itagaki, Commander at Singapore and
Deputy Commander in South East Asia, repre-
sented the Japanese and signed the document.

These surrender documents, reproduced herein
in facsimile, are a reminder not only of our
triumph but also of that responsibility of which
President Truman spoke — -the responsibility "to
.see to it that this victory shall be a monument
worthy of the dead who died to win it."

Radio Script of the Ceremonies Opening the Exhibit
of the Japanese Surrender Documents

Announcer : Ladies and gentlemen, from the
Exhibition Hall of the National Archives in our
Nation's Capital is brought to you a special cere-
mony during which the original Japanese sur-
render documents will be placed on public display.

This hall provides an impressive and appro-
priate setting for the display of such historic docu-
ments. Beneath a great half dome, which rises
75 feet above the floor, arc murals by Barry
Faulkner picturing in heroic size the signing of the
Declaration of Independence and the submission
of the Constitution to the President of the Con-
tinental Congress. In the cases around the hall,
which is bedecked with the flags of the United
Nations, are documents marking milestones on
America's road from war to peace. The declaia-
tion of war against Japan, the agreement to
launch the Normandy invasion, the Teheran and
Yalta Agreements, the German surrender docu-
ments, and copies of the United Nations Charter
arc among the items being shown in an exhibit
on international cooperation for war and peace.

Today the Japanese surrender documents
signed on board the battleship Alissouri on Sep-
tember 2 are to be added to this exhibit. They
were flown to Washington from Tokyo soon after
the signing and were presented to President Tru-
man. They are now in the hall's center case,
which is in the form of a shrine. At each side of
it, a military guard of honor stands at rigid
attention. Before it sit a number of honor guests,
among them two veterans of Balaan, Pfc Felman
Cappel and Cpl. Russell Villiers.

The case will be unveiled by General Jonathan
M. Wainwright, the hero of Corregidor, and
Dr. Solon J, Buck, Archivist of the United States,
will accept the documents for exhibition. The
Speaker of the House, the Honorable Sam Ray-
burn, will serve as master of ceremonies.

High-ranking military officers of the United
Nations, resplerdcnt in gold braid and numerous

decorations, and Members of Congress, the Cabi-
net, and the diplomatic corps have just taken their
places around the center case.

And, now, the next voice you will hear is that
of Mr. Thad Page, Administrative Secretary of
the National Archives.

Mr. Pare: Ladies and gentlemen, it gives me
great pleasure, on behalf of the Archivist of the
United States and the staff of the National
Archives, to welcome you to the National Arcfiivcs
on this important occasion. I now have the
privilege and honor of introducing to you a dis-
tinguished statesman, who will act as master of
ceremonies, the Speaker of the House of Repre-
sentatives, the Honorable Sam Rayburn.

Speaker Raybl'Rn: Ladies and gendcmen,
nearly 4 years ago, on December 7, 1941, that
"day of infamy," Japan treacherously struck at
Pearl Harbor. The Nation was shocked and
angry, but it was not stunned. It was galvanized
into action. We had not sought war, but when
war came we mobilized our men, materials, and
machines into the greatest fighting force and the
greatest arsenal of democracy the world had ever

Meanwhile, however, our gallant men on
Bataan, first under General Douglas MacArlhur
and then under Lieutenant General Jonathan M.
Wainwright, were fighting against hopeless odds.
With no aid from outside possible, the fall of
Corregidor was inevitable. The courage of its
defenders and the brutality of the Jap victors,
however, turned it from defeat into a flaming
symbol— a promise that Corregidor would be
avenged.

"I shall return," MacArthur vowed. But dur-
ing those grim days when democracy was on the
defensive and modern civilization seemed on the
verge of collapse, the fulfillment of that promise
seemed a long way o(T. Nevertheless, it gave a
ray of hope to an almost hopeless world. All of

Page three

us now realize how, after much bitter fighting on
land and sea and in the air, that promise was
gloriously and magnificently fulfilled. We are
all familiar with the successful campaigns that
followed the liberation of the Philippines — Balik-
papan, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa — and that led to
the unconditional surrender of Japan.

It is fitting that the documents that now give,
and will continue to give through unborn genera-
tions, evidence of the triumph of the United
Nations over the Japanese Empire should be
added to the other significant documents on dis-
play in this room. These documents now take
their place along with the German surrender
papers, copies of the San Francisco Charter, and
papers relating to the various international con-
ferences attended by President Roosevelt and
President Truman — Casablanca, Quebec, Cairo,
Teheran, Yalta,' and Potsdam. Altogether they
reflect the story of our efforts and those of our
allies to win the war and bring peace once again
to the world.

