There are no municipal, public meetings scheduled for today for the City of Whitewater.
Yesterday was the anniversary of the beginning of the Second World War. Today is the anniversary of its end — the surrender of the Japanese Empire to the Allies aboard the U.S.S. Missouri.
Aboard The U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay, Sunday, Sept. 2–Japan surrendered formally and unconditionally to the Allies today in a twenty-minute ceremony which ended just as the sun burst through low-hanging clouds as a shining symbol to a ravaged world now done with war.
[A United Press dispatch said the leading Japanese delegate signed the articles at 9:03 A.M. Sunday, Tokyo time, and that General MacArthur signed them at 9:07 A.M.]
Twelve signatures, requiring only a few minutes to inscribe on the articles of surrender, ended the bloody Pacific conflict.
On behalf of Emperor Hirohito, Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu signed for the Government and Gen. Yoshijiro Umezu for the Imperial General Staff.
MacArthur Voices Peace Hope
Gen. Douglas MacArthur then accepted in behalf of the United Nations, declaring:
“It is my earnest hope and 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.”
One by one the Allied representatives stepped forward and signed the document that blighted Japan’s dream of empire built on bloodshed and tyranny.
First was Admiral Chester W. Nimitz for the United States, then the representatives of China, the United Kingdom, the Soviet, Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands and New Zealand.
The flags of the United States, Britain, the Soviet and China fluttered from the veranda deck of the famed superdreadnaught, polished and scrubbed as never before. More than 100 high-ranking military and naval officers watched.
Pledges Justice and Tolerance
“As Supreme Commander for the Allied powers,” General MacArthur told the Japanese, “I announce it my firm purpose, in the tradition of the countries I represent, to proceed in the discharge of my responsibilities with justice and tolerance, while taking all necessary dispositions to insure that the terms of surrender are fully, promptly and faithfully complied with.”
All through this dramatic half hour, only those aboard the battleship knew of what was taking place, because the Missouri has no broadcasting facilities.
But recordings were rushed to the near-by communications ship Ancon, and the solemn words of General MacArthur beginning the ceremony–“We are gathered here, representatives of the major warring powers”–were flashed around the world.
The Japanese representatives were present at the command of Emperor Hirohito contained in a proclamation issued by order of the Supreme Allied Commander.
The Emperor further commanded his officials “to issue general order to the military and naval forces in accordance with the direction of the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers.” The Imperial General Headquarters issued the order later.
Thus Emperor Hirohito formally acknowledged that General MacArthur’s word in Japan would come foremost of all Japanese officialdom during the Allies’ occupation of the country, which never before had been occupied by an alien force.
“I command all my people forthwith to cease hostilities,” the Emperor said, “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 Imperial General Headquarters hereunder.”
All issues have been “determined on the battlefields of the world and hence are not for our discussion or debate,” General MacArthur said before he invited all representatives to sign the surrender instrument.
“Nor is it for us here to meet, representing as we do the majority of the peoples of the earth, in a spirit of distrust, malice or hatred,” he added. “But rather it is for us, both victors and vanquished, to rise to that higher dignity which alone benefits the sacred purposes we are about to serve. * * *”
General MacArthur and Admiral Nimitz paid deep tribute to Allied dead and to the people of all Allied nations whose blood, work and sacrifices helped bring victory.
Admiral Nimitz said he took “great pride in the American forces which have helped to win this victory,” and declared that “America can be proud of them.”
“The officers and men of the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine who fought in the Pacific have written heroic new chapters in this nation’s military history,” Admiral Nimitz said. “I have infinite respect for their courage, resourcefulness and devotion to duty. We also acknowledge the great contribution to this victory made by our valiant allies. United we fought and united we prevail.”
Admiral Nimitz observed that “the long and bitter struggle, which Japan started so treacherously on the seventh of December, 1941,” was at an end….
