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The Syonan Shimbun, Aug 21, 2606
NIPPON’S ACCEPTANCE OF POTSDAM DECLARATION: CABINET, STATEMENT
Tokyo, Aug 15, (Domei) - The Nippon Cabinet today issued a proclamation to the nation in connection with the Imperial. Rescript accepting the terms of the Potsdam Declaration.
The text of the proclamation follows:
"An Imperial Rescript has been graciously granted today. The Nippon Empire has been engaged in the war of Greater East Asia nearly for four years, but finally the time has come wherein there is no other way to follow but to put an end to this state of affairs by extraordinary measures through the august wishes of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor. As His Imperial Majesty’s subjects we can find no adequate words to express our trepidation.
"Countless numbers of officers and men have died in strange lands since the opening of hostilities and the damages caused in the homeland and the sacrifice innocent people have suffered has reached extremity. Our sense of sorrow and indignation is boundless.
"There is no way to realize our objective of war, and the progress of war is not necessarily in our favour. The use of a new bomb which has destructive power unprecedented in the history of science has brought a change in the method of warfare. Moreover, the Soviet Union on Aug 9 declared war on Nippon, and Nippon has come to face an unprecedentedly difficult situations.
"His Imperial Majesty the Emperor whose august wishes are for the peace of the world and welfare of His Imperial Majesty’s subjects has granted an Imperial Rescript. Imperial judgment has already been passed. The way for His Imperial Majesty’s subjects to follow is self-evident.
"It is natural that in the future Nippon will be confronted by further difficulties and hardships which will demand greater endurance on the part of the people. However, Japan must develop its fortunes in the future through the fruitation of this endurance.
"The present minister hereby asks most painfully our people to face this difficulty squarely. Now the way for our people to proceed is in the safeguarding of our national polity. The people must be on their guard against harboring suspicion against each other by sticking to the past and against causing internal strife to the advantage of by others or losing faith and justice in the eyes of the world through rash and blind action or impulse. All the people, meanwhile, should make efforts towards the protection and relief of bereaved families of those killed in action or of those stricken by war and wounded soldiers.
"In concert with the people, the Government expects to follow the august precepts of the Imperial Rescript and to be of the same mind with the wishes of His Imperial Majesty to restore national prestige and thus live up to the bequeathed wishes of our ancestors.
"I take this occasion especially to mention what the duty of civil officials should be in meeting this difficult situations. His Imperial Majesty graciously stated that his Imperial Majesty keenly is aware of the inmost feelings of His Imperial Majesty’s subjects. Civil officials as ministers of His Imperial Majesty must faithfully execute His Imperial Majesty’s magnanimous wishes and strive to be pioneers in arousing a strong spirit of recovery.
(Signed) Baron Kantaro Suzuki, Prime Minister."
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