Evening star., 1945-08-11
48 Hours Seen Needed
To Effect Surrender
Truman Has Decided on Behalf
of u. S. to Accept, Writer Says
By David La,0rence

of u. S. to Accept, Writer Says
BY Dapid Laurence
President Truman has decided on be-
half of the United States Government
to accept the offer made by the Japanese
government as the basis for surrender,
but the text of the communication defin-
ing the American and Allied attitude will
take another "a to 48 hours to be formu-
lated and delivered and the acquies-
cence of the Japanese obtained. In ef-
feet. the American reply is to be clari--
fication of American terms.
For all practical purposes the japanese
war is over. There is the chance that
those who made the offer in Tokyo may
be assassinated or removed from Office
and q last-ditch party may keep up
the resistance. 1t is only a remote
chance and hence the reason for eau
ton on the part of the Allied govern
ments
Meanwhile, until cease fire" order
is issued, there is bound to be uncer-
tainty for parents and relatives of men
in the Pacific areas.
The single point made by the Jap
aneSe that their Emperor be retained
is not in reality a modification of the
Potsdam ultimatum, for in that docu-
ment the Allies declared they would
eradicate militarism. If it develops that
Emperor Hirohito is found guilty of
completely in starting the war, he could
be tried on that charge and his son
would succeed him as Emperor. 1t is
the institution of Emperor which the
Japanese asked to be allowed to main
tain. America has promised to let the
Japanese have their own form of gov
ernment and religion.
See Emperor Needed.
So far as the influential makers Of
our foreign policy are concerned, this
has been the viewpoint right along,
namely, that the Emperor would be
needed to keep sembance of order and
to issue instructions to the Japanese
troops in various islands and areas of
the Pacific to stop fighting. If the
Emperor were suddenly removed, chaos
would result and more American lives
would be sacrificed without adding any
thing substantial to the knowledge of
the japanese people that they have
already lost the war.
When American occupying forces
enter Japan in accordance with the
Potsdam ultimatum there will be no
in ind +Lni-
defeat. The retention of the Emperor
to carry out the instructions of the
Allies is really an advantage, rs Senator
Thomas, Democrat, of Utah, chairman
of the Senate Military Affairs Commit
tee, has stated. Mr.. Thomas was mis-
sionary in Japan and understands the
Japanese psychology.
The Potsdam ultimatum was an in
dication that Russia would be in the
war soon. 1t was that declaration which
foreshadowed the end, though the
atomic bomb and Russias entry un-
doubtedly had climactic> effect, too.
Immediately after the Potsdam dec
laration, many persons high in govern
mental circles felt it was the beginning
OF the end of the war-even before the
atomic bomb was dropped. This cor
respondent began his dispatch of July
27 as follows:
The end of the war against Japan
is in sight. The moves that precede
termination of hostilities are being
made. Japan may delay a few days
or few months but the outcome will
be the same-she will surrender. 80
Japan is being told, in effect, that
any lingering hope she may have had
of dividing the Allies must vanish. She
is also being told by inference that if
she doesn't accept this ultimatum. Rus
sia will feel it her duty to enter the
war"
Sought Way Out.
The meeting of the Big Three in
Potsdam happened just after the Japa-
nese Ambassador to Moscow had ap-
preached Foreign Commissar Molotov,
as referred to in these dispatches on
July 18. 1t was apparent as early as
that date that Japan was seeking to
have the war mediated or settled. A
japanese newspaperman captured in
Manila says the Japanese have been
looking for a way out ever since Premier
Suzuki took Office in January.
The japanese leaders faced the might
OF all the major nations of the world.
They could not win or hope even for
stalemate. Significant was the warning
given the Japanese people by Admiral
Nomura. former Ambassador to the
United States, who declared in the last
few days that the American people
would not accept compromise.
What is being accepted is not a COM
promise ora variation of unconditional
surrender The retention of the En-
peror can be construed as face saver
for Japan but in reality it is an effort
to prevent internal disturbance and
make possible the orderly execution of
the unconditional surrender terms laid
down in the Potsdam ultimatum. The
war is over