137-J-1

無条件降伏の意義

The Significance of Unconditional Surrender

平和と道義に基づく世界新機構確立の為に戦争を遂行中の連合軍は軍国主義ドイツを完全に撃破し、今や世界に取り残された唯一の軍国主義日本の攻撃に全力を挙げています。

The Allied forces, waging war to establish a new world structure based on peace and morality, have completely defeated militarist Germany and are now devoting all their strength to attacking Japan, the only militarist country left behind in the world.

この時に当たりツルーマン米国大統領は日本国民に対し日本の軍国主義者を撃滅せんとする米国の断乎たる決意と無条件降伏の意味とを述べた声明を発したがこのに再び国民諸君の熟考に供する為にその声明を御伝えいたす事にします。

At this time, U.S. President Harry S. Truman issued a statement to the Japanese people expressing the United States' unwavering determination to destroy the Japanese militarists and the meaning of unconditional surrender, and I am passing that statement on to you again for your consideration.

『ナチスドイツはついに壊滅し去った、今や日本國民は我が陸、海、空軍の偉力をつくづく心から感じた事であらう。

“Now that Nazi Germany has finally been destroyed, the Japanese people will truly feel the might of our land, sea, and air forces.

もし日本が軍首脳部の指導の下に何時までも戦を経続するならば我が米軍の攻撃力は日々にその強烈さを増す一方となり軍需工業を初め、船舶その他日本軍部を支援する総てのものは完全に破壊されるだろう。

If Japan continues to fight under the leadership of its military leaders, the offensive power of the U.S. forces will only increase in intensity day by day, and the munitions industry, ships, and everything else that supports the Japanese military will be completely destroyed.

（裏ニ続ク）

(Continued on back page)

そして戦争が長引けば長引く程日本国民の苦痛と困難は大きくなるだろうしかもそれは全く無駄な事なのである。

And the longer the war drags on, the greater the suffering and hardship for the Japanese people, and the more pointless it will be.

なぜなれば我が米軍は日本の陸海軍が完全に無条件降伏するまでは絶對対に攻撃を中止するものではない。

The U.S. military will not stop attacking Japan until the Japanese land and naval forces surrender completely and unconditionally.

しからば一体軍事上の無条件降伏とは一般国民に何を意味するか？

What, then, does unconditional military surrender mean to the general public?

それは戦が集結し日本を現在の如き破滅の淵に導いた軍指導者連の権力の終末を意味するものであり、またそれは陸海軍兵士を彼等の家庭へ、農村へ、また夫々の職場へ歸へす前提でもあり、なおまたそれはこの戦に勝利の夢を抱いている日本国民の苦悶、苦悩をこれ以上長引かせぬことをも意味するものである。

It also means the end of the power of the military leaders who have led Japan into the abyss of ruin as it is now, and it is a precondition for returning the soldiers of the army and navy to their homes, their villages, and their workplaces. It also means that the anguish and suffering of the Japanese people, who dreamed of victory in this war, should not be prolonged any longer.

日本国民の滅亡または奴隷化を意味するものではない。』

It does not mean the destruction or enslavement of the Japanese people.”