It is equally fitting — peculiarly appropriate^ — ■
that these Japanese surrender documents should
be unveiled for public display by one of history's
greatest heroes, a man who even in defeat symbo-
lized the ideals and objectives for which this
Nation mobilized all its resources, a man who
contributed greatly to our ultimate victory by
holding out with meager and inadequate resources
far longer than was expected, a man who, despite
temporary defeat and indignities heaped upon
him during many months in Japanese prison
camps, never lost his spirit or his faith in America,
a man who by his courage and indomitable will
contributed immeasurably to ultimate victory.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my privilege to present
to you the hero of Bataan and Corrcgidor, who
will unveU the Japanese surrender documents,
General Jonathan M. Wainwright.

General Wainwright: Mr. Speaker, Dr.
Buck, ladies and gentlemen, the first thing I want
to say to you is that being home is fine, I was
deeply moved by being invited to attend the Japa-
nese surrender ceremonies aboard the batdeship
Missouri, and I was touched when General Mac-
.\rthur presented me with the first pen he used to
sign the instrument of surrender. Today you
bestow upon me another great honor, that of
making available to the American people the
documents that bear enduring evidence of the

supremacy of right over might and of the return
of peace to a distraught world. On this occasion,
as always, I think of the brave men who served
under my command. On their behalf, as well
as on my own, I am pleased to un\eil the docu-
ments that brought final peace to a war-torn and
war- weary world.

Speaker Rayburn : Thank you, General
Wainwright. I know something about the hard-
ships endured by Japanese prisoners of war, but
in view of the rigid schedule that you have ex-
perienced during the last few days and the strenu-
ous schedule facing you tomorrow in New York,
I am afraid that until you are permitted some
relaxation and rest, Manchuria might still look
good to you. At any rate you may be assured
that we are grateful to you for being here today,
and I want you to know that you will live in the
hearts of ^Vmericans forever.

All of us know and are immensely proud of the
part played by the Navy and the Marine Corps
in bringing the war to a successful conclusion.
We have with us a distinguished Naval officer.
Rear Admiral H, H. Good, who is here to repre-
sent the Secretary of the Navy. Admiral Good,
will you be kind enough to come up on the steps
so the audience can see you.

And now it is my pleasure to present to you the
Archivist of the United States, who will accept
the Japanese surrender documents for public
display and read a message from the President of
the United States. Ladies and gentlemen, the
Archivist of the United States, Dr. Solon J, Buck.

The Archivist: Speaker Rayburn, General
Wainwright, ladies and gentlemen. It is a
pleasure and an honor to receive from you, Gen-
eral Wainwright, these documents that mark the
end of eight long years of war for our brave and
enduring ally China and nearly four years of
valiant fighting for ourselves and our other allies.
When plans were being made for the exhibit on
international cooperation for war and peace, to
which these documents are now added, Franklin
D. Roosevelt, whom President Truman has called
the "defender of democracy" and the "architect
of world peace and cooperation," was still alive.
He took a great interest in this exhibit because he
wanted the people to know the road to peace as he
was traveling it. Litde did we imagine that he
was to be cut down with the end of that road
almost in sight. Nor did we think this spring

'a.e /o.

when the German surrender documents took their
place in this hall that in but four short months
we would see the complete capitulation of our
brutal enemy Japan.

Today, as these Japanese surrender documents
join the Lcnd-Lease Act, the declaration of war
against Japan, the Yalta and other Agreements,
the German surrender documents, and the United
Nations Charter, the story on international co-
operation for war and peace that this exhibit
seeks to tell is completed.

The exhibit is completed. The war has ended.
An organization to preserve the peace and se-
curity of the world has been devised. But there
have been other surrenders, other agreements, and
other international organizations — the archives of
the United Stales hold many of their stories, some
of them tragic. This time we must not forget
that enduring peace for the world rests on more
than these structures. The possibility of its
achievement lies in the hearts and wills of our-
selves, of our allies, and even of our enemies.

