TOUCH OF HUMOUR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 280, 6 September 1945, Page 5

TOUCH OF HUMOUR.

SURRENDER INCIDENT. NEW YORK, September 4. Colonel L. M. Cosgrove, who signed the Japanese surrender for Canada, was the culprit in an incident which interrupted the surrender signings aboard the Missouri and introduced a touch of humour into one of the gravest ceremonies of our time,” says the correspondent of the “New York Times.” Each delegate signed two copies—one for Japan and one for the United Nations, with the signatures above the name of the signer’s country. Colonel Cosgrove somehow lapsed and committed an historic boner when he signed the Japanese document underneath. Generals Le Clerc, Helfrich, and Air Vice-Marshal L. M. Isitt, who followed, repeated the error. The Japanese noticed the mistake, upon which considerable discussion ensued, ending when Sutherland crossed out the names of the four countries concerned and wrote them below the signatures. The Japanese gravely accepted the correction and peace became an official reality.