Evening star., 1945-08-14
Ear|v Coded Cables Mistaken
For Long Awaited Jap Answer
White House Learns of Error
After Announcing Receipt
During Day Of Confusion
By the Associated Press.

The White House announced today that Japan
still has not replied to Allied surrender terms-but
the Tokyo radio reported almost simultaneously that
the enemy note was ION its way"
Presidential Secretary Charles G. Ross made public a
memorandum Swiss Legation shortly after
saying that coded cables in Bern from Japan
do not contain the awaited by the whole world.
The Tokyo radio at 1901 pm. eastern War Tme) said
he japanese governments reply to the four powers is
it's way to the japanese Minister at Bern The broad
cast recorded by the Federal Communications Com
mission.
Mr. Ross disclosure the heels of reports which
he himself had passed to reporters that the Japanese
surrender answer had been received in Bern.
Memorandum From Swiss Legation
memorandum Secretary State Byrnes the Swiss
Legation here said:
telephone this morning
Grassi, charge dafare ad interim of Swz
the Hon. James Secretary of State the
Legation wishes confirm the receipt of the fol-
lowing ot coded cable from the political department in
Bern received 1o5e (E W. TD August IA:
Every urgent Legation reports that coded
cables received this morning do contain the awaited
by the whole world
What numerals eo in the referred to Mr. Ross
called into his office to read the
he said Without comment ~ .o. . ,on,o, uoa,o u,oa
Tokyo the only for the report that the japanese
would accept the surrender terms
Note Sent Last Saturday.
agreed accept surrender with the Emperor
of an Allied supreme commander of occupation forces
stipulated that eventually the japanese people
Word from the Swiss in the middle of day that had
started expectanty radio reports from Bern and Tokyo
saying framed and that it's
the Allied capitals through the Swiss neutral diplomatic
channels. .
Commodore James Vadaman President TumanS naval aide mad
Legation shortly after and had been
the Swiss had received the coded surrender
in Bern
This raised expectations japanese reply would be in
hands of Allied leaders in matter of hours
Officials Informed Quickly.
lengthy coded message received by japanese off,
cials in proved something other than the surrender
officials there and in washington were informed
Because of their previous conversation with Commodore
the Swiss acted hurredy to notify Secretary Byrnes
of the situation.
Mr. Byrnes White House from his State De-
apparently delivered President Truman the
Previously had asked Mr. Ross
reports they obtained from the Swiss Legation that no sur
apparently mysfed by this turn of affairs, went
Immediately the President He announced the
the Duke of Windsor who had been talking with Mr.
Truman, out of the executive offices.
the outlined by Mr. Ross Mr. Byrnes would
the first receive the official text of the Japanese note after
transmtta through Switzerland He would communicate 1T
Immediately to President Truman
Early the day told reporters probably would
several hours japanese to be decoded
Bern and ayed here reply be accelerated however if
American Minister Leland Harrison Bern receives there
and cables it directly to the State Department
Earlier the Swiss radio in broadcast recorded by British
radio monitors had that Japan has accepted the
capituaon Offer 1t about five hours after the first word
of japanese acceptance from Domei at 150
Byrnes o White
The word that Bern already had received the in mid
morning Mr. Byrnes holding conference with Pes
dent Truman who retired night in
his study at 730 today As Byrnes White
reporters asked him he expected reply Tokyo
Yes SIR ne replied crpy and continued the street
Shortly after Byrnes to the White House.
spoke briefly with the President
Although hilarious peace celebrations held early this
(see SURRENDER, Page A-5J