Burma Star Association - B.C. Chapter
As this year is the 60th Anniversary of the end of the Second
World War and as the politicians have decided that there will be a single Commemoration
held between the anniversaries of VE-Day and VJ-Day during July 4th - 10th thereby
ignoring the fact that the war against Japan did not end officially until September
2, 1945 with the signing of the Instrument of Surrender on the battleship USS
Missouri, I thought it would be appropriate if you were able to place copies
of the following three official Instrument's of Surrender on your website.
They are:
Regards,
Michael Williams
After 1361 days, 5 hours and 14 minutes, World War 11, Pacific, ended officially at 0904 September 2, 1945 with the signing of this Instrument of Surrender on the battleship USSMissouri, anchored In Tokyo Bay.
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 Umezu, who signed on behalf of Imperial General Headquarters (lower top right signature). The ceremony was conducted by General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, 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
Blemey ( Australia), Colonel Moore Cosgrove ( Canada), General Jacques Le Clerk ( France), Admiral C.E.L. Helfrich (the Netherlands) and Air Marshal Isitt ( New Zealand).
General MacArthur stated the purpose of the occasion and an expression of hope for the future: "It is my earnest hope - indeed the hope of all mankind - 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."
Admiral Nimitz, remembering those who gave their lives In the Pacific War, said "They fought together as brothers in arms; they died together and now they sleep side by side. To them we have a solemn obligation - the obligation to insure that their sacrifice will help make this a better and safer world in which to live."
The following text is an exact copy of the document signed on the USS Missouri, along with an image of the signatures.
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 Slates, 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 of 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 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 the Allied Powers who will take such steps as he deems proper to effectuate these terms of surrender.
The following text is an exact copy of the document signed in Singapore, along with an image of the signatures.
INSTRUMENT OF SURRENDER
1. In pursuance of and in compliance with:
to all of which Instrument of Surrender, General Order and Local Agreement this present Instrument is complementary and which it in no way supersedes. the Supreme Commander, Japanese Expeditionary Forces, Southern Regions (Field Marshal Count Tersuchi) does hereby surrender unconditionally to the Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia (Admiral The Lord Louis Mountbatten) himself and all Japanese sea. ground, air and auxiliary forces under his command or control and within the operational theatre of the Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia.
2. The Supreme Commander, Japanese Expeditionary Forces, Southern Regions, undertakes to ensure that all orders and instructions that may be issued from time to time by the Supreme Allied Commander. South East Asia, or by any of his subordinate Naval, Military or Air-Force Commanders of whatever rank acting in his name, are scrupulously and promptly obeyed by all Japanese sea. ground, air and auxiliary forces under the command or control of the Supreme Commander, Japanese Expeditionary Forces, Southern Regions, and within the operational theatre of the Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia.
3. Any disobedience of, or delay or failure to comply with, orders or instructions issued by the Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia. or issued on his behalf by any of his subordinate Naval, Military or Air Force Commanders of whatever rank, and any action which the Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia, or his subordinate Commanders, acting on his behalf, may determine to be detrimental to the Allied Powers, will be dealt with as the Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia may decide.
4. This instrument takes effect from the time and date of signing.
5. This in strument is drawn up in the English language. which is the only authentic version. In any case of doubt as to intention or meaning, the decision of the Supreme Allied Commander. South East Asia is final. It is the responsibility of the Supreme Commander, Japanese Expeditionary Forces, Southern Regions, to make such translation into Japanese as he may require.
Signed At Singapore at 0341 I hours (G.M.T.) on 12 September, 1945 :
The image below is the document signed aboard the HMS Glory, including the signatures.
Note: The above material was supplied in April 2005 by Michael Williams, a member of the British Columbia Branch of the Burma Star Association who lives in England. See also his article about the Punchbowl Cemetery.
Joe Arblaster, Webmaster