Potsdam Declaration

Mokusatsu: The Deadliest Mistake

Japan in War

Since the early 20th century, Japan had been aggressively expanding into Asia, making gains in China and Manchuria. As such, the military faction in the government gained significant influence with numerous victories. Militarism was deeply ingrained into Japanese society. This, alongside nationalistic ideas and belief in the divine right of the emperor, gave them the readiness to join the world war. Morale posters such as the one on the right showcase the eagerness of the people.

Translation:

"Should there be air raids,
They will not be intended for destroying our homeland,
But will be aimed to strike at our morale.
Are we to let them demoralize our YAMATO fighting spirit?"

Japanese morale poster. Courtesy of the United States Army Center of Military History.

  On May 7, 1945, Gen. Alfred Jodl signs the surrender of all German forces. Courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library.

Mid-1945, Japan was in a dire situation. After Nazi Germany's surrender and the devastating loss at the battle of Okinawa, many Japanese officials had come to their senses of the reality of the situation. While fanatical militarists remained convinced that a miracle would save them in their patriotic fight, unbeknownst to most of the world, Japan had begun initiating attempts at ending the war.

Brewery Gulch gazette, May 8th, 1945 issue. Courtesy of the Library of Congress, Chronicling America.

"The absolute maintenance of peace in our relations with the Soviet Union is one of the fundamental conditions for continuing the war."

 ~ general and Deputy Chief of the Imperial Japanese Army Kawabe Torashiro

Japanese-Russian Relations

July of 1945, Japan sent Ambassador Naotake Sato and Prince Konoye to the Soviet Union to seek Moscow's mediation in ending the war with the Allied Powers. The divided Japanese government had hopes that Soviet intervention – as their neutrality pact from 1941 was still valid – could help negotiate favorable surrender terms.

Portrait of Sato Naotake. Courtesy of the National Diet Library.

"I find that I must proceed at this time and would like to have you convey to the Soviet side before the Three-Power Conference begins the matter concerning the Imperial wishes for the termination of the war. The substance of the following should be borne in mind as appropriate in your direct explanation to [Foreign Minister] Molotov:

'His Majesty the Emperor is greatly concerned over the daily increasing calamities and sacrifices faced by the citizens of the various belligerent countries in this present war, and it is His Majesty’s heart’s desire to see the swift termination of the war. In the Greater East Asia War, however, as long as America and England insist on unconditional surrender, our country has no alternative but to see it through in an all-out effort for the sake of survival and the honor of the homeland. The resulting enormous bloodshed of the citizens of the belligerent powers would indeed be contrary to His Majesty’s desires, and so it is His Majesty’s earnest hope that peace may be restored as speedily as possible for the welfare of mankind.'"

~ Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs (Togo) Translated Telegram to the Japanese Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Sato) 

July 12, 1945—8:50 p.m.

Stalin and Truman in Potsdam. Courtesy of the Office of the Historian.

Stalin and Molotov left for the Potsdam Conference on the 14th before Sato could meet with them.

However, after several back and forth communications with Foreign Vice-Commissar Lozovsky, Sato stated that Lozovsky appeared impressed by Japan's appeal for the good offices of the Soviet government and promised to communicate Russian reply as soon as it was available.

Foreign Vice-Commissar Lozovsky. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

World leaders at the Yalta Conference. Courtesy of the Office of the Historian.

Russian Intent

Anxiously awaiting response, the Japanese were unaware that just of February earlier that year – despite being neutral – Stalin had met with Roosevelt and Churchill at the Yalta Conference and promised to commit to the war against Japan. The Soviets, wanting to gain back land they lost in the previous Russo-Japanese war in exchange for crucial participation, kept the Japanese in the dark.​