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Document identity
localId
270626906
label
White House Press Release
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
270626906
contentType
document
title
White House Press Release
citationUrl
collections
White House Press Release Files (Truman Administration)
White House Press Releases
largeImageUrl
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
270626906
levelOfDescription
item
productionDates
day
24
logicalDate
1945-09-24
month
9
year
1945
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
924903f84f23469a
ocrText
176
SEPTEMBER 24, 1945
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The following is the text of a message transmitted on
MacArthur. It was prepared jointly by the Department of State, the
September sixth through the Joint Chiefs of Staff to General
War Department and the Navy Department and approved by the Presi-
dent on September sixth. The message is a statement clarifying the
authority which General MecArthur is to exercise in his position as
Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers:
1. The authority of the Emperor and the Japanese Govern-
ment to rule the State is subordinate to you as Supreme Commander
for the Allied powers. You will exercise your authority as you deem
proper to carry out your mission. Our relations with Japan do not
rest on a contractual basis, but on an unconditional surrender.
Since your authority is supreme, you will not entertain any question
on the part of the Japanese as to its scope.
TRUND
NARA
2. Control of Jepan shall be exercised through the
Japanese Government to the extent that such an arrangement produces
satisfactory results. This does not prejudice your right to act
directly if required. You may enforce the orders issued by you by
the employment of such measures as you deem necessary, including the
use of force.
3. The statement of intentions contained in the Potsdam
Declaration will be given full effect. It will not be given effect,
however, because we consider ourselves bound in a contractual relation-
ship with Japan as a result of that document. It will be respected
and given effect because the Potsdam Declaration forms a part of our
policy stated in good faith with relation to Japen and with relation
to peace and security in the Far East.