President Truman has asked me to express his
regret that he could not be here today to pay his
respects to General Wainwright and to all those,
Hving and dead, whose unflinching bravery

brought the Japanese to their knees. He has
sent a message, however, which he has asked me
to read. This is his message :

"It is with profound satisfaction that this day
we are able to lay before the people of the United
States and the representatives of our faithful allies
these tokens of the downfall of our enemy in the
Pacific — the Japanese unconditional surrender
documents. They arc only sheets of paper, some
of them written in a language most of us cannot
read, but they are an eternal reminder of that
indomitable courage of our fighting forces and of
tiic home front that led us through the disastrous
days of Pearl Harbor, Bataan, and Corregidor to
final victory.

"The world is now at peace but we would be-
tray those who died to make peace possible — wc
would make these surrender documents a mock-
ery- — if we did not continue to battle against the
evil ideologies of those who forced war upon the
world. Those ideas must be wiped out, and the
German and Japanese people must be taught,
with sternness but with justice, to live in a world
where there is respect for the rights of nations and
of men. This we must do to protect and perpetu-
ate that peace we have so dearly won."

yti

f

JE.

-f*.

?s

^11

t.

:>;

X

a

X

f

Hi/

r

X

m

9

X

r

it

k
f

k

1*

«

S

->

^

X

4i^

^

>;

3

t

^

f

^

»w

^

^

?

9

+
^

)

3L

Foreign Minister Shigemilsii's credentials
{Original document 12'/2 by IBYi inches)

Trin?lii*^'"'i

^

eiacuiTO,

17 tba Graca of BnaTsa, Ekperor of Jqian, seated on

thouMsd six tumdnd and fittb yvar froa tba aommIob

ttw ThroM occupied by the eas* Umaaty cbaas^Uea through

of tbe lmB»T<xt Zlam.

•ges etarnal,

To all to lAioa these fMGents shall com, GMetlagl

We do hereby authorise Uamoru Shifsenltsu, Zyosanai,
Fliet Class of tba Iiq>erial Order of the Blslafc; Sua to

Seal of

attach his slgiiature by comiuiid and in behalf of Ourselves

tba

Slgiwdi HIROUZIO.

is lequired by the Sapnae CoounaDder for the Allied Povers

«aplM

to be signed.

In witnoae whereof, We have hereunto set Our eignature

Counterslgnedi lanthiko-o

and caused the Qreat Seal of the Smpiie to be affiled.

Oivea St Our Palace in Tolcyo, this first day of tLe

ninth month of the twentieth year of Syows, being the two

taouaand

!

Translation of Foreign MinisU

Skigemitsu's credentials

{Each page of original docum

nt 9ys by 13'A inches)

s

1

i

%

k.

a
t

5

7

f

k

X

tp

•6

oE.

i
t

t

MM.
ti

m

y

X

iil

I.

ni

TT ■

— 1

c:_

- -1

>c ^

i.f

---■^

General i
{Original docurr

en( /2/a

fey IS'/i inches)

1'Pfj«'^f^<™'r

1

HIROHITO,

-■

H7 the Grace of Heaven, iiiperor of Japan, seated oa

thousand sii hundred and fifth year

froB the Accession

the Tlirone occupied by the aame tjnssty changeleas through

of the Eaperor Zinau,

B&B etsraal.

To all to whom these Preaents ahall cone, Greetlngl

,;e do hereby authorise Yoehljlro Umezu, Zyoaaninl,
Pirat ClssE of the Imperial OTuer of the Hlsine ^Ju", .;^cond

Seal of

Class of the Imperial Military Order of the Golden Kite,

the

Signed) H I B

H I T 0.

to attacQ his signature by conmand and in behalf of
Ourselves and Our laperial General Headquartere unto the

Sopire

Inatruaent of Surrender which is Mquired by the diqireme

COBnandar for the Allied Powere to be Bigned.

In witness sDewof, ,ye have bereunto set Our signature
and caused the Great Seal of the impire to be affiMd.

Counters ignedi

ToBhlJiro Uoexu

Chief of the General
Staff of the laperlal
Japanese imj

Given at Our palace in Tokyo, this first day of th«
ninth ■oath of the trontieth year of jyowa. being the two

Soemu Toyoda

Chief of the General
Staff of the Ii^erial
japansae Havy

thousand

1

Translation of Gener
(Each page of original doc

il Umezii's credentials
ument 9^ by 13]/^ inches)

INSTRUMENT OF SURRENDER

", acting by command of and in behalf of the Emperor of ^

Japanese Conernmenl and the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters,
■ hereby accept the provisions set forth in the declaration issued by the heads
of the Governmenls of the United Stales, China and Great Britain on 26
July 1945, at Potsdam, and subseguenlly adhered to by the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics, which four powers ore hereafter referred to as the Allied

We hereby proclaim the unconditional surrender lo the Allied
Powers of the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters and of all
Japanese armed forces and all armed forces under Japanese control
mftarwvar situated.

