London (August 14): The Swiss radio says "Japan has accepted the capitulation offer. The Japanese information office announced, on the basis of a report from the Japanese Ministry of War, acceptance of the Allied capitulation formula."
It added that the Swiss News Agency had received from the Japanese News Agency a report stating that a message from the Emperor will shortly be transmitted.
The White House Press Secretary, Mr Charles Ross, speaking to newspaper men in Washington this morning, announced that the Japanese reply to the latest Allied surrender offer was now in the hands of the Swiss Government. It would undoubtedly take several hours to reach Washington. He added: "It looks as if we are at last nearing the end of our long vigil."
The contents of the Japanese Note, Mr Ross said, will be made public simultaneously in the four Allied capitals from some time today. Details of the "Cease Fire" and the methods by which the Japanese signatures to the surrender instrument will be obtained will be given out later today.
The enemy announcement came as the climax to four days of intense diplomatic activity, during which time the entire world waited with feverish expectation and some premature celebration for the news which had seemed inevitable ever since Japan intimated her willingness to negotiate for peace.
It is just over three years and eight months since Japan entered the war by her treacherous blow against Pearl Harbour and her attacks on American and British possessions in the Far East. But her record of aggression dates back to the "China incident" and her seizure of Manchukuo. Victory for the Allies brings to an end the Nipponese dream of conquest in the Pacific - a dream which came perilously close to fulfilment.
- August, 15