SIGNING OF SURRENDER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 224, 21 August 1945, Page 5

SIGNING OF SURRENDER

CEREMONY TO BE IN TOKIO FORMALITIES WITHIN TEN DAYS (N.Z. Press Association. —Copyright.) (Rec. 11.40 a.m.) MANILA, Aug. 20. General MacArthur has informed the Japanese Government that he expects to sign the formal surrender documents in Tokio within 10 days. The Japanese envoys spent less than a day in Manila, during which time General MacArthur did not once see them. They have now left for Japan with 25 pages of detailed occupation instructions. General MacArthur has issued the following statement: "I shall soon proceed to Japan with accompanying forces composed of ground, naval and air elements. Subject to the weather permitting landings, it is anticipated that the formal surrender document will be signed within 10 days. <: lt is my earnest hope that, pending the formal accomplishment of the instrument of surrender, the armistice conditions may prevail on every front and a bloodless surrender may be effectuated.

ACCEPTANCE FOR ALLIES. "I will accept the surrender in the names of England, America, China and Russia, after which I will direct the Imperial Japanese Headquarters to issue general instructions to the Japanese commanders, wherever they are situated, to surrender unconditionally all forces under their control to the Allied theatre commanders. 55 The Associated Press says General MacArthur apparently intends staging the formal surrender in Tokio rather than aboard an American warship as lias been suggested. The Manila conference dealt with questions of airport and other facilities as a preliminary to General MacArthur's entry into Japan. General MacArthur is remaining aloof until he meets an envoy of similar rank during the formal peace signing in Japan. The envoys in Manila were flatly told throughout the conference what the Japanese duties would be under Allied occupation. Occupation arrangements comprised the bulk of the conference discussions, in.which the Japanese gave the required information necessary for a triumphal Allied entry. A headquarters spokesman said that members of General MacArthur's staff were pleased with the Japanese co-operation and apparent sincerity. The envoys were not empowered to bargain but merely accept and transmit to the _ Japanese Imperial Headquarters General MacArthur's occupation terms. The Japanese yielded much secret data. vSome of the early precise formality broke down as the sessions were divided into meetings between American army, naval and air officers and their Japanese counterparts. There was no indication of friendliness, but the atmosphere was businesslike and without frills. At the end of the conference General MacArthur's Chief of Staff (General Sutherland) and the remainder of the American delegation rose. The Japanese then stood up and General Sutherland said : "I appreciate your co-operation and wish you a safe journey home." The sombre-faced- General Kawabe replied: "I deeply appreciate'the many kindnesses you have shown. I feel them sincerely," A headquarters spokesman told the Press that General Eawabe and Major-General Amamato seemed particularly humiliated and despairing during the talks but co-operated fullv and apparently sincerelv wanted to enforce the peace.

SILENCE IN BURMA. I Everywhere, except in Burma, the Japanese forces in the field are showing a greater inclination to lay down their arms. In Burma they have, so far, in the words of one commentator, "not shown the Allies so much as one pocket .handkerchief" in indication of any willingness to surrender. No desire has been shown by officers commanding units to make contact with the British commanders or senior officers. Artillery is now being used in Burma to tell the Japanese about the Emperor's orders. Instead _of firing shells, the guns are firing tightly packed wads of leaflets. A Burmese canoe filled with leaflets and containing dummy figures stuffed with leaflets was pushed off down the Pegu-Sittang canal towards the Japanese lines. Planes which flew over Moulraein were again fired on. The Japanese army in China has accepted Marshal Chiang Kai-shek's arrangements for the formal surrender of the Japanese. General Okamura told Marshal Chiang by radio that the Japanese surrender envoys would proceed tomorrow to Chihkiang to receive orders from the commander of China s field forces. . With lied Army paratroops taking possession of the key towns in Manchukuo all organised resistance appears to have ended and the final Japanese surrender is a matter of hours, say agency correspondents in Moscow.