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be necessary to achieve their objectives and that directives to that

ef-

feet would be issued from time to time.

If it is apparent that thehighest recognized military authorities cannot exercise control over

any such units the allied occupation authorities should be prepared,

nevertheless, to accept the unconditional surrender of Japan in the

homeland.

8 May 4, p. 1235.

1282

It is recommended that:

1. The Emperor should proclaim that Japan has surrendered un-

conditionally to the United Nations at war with Japan and should

command the armed forces and people of Japan to offer no

opposition

to any measures which the Allies may adopt. At the same time, a

document acknowledging Japan's unconditional surrender and

stating

that the armed forces and people of Japan have been ordered to

offer

no opposition to the Allies should receive the Emperor's official sig-

nature and privy seal, should be countersigned by the highest

available

representatives of the Japanese High Command, and should be de-

livered to the Allied Theater Commander. This document will con-

stitute the instrument of unconditional surrender of Japan.

1283

 JAPAN

FOREIGN RELATIONS, 19 4 4, VOLUME V2. The Allied Theater Commander for Japan, being duly author-

ized, should receive the unconditional surrender of Japan on behalf 

of all of the United Nations at war with Japan.

3. If the several requirements as to the acknowledgment of uncon-

ditional surrender by the Emperor are not fulfilled, the Theater Com-

mander should be empowered to determine whether, in the light of 

existing circumstances, he would accept unconditional surrender of 

 Japan by the highest military authorities of Japan or whether he

would by proclamation take over supreme authority of Japan, ex-

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ercise the necessary powers, and issue directives as provided in

Recom-

mendations 7, 8 and 9. In view of the political implications of such a

decision, he might wish to have the question brought to theattention

of the political authorities of the United Nations principally

concerned.

4. In order to fulfill any obligations arising from the United Na-

tions Declaration to the effect that they will not make a separate

peace,

the United States, the United Kingdom, and China, and the Soviet

Union, if it has entered the war against Japan, should, at the appro-

priate time, inform the other United Nations at war with Japan that

they intend to proceed on the basis of the provisions of 

Recommenda-

tion One and Two.

5. To determine the basic policies and procedures to be followed

subsequent to Japan's surrender, the United States should present

its

views on this subject to the United Kingdom and China, and the

Soviet Union, if it has entered the war against Japan, as a

preliminary

step towards reaching a general agreement. These nations should

then invite the other United Nations which have actively

participated

in the war against Japan to express their views. After receiving

suggestions which may be presented, the leading powers should

formu-

late definitively the documents containing the basic policies andpro-

cedures and transmit these documents to the other United Nations

which have actively participated in the war against Japan.

6. The United States, the United Kingdom, and China, and the

Soviet Union, if it has entered the war against Japan, should, with

the assistance of those other countries which have actively partici-

pated in the war against Japan, exercise the powers and discharge

the

responsibilities resulting from the unconditional surrender of Japan.

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7. Upon Japan's unconditional surrender the Allied Theater Com-

mander for Japan, being duly authorized, should deliver to Japan the

documents referred to in Recommendation Five which would state

(a) the initial military and other measures with which Japan mustcomply in consequence of unconditional surrender, and (b) the

general

policy of the United Nations in regard to the treatment of Japan.

1284

10. The Allied Theater Commander for Japan, being duly author-

ized, should be prepared to receive the unconditional surrender of 

 Japan, even though certain contingents of Japanese armed forces

refuse to acknowledge that surrender and continue resistance.

11. The leaders of the United Nations should, in anticipation of 

unconditional surrender, publicly affirm that (a) the measures con-

sequent upon unconditional surrender will not be enforced in a vin-

dictive spirit; (b) the necessary restrictions and controls on Japan

following surrender will be progressively relaxed as Japanese atti-

tudes and actions warrant; (c) the ultimate aim of the United

Nations

is not the destruction of Japan as a state but the emergence of a

 Japan

properly discharging its responsibilities in the family of nations.

12. The Department of State should, as soon as possible, take such

steps as are necessary to obtain the approval of these policies and

pro-

cedures by the United Kingdom and the Republic of China, and the

Soviet Union, if it has entered the war against Japan.

Originally prepared and reviewed by the Inter-Divisional Area

Committee on the Far East.Reviewed and revised by the Committee on Post-War Programs,

November 10, 1944.