Property from the Eric C. Caren Collection(WORLD WAR II)Teletype of Emperor Hirohito's Surrender Address, 15 August 1945 Printed teletype transmission on paper (30 1/4 x 8 3/8 in.; 770 x 212 mm), headed "To the Japanese People from Emperor Hirohito," and directed "To Col. A. Sinkov: GHA Signal Office"; browned, some stains from earlier tape repair, a few tears and chips. The consignor has independently obtained a letter of authenticity from PSA that will accompany the lot. "We have ordered Our Government to communicate to the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, China and the Soviet Union that Our Empire accepts the provisions of their Joint Declaration." By the summer of 1945, with Germany vanquished, the Allies were planning an invasion of Japan and, in the Potsdam Declaration of 26 July 1945, they demanded that the Japanese armed forces surrender unconditionally or face "prompt and utter destruction." When Japan hesitated, President Truman authorized the use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, August 6 and 9, respectively. Facing "utter destruction," Emperor Hirohito uncharacteristically intervened with Japan's Supreme Council for the Direction of the War and ordered the surrender. The Emperor delivered a radio address to the nation on August 15. In the address, Hirohito acknowledges the cruelty of atomic weapons, but he also avoided using the term "surrender." The official English translation of his address was made by Tadaichi Hirakawa. "To strive for the common prosperity and happiness of all nations as well as the security and well-being of Our subjects is the solemn obligation which has been handed down by Our Imperial Ancestors, and which We lay close to heart. … But now the war has lasted for nearly four years. Despite the best that has been done by every one … the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest. Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is indeed incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives. Should we continue to fight, it would not only result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization. Such being the case, how are We to save the millions of Our subjects; or to atone Ourselves before the hallowed spirits of Our Imperial Ancestors? This is the reason why We have ordered the acceptance of the provisions of the Joint Declaration of the Powers. …" Abraham Sinkov, to whom this transcript was directed, was a cryptanalyst in the U.S. Army's Signals Intelligence Service; after the war, he served as a deputy director of the National Security Agency.Condition ReportCondition as described in catalogue entry. The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The
Property from the Eric C. Caren Collection(WORLD WAR II)Teletype of Emperor Hirohito's Surrender Address, 15 August 1945 Printed teletype transmission on paper (30 1/4 x 8 3/8 in.; 770 x 212 mm), headed "To the Japanese People from Emperor Hirohito," and directed "To Col. A. Sinkov: GHA Signal Office"; browned, some stains from earlier tape repair, a few tears and chips. The consignor has independently obtained a letter of authenticity from PSA that will accompany the lot. "We have ordered Our Government to communicate to the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, China and the Soviet Union that Our Empire accepts the provisions of their Joint Declaration." By the summer of 1945, with Germany vanquished, the Allies were planning an invasion of Japan and, in the Potsdam Declaration of 26 July 1945, they demanded that the Japanese armed forces surrender unconditionally or face "prompt and utter destruction." When Japan hesitated, President Truman authorized the use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, August 6 and 9, respectively. Facing "utter destruction," Emperor Hirohito uncharacteristically intervened with Japan's Supreme Council for the Direction of the War and ordered the surrender. The Emperor delivered a radio address to the nation on August 15. In the address, Hirohito acknowledges the cruelty of atomic weapons, but he also avoided using the term "surrender." The official English translation of his address was made by Tadaichi Hirakawa. "To strive for the common prosperity and happiness of all nations as well as the security and well-being of Our subjects is the solemn obligation which has been handed down by Our Imperial Ancestors, and which We lay close to heart. … But now the war has lasted for nearly four years. Despite the best that has been done by every one … the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest. Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is indeed incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives. Should we continue to fight, it would not only result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization. Such being the case, how are We to save the millions of Our subjects; or to atone Ourselves before the hallowed spirits of Our Imperial Ancestors? This is the reason why We have ordered the acceptance of the provisions of the Joint Declaration of the Powers. …" Abraham Sinkov, to whom this transcript was directed, was a cryptanalyst in the U.S. Army's Signals Intelligence Service; after the war, he served as a deputy director of the National Security Agency.Condition ReportCondition as described in catalogue entry. The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