We hereby command all Japanese forces wherever siluoled ond
the Japanese people to cease hostilities forthwith, lo preserve ond save
from damage oil ships, aircraft, ond military and ciiril properly and to
comply with all requirements which may he 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 ance orders lo 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 ta
obey and enforce all proclamations, orders and directives deemed
by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers to be proper to
effectuate this surrender ond 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 unltss specifically
relieved by him or under his authority.

We hereby undertalie for the Emperor, the Japanese
Government ond their successors lo carry out the provisions of the
Potsdam Declaration in goad faith, and to issue whatever orders
and tolie 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 la 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 ond ta provide for their protection, care, maintenance and
immediate transportation to places as directed.

The outhority of the Emperor and the Japanese Government to
ml* the state shall be subject to the Supreme Commander for the
Allied Powers who will lake such steps os he deems proper to
effectuate these terms of surrender.

Instrument of surrendet signed at Tokyo Bay
{Each page of original document isy^ by 22y4 inches)

Page twelve

signed at tokvo bay . japan of ■^/ ^-y -
SECOND day of September

Aj

f

ftf Command and in ta/talf of the Emparor of „
and tho Japanaaa Sovarnmtnt.

i-Ai

'4 ^~^^if

Adapted at TOKYO say, japan
aEfi.QH.D . day of

oQo '^

for itie United States, Republic of CItino, United Kingdom and Ihe
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and in the interests of ll>e other
United Notions at war witl> Japan.

Republic of Ct>ino Represantalive
a>-w-eji- ^r^<- (XJ\ SUV.

Commonweoltli 43t-Aistfdlid ReprfmihhWa
Dominion of Canada Representative

Provisional Government of the Franet)
Republie. Reprvsenfotivi

Kingdom Of tlie Niiftierlonds Repnsanlativa

^-' n^ a,^ ,[' — £^ — rf ,-K<^tt~'

Dominion of New Zealand Reprgsentotiva

Emperor Hirohito's rescript, page I
{Original document 11^ by IS'/i inches)

^mx^

^

SJ

&

&

&

&

»^JF*1

^

M

IS

,i^2

&

/fs

&

&

itm^

13:

Emperor HtTohito's Tescnpl, page 2
(Original document UYi by IB'/a inches)

1

i

PHOOLllCATIOH

/

ty *1» hoadB of tb« Gorormonta of tta* Daitad atatea, Qraat
Britain and China on Jul; 26th, 1945 at Fotadaa and anbaa-

tUnoru ShlEemitau

liinister for 7orelga IffaliB

lUnister for Hom iffalrs

quently adherad to by tb» Union of Soviet 3ooialiat fiapublioa,
W« haia ocwianded tbo Jvaneso IsparlaJ. OorernBant and tba
J^panaae Imperial General Hftadquartara to olga on Our behalf

Julchl Tsushima
Ulniater of ?lnance

Sadanu Shinoaura
Minister of War

the Inatrunent of Surrender presented by tbe StqiTeine Comoander
for the AlUed Powers and to laaue General Orders to tba
Killtary sad Haval Forces in accortance with tbs direction

Uitsunasa Tonal
Uioister of Hav7

Chuzo Ivata
Mlaleter of Justice

of the Bapmao CoouBaader for the AlUed Pomps. «e coMand
all Our poopla forthwith to eeaae hostilities, to lay down
their aros and faithfully to carry out all the provisions

Tanon Uoeda

Minister of Sduoatton

Kerao Uatsunura

Hinister of TaUare

of lostpumeat of Surrender end tba General Qrdara lasued by
the Japanese laperlal Goronmeot and the Japanese l^wrlsl

Eotaro Sengoka
Hinister of igrieultuz*
and Forestry

Geoeral Headquarters hereunder.

ThiB second day of the ninth aonth of tba twentieth
year of Syowe.

