Lot 308

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Description:

HARRY S. TRUMAN SIGNED POTSDAM DECLARATION
HARRY TRUMAN (1884-1972) Thirty-third President of the United States who led the country in the closing days of World War II and through the re-building of Europe under the Marshall Plan and the Korean War. Historic signed mechanically-printed document as President, 3pp. 4to., Potsdam, July 26, 1945, the only known complete text of the Potsdam Declaration setting forth the Allies' demand for the "unconditional surrender" of Japan on the day it was issued. Representing the United States, Truman boldly signed in brown ink at bottom: "Harry Truman", with his addition of the signatures of WINSTON CHURCHILL ("Churchill") and CHIANG KAI SHEK ("Chiang Kai Shek") who were not present when the document was issued, but for whom he was authorized to sign. Light toning, a 1/2" clean fold tear at one margin, else very good. During the Potsdam Conference, Churchill, Truman, and, by telegraph, Chiang Kai Shek, negotiated a set of final surrender terms to be presented to the Japanese. On July 26, 1945 the U.S., Britain and China released the "Potsdam Declaration" announcing these terms with the warning: "We will not deviate from them. There are no alternatives. We shall brook no delay". For Japan, the terms of the declaration specified: the elimination "for all time [of] the authority and influence of those who have deceived and misled the people of Japan into embarking on world conquest"; and the occupation of"points in Japanese territory to be designated by the Allies...Japanese sovereignty shall be limited to the islands of Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku and such minor islands as we determine". As had been announced in the Cairo Declaration in 1943, Japan was to be reduced to her pre-1894 territory and stripped of her pre-war empire including Korea and Taiwan, as well as all her recent conquests. It continued: "The Japanese military forces shall be completely disarmed...stern justice shall be meted out to all war criminals, including those who have visited cruelties upon our prisoners...". On the other hand, the declaration offered that: "...We do not intend that the Japanese shall be enslaved as a race or destroyed as a nation...The Japanese Government shall remove all obstacles to the revival and strengthening of democratic tendencies among the Japanese people. Freedom of speech, of religion, and of thought, as well as respect for the fundamental human rights shall be established...Japan shall be permitted to maintain such industries as will sustain her economy and permit the exaction of just reparations in kind...Japanese participation in world trade relations shall be permitted...The occupying forces of the Allies shall be withdrawn from Japan as soon as these objectives have been accomplished and there has been established, in accordance with the freely expressed will of the Japanese people, a peacefully inclined and responsible government...". The only mention of "unconditional surrender" came at the end of the declaration: "We call upon the government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces...The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction". Our copy appears to be the sole copy of the Potsdam Declaration in its proper form and properly dated, to have ever been signed by Truman and additionally legally signed by him for Winston Churchill and Chiang Kai Shek. According to Harry S. Truman Library Archivist Randy Sowell, the library's archives contain only two drafts of the declaration. The first is marked "DRAFT" and is undated. At top, Truman notes: "Should China be asked?" and adds the word "China" to the list of countries issuing the declaration in the document's title. It is unsigned. The second document also bears a one-line correction at the start of the text, as Truman adds Chiang's title: "...and the President of the National Government of the Republic of China". He signs his name as well as those of Churchill and Chiang, noting beneath: "Change order in paragraph one so as to read Pres. of U.S., Pres. of China and Prime Minister of Great Britain". This draft is likewise undated. Thus, neither of the copies held at the Truman library bears the complete correct text of the declaration, both are undated, and only one is signed. An exhaustive search of institutional holdings and auction records revealed our example to be the only signed complete text (or even draft) of the Potsdam Declaration ever offered or held anywhere besides at the Truman Library, as stated above. Thus, we can speculate that this copy may be the official, legal copy signed by Truman and intended by him to be preserved for posterity, as no other dated, complete and unaltered signed copy of the Potsdam Declaration exists. At the very least, it is most likely the only complete, dated copy of that historic document to have ever been signed by Truman and for Churchill and Chiang as well. We believe this document to have originated from the papers of Major General Harry H. Vaughan, Truman's chief military aide at Potsdam and Truman's close personal friend as well. In addition to being transmitted to the Japanese government diplomatically via Swiss intermediaries, this ultimatum was transmitted via radio and airdropped leaflets to the Japanese public. It was met with silent contempt ("mokusatsu") by Japan's government in order to appease the military, which was hostile to the idea of "unconditional surrender". Nine days later the U.S. would visit its promised "utter destruction" upon the city of Hiroshima in the form of an atomic bomb. By all accounts one of the most important documents in American history.

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October 9, 2010 11:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

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