Evening star., 1945-08-10
Complications Likely
If Surrender Is Sudden
Might Be Arranged by Halsey on
Battleship, Says Observer
BY David Laurence

By Dapid Laurence
When Japan's surrender does come,
how will American forces accept it?
Will there have to be an armistice and
cessation of hostilities and then an
occupation or will an invasion force
be sent in before any agreement is
made to cease firing?
1t Is known that the complications
arising out of sudden surrender have
been fully considered by our high COM
mand, but details of the plan have not
been revealed to any one outside the
United States Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Naturally any contingency that may
arise is planned for in advance and
the possibility of an early surrender
has been in the minds of our military
chieftains ever since the first intima-
ton came over the Japanese radio that
there was a desire for a statement of
terms. This has since been answered
by the Potsdam ultimatum but it is
confidently believed now that the
atomic bomb and Russian entry into
war have precipitated some decision at
Tokyo soon to be announced.
Until Russia entered the war the
problem was even more difficult Thus
the commanders Of the Japanese Army
in China could well have refrained
from joining in the surrender and it
would have been difficult for the United
States to have accepted the capitula-
tion in Japan itself without knowing
to what extent the fight might be
continued on the mainland of Asia.
Trusteeship for Korea.
The entry of Russia into the war
simplifies the situation somewhat. In
| the event OF an early surrender, the
Russian forces can move down through
Manchuria and Korea and meet there
American naval forces which can join
in the occupation of Korea. The latter
| country is to be placed under a Joint
trusteeship anyway of Russia. China
and the United States.
| AS for the occupation of Japan itself,
the PotSdam ultimatum states that stra-
tegic points will be taken. This means
that American doughboys will be
| transported to Japan to constitute a
small occupying army. But this is
movement which would take many days
| to execute. What would be done in the
meantime?
| In all probability the United States
! Navy will arrange the immediate armis-
| tice because the ships of Admiral Hal
Sey's Third Fleet are at the doorstep of
Japan. Arrangements probably would
| be made for the top officers of the Japa-
! nese Army and Navy to come to the
deck of Admiral Halsey's warship to
arrange terms and they probably would
send their orders back TO shore instruct
| ing all Japanese commanders to cease
! hoStilities.
| Admiral Ninitz and Gen. Spaatz
would fly from Guam and Gen. Mac
/ Arthur would fly from Manila to Ad-
miral Halsey's flagship, which is one of
our new battleships. These leaders
would work out the details of the arm.-
| stice arrangements. AS an assurance CT
good faith, the Japanese Emperor might
be invited to come aboard the flagship
and remain there while the terms of
the armistice and the immediate occu-
| pdtiOu WC1c UcI1lS WUIkeQ OuI-
Officials Expect Word.
| If surrender should come within the
next few days, it might take several
days thereafter before actual occupa-
ton of any Of the Japanese main is
lands and the raising of the American
flag in Tokyo would be consummated.
Curiously enough. as this is written,
there is not a single piece Of Official in
formation as yet. indicating definitely
| just when surrender will occur but Off
cials from. the top down in the military
as well as the civilian branches of the
government expect the news of the
capituiation any minute. They just think
| it would be incredible if Japan fought
on until all her cities were DESTROYED
and compelled the Americans to land
invasion forces and ferret out the rem
nants of the army in the mountains
and hills
Okinaws, of course, is only few
miles away from Japan-just an over
night and days journey but it would
be necessary to mount an expedition
and arm it fully before it could be
landed and it is no secret that the in
vasion operations are not ready yet
Hence the American naval feet will
have to accept the surrender and pro-
tect any troops which may subsequent
ly be landed at coastal ports where ini-
tial headquarters would be set up. The
end of the war appears to be in clear
sight.
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