ChDnihel VaJcaJlaa
Idlniater of Coomerce
and Industry

Naoto Koblyana
lUnlatar of Tranaportation

FuBlnaro Eoaoe

Minister without Portofolio

Tatotora Ogata

Mlnlater without PortofoUo

Seal of

the

Smperor

Signedi HiaOBITO

BlDsblro Oteta

Minister without Portofolio

Countorsignsdt HeruhiJco-o

Prlaa HlniataT

Translation of Emperor Hiroh

to's rescript

{Each page of original document 9y

by ISYi inches)

3«fitmmwit of ^ntvBnbn

of the

Japanese and Japanese-Controlled Armed Forces in the Philippine Islands

to the

Commanding General

United States Army Forces, Western Pocific

Camp John Hay

Bagiiio, Mountoin Province,

Luzon, Philippine Islondt

3 September 1945

Pursuont to and in accordance with the proclomotion of the Emperor of Japan
accepting the terms set forth in the declaration issued by the heods of the Govern-
ments of the United States, Great Britain and China on 26 July 1945, ot Potsdam
and subsequently odhered to by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; and to the
formal instrument of surrender of the Joponese Imperial Government and the
Japanese Imperial General Heodquartcrs signed at Tokyo Bay ot 0^03 on Z Sep-
tember 1945:

1. Acting by command of and !n behalf of the Emperor of Japan, the Joponese
Imperial Government ond the Joponese Imperial General Heodquarters, We hereby
surrender unconditionally to the Commending General, United States Army Forces,
Western Pacific, all Japanese and Japanese-controlled armed forces, air, sea,
ground and ouxiliory, in the Philippine Islands.

2. We hereby command oil Japanese forces wherever situoted in the Philippine
Islands to cease hostilities forthwith, to preserve and save from damoge oil ships,
oircroft and military and civil property, and to comply with oil requirements which
may be imposed by the Commanding Generol, United States Army Forces, Western
Pacific, Of his authorized representatives.

3. We hereby direct the commanders of all Joponese forces in the Philippine
Islands to issue ot once to all forces under their command to surrender uncondition>
ally themselves and oil forces under their control, as prisoners of war, to the neor-
cst United States Army Force Commander.

4. We hereby direct the commanders of all Japanese forces in the Philippine
Isknds to surrender intact and in good order to the nearest United States Army
Force Commander, at times and at places directed by him, all equipment and sup-
plies of whotever nature under their control.

5. We hereby direct the commanders of all Japanese forces in the Philippine
Islands at once to liberate all Allied prisonen of war and civilian internees under
their control, ond to provide for their protection, core, maintenance and immediate
transportation to places as directed by the nearest United States Army Fore«
Commander.

InsiTument of sunender of Japanese forces in the Philippines
{Each page of original document 91/^ by 15 inches)

6. SVe hereby undertake to transmit the directives as given in Poragraph's 1
through S, above, to all Jopanese forces in the Philippine islands immediotely by
all means within our power, and further to furnish to the Commanding General,
United States Army Forces, Western Pacific, all necessary Japanese emissaries
fully empowered to bring about the surrender of Japanese forces in the Philippine
Islands with whom we are not in contact.

7. We hereby undertoke to furnish immediately to the Commanding Gcnerol,
United States Army Forces, Western Pacific, a statement of the designation, num-
bers, location and commanders of oil Japanese armed forces, groiind, sea or air, in
the Philippine Islands.

8. We hereby undertake faithfully to obey all further proclamation, orders and
directives deemed by the Commonding Generol, United States Army Forces, West-
ern Pacific, to be proper to effectuate this surrender.

Signed at Camp John flay, Baguio, Mountain Province, Luzon, Philippine Islonds,
Dt IIIO hours 3 September 1945:

TOMOYUlifY*MASHITA,
General, Imperial Japonese Army
Highest Commander, Imperial
Joponesc Army in the Philippines.

4UulOuek

DENHIC) OKOCHi,
Vice Admiral, Imperiol Japanese Navy
Highest Commander, Imperial
Japanese Navy in the Philippines.

By command of and in beholf

of the Japanese Imperial

General Headquorters

Accepted at Comp John flay, Baguio, Mountain Province, Luzon

Philippine Islands, at |%.10 hours 3 September 1945:

For the Commander-in-Chief, United States Army Forces, Pacific:

-'edmond H. LEAVEY,
Major General, USA
Deputy Commander, United States Army Forces,
Western Pacific.

