The Potsdam Declaration or the Proclamation Defining Terms for Japanese Surrender is a statement calling for the Surrender of Japan in World War II. On July 26, 1945, United States President Harry S. Truman, United Kingdom Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and President of the Republic of China Chiang Kai-shek issued the document, which outlines the terms of surrender for the Empire of Japan as agreed upon at the Potsdam Conference. This ultimatum stated that, if Japan did not surrender, it would face "prompt and utter destruction."
Japan's initial rejection of the ultimatum, by promulgating the condition that Japan be allowed to keep the emperor, and the impending Soviet entry into the war[dubious ], led directly to Truman's decision to drop atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and August 9. Whether the ultimatum was intended to be acceptable without recourse to use nuclear weapons has been subject to considerable debate.
The declaration was one of Churchill's final official acts as Prime Minister before he left office the following day in favour of Clement Attlee.
See also
- Cairo Declaration (cited in Clause Eight (8) of the Potsdam Declaration)
- Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
- Surrender of Japan
- Soviet invasion of Manchuria (1945)
- Japanese Instrument of Surrender
- General Order No. 1
- Mokusatsu
External links
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