OFFENSIVE LAUNCHED IN MANCHURIA

Southland Times, Issue 25747, 10 August 1945, Page 5

OFFENSIVE LAUNCHED IN MANCHURIA

“RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT TRUE TO DUTY TO ALLIES” DESIRE TO BRING PEACE NEARER (United Press Association—Telegraph Copyright) (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 9. Russia has declared war on Japan as from today. Soon after the announcement Tokyo radio reported that the Russians had opened an offensive on two fronts in Manchuria.' The radio stated that the Russians had crossed the border in strength and heavy fighting was going on in several places. The Russian Foreign Commissar, M. Viacheslav Molotov, yesterday received the Japanese Ambassador (Mr Naotake Sato) and handed him the following statement for transmission to the Japanese Government: “True to its duty to her Allies, the Russian Government has accepted the Allies’ offer to join in the war and associated itself with the Allied declaration of July 26 of this year (the Potsdam surrender ultimatum). The Russian Government considers that such a policy, on its part, is the only means capable of bringing peace nearer, of freeing people from further sacrifices and suffering, and of giving the Japanese people an opportunity to avoid those dangers and the destruction which Germany suffered after her refusal to capitulate ally“In view of the foregoing, Russia declares that, with effect from August 9, 1945, the Soviet Union will consider itself in a state of war with Japan.”