Page eightei

T^^

UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES IN KOREA

HEADQUARTERS XXIV CORPS

OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL

APO 23.?, c/o POSTMASTER

SAN FRANOSCO, CALIFORNIA

KtRUAL SUIffiEIIEGK BT THE 3HiI0R JAPAHESE OROOHD,
SKA, Am Aim AUIILIAHY FX)RCBS CCWMANDEE3 WTTHIH
KOREA SOUTH OF 38° NOnTH UTITirDE TO THE COU-
liAHDIHG GEMERAL, UNITED STATES AHMT FORCES ffl
KOREA, FOR AND IN EEIALF OF C0MKAMDEH-IH-CH3EF
UNITED STATES ARI.tT FORCES, PACIFIC

WHEREAS an Instnanent of Surrender waa on the 2d digr of
Soptenbar I'^hS t? coonand of and in behalf of the Eknparor of
Japan, the Japanese Goventaant and the Japanese Imperial Head-
quarters signed by Foreien Minister Maooru Shigflnitsu by con-
nand of and in behalf of the Einperor of Japan, the Japanese
GoVemmant and b7 Toshijiro Urnezu by conraand of and in behalf
or the Japanese Imperial Headquarters and

WlIEr^RfVS the terms of the Inatnraent of Surrender were
substfintlally as follows ;

"1. Vfe, acting by coeoand of and in behalf of the
Sbperor of Japan, the Japanese Gorermant and the J^iansse
Imperial General Headq'jarters , hereby accept the prorislons
in the declaration Issued by tiie heads of the goremaenta of
the United States, China and Great Britain 26 Ju2y 19h5 at
Potsdati, and subsequently adhered to ty tha Union of the
Soviet Socialist Republics, which four ponors are hereafter
referred to as the Allied Pamrtt

"2. iiTe herefcrjr proclaJa the unconditional surrender to
the Allied hjirars of the Japaneae Jjqwrlal General Headquairtaav
and of all Japanese amed forces and all anned forces under
Japanese control wharerer situated,

"3> Ve haretpy coianand all Japanese forces wherever situ-
ated and the Japanese people to cease hostilities forthwith,
to par«ser7e and savB frcsa damage all ahlpe, air crafts, and
military and cItH property and to cci^ly with *11 require-
ments which ms^ be inposed by the Supreme Ccmnander for the
Allied Powers or by agencies of tha Japanese GoYamnant ct
his direction.

"U. Ve hereby cccmiand the Japanese Iztperlal General
Headquarters to ixaue at once orders to the eoEnanders of aU

ImtrumeiU of surrcndeT of Jafmvese forces in soulhan Korea
[Each page of original document 8 by lOYs inches]

Page nineteen

UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES IN KOREA

HEADQUARTERS XXIV CORPS

OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING CENtRAL

APO 235, Lv'u POSTMASTER

SAN FRANCISCO. CALIFOKNIA

Japanese forces and all forces under JapaneBO control ulierevBr
situated to surrender uncondit lonaUy thasselvee and all foroaa
under thsix control.

"5. ffa hereby conBnand all cItII, miHtary and naval of-
ficials to obey zuid enforce all proclaoiations, orders and
directlTQS deaniod by the Suprfaae Coonander for the Allied
Powers to be ja'oper and to effectuate this surrender and is-
sued by him or under his authority and we direct all such
officials to remain at their posts and to continae to perform
their non-combatant duties unless specifically relieved ty
iiim or under his authority,

"6. We hereby undertake for the Einperor, the Japanese
GovemDent and their successors to carry out the ftrovislons of
the Potsdam Declaration in good falth^ and to issue whatever
or'Jera and talce whatever action ma^ be required by the Snpregoe
Cosnander for the Allied Pernors or by any other designated
Representative of the Allied Powers for the purpose of giving
effect fco that declaration.

"7. We hereby coramand tlie Japanese Imperial Govenmsnt
and the Japanese Imperial donoral Headquarters at once to
liberate all Allied Prisoners of War and civilian internees
now under Japanese control and to provide for their protection,
care, inaintenance and immediate transportation to pl^ea as
directed.

