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Surrender of Italy, Germany and Japan, World War II
(1946)
Part III. Surrender of Japan, pp. [69]-111 ff.
Page 107
"It is our responsibility-ours, the liv- ing-to see to it that this victory shall be a monument worthy of the dead who died to win it." Radio address by PRESIDENT TRUMAN on the signing of the Surrender Instrument by Japan. Washington. September 1, 1915.1' My fellow Americans, the thoughts and hopes of all America-indeed of all the civilized world-are centered tonight on the battleship Missouri. There on that small piece of American soil anchored in Tokyo Harbor the Japanese have just officially laid down their arms. They have signed terms of uncon- ditional surrender. Four years ago the thoughts and fears of the whole civilized world were centered on another piece of American soil-Pearl Harbor. The mighty threat to civilization which began there is now laid at rest. It was a long road to Tokyo-and a bloody one. We shall not forget Pearl Harbor. The Japanese militarists will not forget the U. S. S. Missouri. The evil done by the Japanese war lords can never be repaired or forgotten. But their power to destroy and kill has been taken from them. Their armies and what is left of their navy is now impotent. To all of us there comes first a sense of gratitude to Almighty God who sustained us and our Allies in the dark days of grave danger, who made us to 19 Congressional Record, September 6, 1945. President Truman's address was delivered September 1, New York time (E. W. T.), September 2, Japanese time.
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