Only Reservation Concerns Emperor's Sovereignty

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 189, 11 August 1945, Page 5

Only Reservation Concerns Emperor's Sovereignty

Dramatic Broadcast Accepts Potsdam Terms

United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Received Saturday, 12.40 a.m. NEW YORK, August 10. A Domei News Agency broadcast picked up in New York says: “The Japanese Government is ready to accept the terms of the Potsdam Conference with the understanding that the said declaration does not compromise any demand which prejudices the prerogatives of his Majesty as sovereign ruler.” The Domei News Agency said the message had been addressed to the Swedish and Swiss Governments by the Japanese Government for transmission to Britain, America, China and Russia,

A Japanese Government message said: “In obedience to the gracious command of the Emperor who is ever anxious to enhance the cause of world peace and desires earnestly to bring about an early termination of hostilities with a view to saving mankind from the calamities to be imposed upon them by a further continuation of the war, the Japanese Government asked several weeks ago that the Russian Government, with which neutral relations then prevailed, should render its good office in restoring peace with the enemy Powers. 'Unfortunately these efforts in the interest of peace having failed, the Japanese Government in conformity with the august wish of his Majesty to restore general peace and put an end to the untold suffering entailed by the war as quickly as possible, decided on the following:

“The Japanese Government is ready to accept the terms enumerated in the joint declaration issued at Potsdam on July 26 by the heads of the Governments of Britain, America, China and later subscribed to by the Soviet Government with the understanding that the said declaration does not comprise any demand which prejudices his Majesty’s prerogatives as sovereign ruler.” The Associated Press states that the Domei News Agency’s broadcast of Japan's surrender offer was recorded from the English language radio beamed to the United States. The broadcast came shortly after Domei announced that Japan was protesting through diplomatic channels that the United States had used atomic bombs. The Tokio station went off the air at this point and was still silent ten minutes later. The Japanese decision comes a few hours after President Truman’s warning that unless the Japanese surrendered they would be subjected to further attacks by atomic bombs. It follows within a week of the first atomic bomb falling on Hiroshima and within a couple of days of Russia’s entry into the Pacific war. This means the end of an aggression begun 14 years ago with the Japanese attack on Manchuria. The 8.8. C., in announcing the news, said that crowds outside its news room cheered the news of the Japanese decision. EARLIER EVENTS POINT THE WAY Mysterious events are occurring in Tokio as the Russian armies invade Manchuria. The Japanese Foreign Minister To jo this morning received the Soviet Ambassador Malik who two days ago served him with a copy of Russia’s declaration of war. Broadcasting to the world before the meeting, the Tokio radio said: "It is said to be the Japanese Government’s intention to permit the Russian Ambassador to communicate with his Government.” This seems to mean that the Japanese Government wishes to communicate with Marshal Stalin and can do so only through a Russian envoy because Russia cut all communications at her end two days ago. The Tokio radio said that the Moscow Telegraph Bureau failed to respond to calls from the Tokio Telegraph Bureau since yesterday. The action of a country under attack sending for the envoy of the attacker two days after the war had begun is almost unprecedented. The Tokio radio says the Russians have penetrated Korea in the vicinity of Keijko. A later message from Admiral Nimitz stated that British carrier planes destroyed 24 planes and eleven gliders, damaged 19 and also shot down 13 planes over or near Third Fleet ships, making the total destroyed or damaged 248. The Tokio radio says the Russians near Buika invaded the Japanese part of Sakhalin Island. After viewing photographs, General Spaatz announced that smoke 20,000 feet high and dust completely covered Nagasaki three and a-half hours after the atomic bombing. Scattered fires were visible outside the smoke-obscured area.