"8, The authority of tba Qaperor and the Jajianese Govern-
ment to rule the state shall be subject to the Supmns Ccnnandar
for the Allied Poware wlio will talce such steps as he deaats proper
to effectuate these terns of surrender" and

WHEREAS the terms of surrender were, on the 2d day of Sep-
tember 19b? as given by the United States, the Republic of
China, the United Kingdcm, the Union of Soviet Socialist Re-
publics and other allied powers, accepted by the Imperial
Japanese Govemnent, and

WHEREAS on the 2d dsy of September 19U5 the Imperial
General Headquarters by direction of the Qiqieror has ordered
all its conmandors in Japan and abroad to cause the Japanese

p

UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES IN KOREA

HEADQUARTERS XXIV CORPS

OFFICE OF THE COMMAKDiNG CEHEKAL

APO 23S, c/o POSTMASTER

SAN FRANQSCO, CALlFORftU

Armod Forcss and Japanase oontrollad foroos uMiBr their ccm~
maiKl to ceaae hostilities at once, to Isj doim thedr arms and
rwsain in their present Xocations ajid to surrsnclar iinconditLon-
ftlly to ccxmaDdere acting on b^alf of the United States , the
Republic of Chlna> the United Klngdcm, the British Si^ire and
the Union of Soviet Socialist RepabUcs, and

WHEREAS the I^qperlal Qenar^ Headquarters, Its senior ccd-
mandars and all ground, sea, air and auxiliary forces in the
nain islands of Japan, minor islands adjacent thereto, Korea
south of 38" north latitude and the HiilippineB were directed
to surrender to the Camandei^ln-Chief of the United States
Anny Forces, Pacific and

WHEREAS the Coctnandar-in-Chief of the United States Aiiny
Forces, Pacific has appointed the CcoEianding General, XXI7
Corps as the Ccnnnanding General, United States Army Forces in
Korea, and has directed him as such to tict for the Ccoiandar-
lii-Chief United States Any Forces, Pacific in the reception of
t)% surrender of the senior Japanese ccnsoanders of all Japanese
ground, sea, air and auxiliary forces in Korea south of 38'^
north latitude and all islands adjacent thereto. How therefore

We, the undersigned, senior Japanese ccarananders of all
Japanese ground, sea, air and auxiliary forces in Korea south
of 38° north latitude, do herein acknowledge:

a. That iw have been duly advised and fully infonaed of
the contents of the Proclanation tgr the Qi^ieror of Japan, the
Instnoaant of Surrender and the orders hereinabove referred to.

b. That we accept our duties and obligations under said
Inatruovrts and orders and recognize the necessity for our
strict compliance thaorvwith and adherenoe thereto.

c. That the CoMnandine General, United States Am^ Forces
in Korea, is the diUy authorised repreeentatlve of the CcnniAndu:^
in-Chief United States Anqy Forces, Pacific and that we will
cdtq^letely and ianedlstely carry out and put into effect his
instructions.

Finally, we 4o hareby formally and unconditionally sur-
render to the Caamanding General, United States ArDQr Forces in

UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES IN KOREA

HEADQUARTERS XXIV CORPS

OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL

APO 235. c/o POSTMASTER

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

Korea, all peraoiu ijj Koarva south of 36 d*grees North Latitnda
irtio are In ths Annod Forces o£ J^ian, and all mil Itary installa-
tiaoa, ordnanoe, ahlps, aircraft and othar military- equi^iiwiTt
or property of every kind or descriptlMi in Koi^a, including
all islands adjacent thereto, south of 30 degreea North Latitude
OTBT irtiloh tn exercise Jurisdictlan or control,

Bi caae of oonfllot or ambiguity betneen the English text
of this document and tmy translation thereof « tha Engliah shall
prevail.

Signed at SEOUL, KOREA, at/e^dhoura on the ^h da^ of
Septeatoer 1^U5,

Japanese ground and air forces
in Korea south of 38" north

pLl i^

^Ar^^

Senior Japanese ccnsnandar of all
Japanese naval forces in Korea
•outh of 38° north latitude.

I, Nobiyukl Abe, the duly appointed, qualified and acting
Oovomor General of KOREA do hereby certify that I have read
ajsi C-illff ijndmMt.and- t.hn eontants of tha f oreiroing Iiistruinont
of Surrender, and of all docanante referred to therein,

I hereby ackncwladge the duties and obligations imposed
iqx)n ma l^ said documents, insofar as they apply to all
matters -within my Juriadictlon or control as Governor General
of Korea, and reoogoiae ths neoesslty of ny strict oospllanca
theroirlth and adherence thereto.

