Hirohito Issues Second "Cease Fire”

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23282, 18 August 1945, Page 5

Hirohito Issues Second "Cease Fire”

Time For Surrender Extended Royal Envoys Visit Fronts By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright (Received 11.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 17. GENERAL MacArthur to-day told the Japanese to stop arguing and get on with the business of surrender. The Tokio radio says that Emperor Hirohito issued a rescript calling on the army and navy to lay down their arms. Vice-Admiral Taikjior Onishi, Vice-Chief of the Navy General Staff, committed suicide yesterday, said the Tokio radio. Onishi headed naval and air units in the Philippines during the American campaign and later helped to develop special attack tactics. The Japanese Government sent a message to General MacArthur, informing him that Emperor Hirohito was sending members of the Royal Family to the fighting fronts to ensure obedience to the “cease fire” order. Six days will be required to make the message effective in China, eight days in Bougainville, and 12 days in New Guinea. The message added: “It is impossible for us to arrange for the flight of our representative to Manila on Friday as demanded by General MacArthur, due to the scarcity of time. We will, however, proceed immediately with preparations, and will notify General MacArthur regarding the date of the flight, which will be as soon as possible.” The Manila correspondent of the Associated Press says that General MacArthur earlier sharply criticised the Japanese Government for the delay in answering the surrender instructions. After receiving the Japanese Government’s message, General MacArthur said that it was satisfactory. He granted an extension of time to Japan for her emissaries to come to Manila for surrender, and promised safe conduct for Imperial Household representatives visiting the battlefronts in order to urge field commanders to capitulate.

The Japanese delegates scheduled to arrive at leshima, en route to Manila to sign the surrender documents, will travel from this island in a C 54 Army transport equipped with pink plusn seats, reports the correspondent of the "New York Times” (Frank Kluckhohn). Hirohito’s minions will have an austere reception. The delegation will be whisked from the white Japanese plane to a nearby American transport plane without being permitted to talk to anyone. The Japanese will be given an impressive picture of American aitpower, being flown over most of the 19 coral airstrips packed with hundreds of combat planes of all types. The Tokio radio asked General MacArthur to clarify whether the representatives proceeding to Manila would merely arrange for a formal surrender or actually sign the surrender.

Tile Associated Press said there was no immediate word from General MacArthur, who has already replied moderately to a plea for delay. The Japanese wirelessed General MacArthur that their planes bombed "some 12 Allied transports off Shikoku four hours before the Imperial “cease fire” order was issued. The broadcast said that the transports approached extremely near Kochi. The Japanese Air Force ventured an attack, apparently causing some damage. The broadcast earnestly requested the Allies to refrain from approaching the islands of Japan proper until the "cease fire” orders are fully effected. The Allies have not confirmed the attack. A preliminary conference with the Japanese representatives probably will not be held until early next week at the soonest, says the correspondent of the American Press. An aerial armada is expected to transport many key officials to Japan. All regular air transport between the Philippines and the Central Pacific is frozen, except for high priority officials. It is understood that advance echelons will move to Japan when preliminary details are settled at Manila. Defeat Came Hard Without doubt the defeat came hard for the Japanese Empire, says the Manila correspondent of the “New York Times.” Possibly Japan’s decision to capitulate came only on the narrowest margin. If so, General MacArthur seems determined not to salve the enemy feelings. He deftly rubbed salt into their wounds of national pride when he designated "Bataan” as the code word for messages dealing with the envoy's journey to Manila. His two messages were crisp, direct and authoritative. Perhaps this might be deemed a somewhat summary attitude for General MacArthur to assume when the fate of the Pacific war hangs in the balance. The general assumption, however, is that, if the Japanese are sincere in their desire to end the war, they can expect only the forthright

brusque authority displayed by the victor to the vanquished. If they are not sincere. General MacArthur intends to ascertain that now instead of later, when the American occupation forces might pay the price of the discovery with their lives.

This is the main reason for the preliminary steps. They are designed primarily to guarantee Japan’s good faith. However. when the enemy gives the necessary guarantees, it is likely that the occupation process will be as elaborate and militarily sound as any amphibious operation ever carried out in the Pacific. In the event of the preliminary negotiations breaking down at any stage, General MacArthur’s forces are prepared to resume the war.

Scattered fighting has continued in the Northern Luzon Mountains, in spite of the dropping of leaflets reporting the Emperor’s appeal that the Japanese troops should cease fire.

The Associated American Press says that military leaders regard the Luzon reaction as an important test whether the Japanese commanders and troops will obey the imperial mandate. The Japanese Press reports that food and housing reconstruction are Japan’s most pressing problems. The “Mainichi Shimbun” warned the Japanese to live up to the peace terms and avoid evasive action and not to take the attitude that Japan would not have been defeated if a different strategy had been employed, or if the Soviet had remained neutral and the atomic bomb not used. The Japanese position was far from satisfactory without the use of the atomic bomb. No Chance for Revenge President Truman told a Press conference in Washington that the surrender would not be complete until 2,000,000 Japanese laid down their arms. General MacArthur would announce the signing of the surrender, which would take place at a point General MacArthur designated. President Truman added that he did not think the Japanese people would ever have a chance to avenge their defeat. There was no apparent necessity for dividing Japan into occupation zones.

A reporter said: “Most Japanese radio announcements since the acceptance of the surrender terms have indicated that Japan is planning a military comeback.”

The President replied that nearly every defeated people felt that way. A message from Guam says that Admiral Nimitz invited the Strategic Air Force’s Commander, LieutenantGeneral Carl Spaatz. and the Fleet Marine Force Commander, LieutenantGeneral Ray S. Geiger, to be his guests on his flagship for the surrender ceremonies. The Associated Press says the invitation implies that the ceremony will be held aboard a warship, apparently a battleship.