.u-

Page twenty 'two

' *«[^ffil?v.'v.:?^-'* '

UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES IN KOREA

HEADQUARTERS XXIV CORPS

OFKICE OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL

AFO 235, c/o POSTMASTER

SAN FRANCiSCO, CAUFORNIA

In portljcular do I rocognlza that the CflBoandlng G«nsral,
UNITED STATES ATOCr FORGES IH KOREA is the duly aathorlaod r«p-
reaautatlTB of the Ccaoandar-iit-Chlaf , UNITED- STATES AIOH
rX)BC!i;s, PACIFIC, and that I m cot^lateV and Jnwdiat*!?- to
ears7 out and put Into affect his instructions.

Signed at SEOUL, IS5REA, at
SeptMibor 19li%,

t/^U

hours am the ?th dqr of

^f ^/? ^i ff

Aoeeptad at SEOUL, KOKEA, at/^*^houro on the Hh d^r
of Septad)er 19U5 for azid in behalf of the Ccnnandeir-in-ChiAi'
or the Iftiitod States tixa^ Forces, Paciflo*

JCilIH B. ffin
eutanant Oenaral, U. ;
CoDoandine General
[ited States Axi^y Forces In Korea

7i^...^^^^'&^^i^^~Qc..i^_

TTTrrrmm

Adalral, U. S. Nofy
Ropr a es rt ativa of the United Statee HaifT

Page twenty-three

IMSTRUMENT O

F JAPANESE FORCES UNDER
THE SUPREME COMMANDER,
RCES, SOUTHERN REGIONS,
HEATHE OF THF. SUPREME

(-i

Ihrln.

rumen

dISu

rend

edhy

KeJ.p.

ne plenipclenl

>,e> br .on,

• nd on

lKh<l of ih

c Empcro

o( J.

•n. .Ke

J^pineie Gov

J.P.,.,.

cin,pc

i-IG

otr

He

dq-„e

1.1 To

)o on 2 Sepie

ber, \9*T:

ft J

■he L«:.l Ag

No.

,pr
m.d

>mda
<by

Icd^l
leSap

hc..n,epl.ce.odon<h
crm: Con, mender. Up.n

eMn.<d.te

>c Enred.i

Fn.«.

Souih

rn R

.he 5

Allied Conim.

der, £oulh

Aiii •

R>T.B

27"

\U8U

.1945

lO.

o( oh,

. Inr.u

mint o

Sur

nd^

Gr

C..I

der >n

Loci Agrer

nent lh.. p

con.plc

L.1,,^

cdn. ,he Sup,

me Con.m.

J'P'

fKE.p

..Snu

hern

R^.

n. (F,.

.ICoonllei.

chlj doeih

.d» unc

lly l» I

cSu

A III

m.ndtr,

Eouih£.,.A.

> (Admire

Lord Louii Moiinlbi

«)k;

,.cll .

nd.

J.P

d, .,r .nd «!.

.rv (o.>.e,

hiic

Und

ihe

(wr.

he Supreme Allied Commi

Soulh E»l A

■■'■

,'.

lic Rup

cmeCo

imind

..J.P

yForc

. Er^ulhern Re

ionl, onde

■m. ,h.

.11 Old

.. ind

ih.i

m*yl«

uuedl

by ihc'Sup

All'

dComn.

ndc'.S

ull. E

M A>

.yon

roJlxi

•uhordi

.1^ n^^i!mI

..y Of Air-

Can,
J.pt

niondco

E.ound

"'-'.'"

'ux

gin

hl>l>

o.»

Tnde'."

«:.np..
hciom

u>ly .nd pron,

ily obeyed
oi the Sup

Com

^Vi!dl"

I'fUncK ElpF

diiion

., F

Soulh

'n Reg

o'nl. ."nVrillT

eope.

■ he.

. ct Ihc

Sgp.™

C AlllF

Com

er.S

u>hE.

1. Any diiuliedieoce ol. or dcl.y or fiilure lo comply wilh. aide
Supreme Allied C'om.n.nder. Souih E.il An., or iiiued e
.uWdinale N..1I. MilKi'y or Air Force Comm.ndeii ol uh.te.
■he Supreo.e Allied Comm.nder, Souih E.il A.I., or hi. lulxirr
hit behJI. n..y de.ermme 10 be del.lmenl.l lo ll.e Aliicd Pow
Supreme .MIicJ C..mm.nder, South E>.I All. m.y decide.

> ellecl Imm ihe t

00 of the Supreme Allied Comnoni

ri<CM.T.)on l2Sepl

jUAs^i^^^^^

Instrument of surrender of Japanese forces in South East Asia
{Original document 8]/-. by M'/z inches)