The Pacific War

[Boroda]

Toad, USSR was the last and possibly the only country that Japan could use as an arbitrator (is it a right word?) for peace talks with "allies". Molotov's talk to Sato and a declaration of war (BTW there is still no peace between Russia and Japan   ) was probably the last drop that forced Emperor to capitulate. I don't remember the exact dates, but the capitulation was sent to the US government by civil radio, and was NOT  declared to the people of Japan at the same time.

As for territory claims - Soviet troops stoped EXACTLY at the demarcation lines drawn in Yalta and Potsdam. Do you remember where the whole "38th parallel" crap started?

As the book that I quoted above says - Japanese started to surrender on Aug. 19th, but hostilities went on to the beginning of September. Certainly, "allies" didn't notice that: IJN was unable to keep on fighting at that time, and air raids to Japan stopped, so they had NOONE to fight with.

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With respect,
    Pavel Pavlov,
    Commissar 25th IAP WB VVS

[Toad]

 http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/policy/1945/450729a.html#2

(2) OFFER OF SURRENDER FROM JAPANESE GOVERNMENT

(Department of State Bulletin, Vol. XIII, No. 320, Aug. 12, 1945)

August 10, 1945

Sir; I have the honor to inform you that the Japanese Minister in Switzerland, upon instructions received from his Government, has requested the Swiss Political Department to advise the Government of the United States of America of the following:

"In obedience to the gracious command of His Majesty the Emperor who, ever anxious to enhance the cause of world peace, desires earnestly to bring about a speedy termination of hostilities with a view to saving mankind from the calamities to be imposed upon them by further continuation of the war, the Japanese Government several weeks ago asked the Soviet Government, with which neutral relations then prevailed, to render good offices in restoring peace vis a vis the enemy powers. Unfortunately, these efforts in the interest of peace having failed, the Japanese Government in conformity with the august wish of His Majesty to restore the general peace and desiring to put an end to the untold sufferings entailed by war as quickly as possible, have decided upon the following.

"The Japanese Government are ready to accept the terms enumerated in the joint declaration which was issued at Potsdam on July 26th, 1945, by the heads of the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, and China, and later subscribed to by the Soviet Government, with the understanding that the said declaration does not comprise any demand which prejudices the prerogatives of His Majesty as a Sovereign Ruler.

"The Japanese Government sincerely hope that this understanding is warranted and desire keenly that an explicit indication to that effect will be speedily forthcoming."

In transmitting the above message the Japanese Minister added that his Government begs the Government of the United States to forward its answer through the intermediary of Switzerland. Similar requests are being transmitted to the Governments of Great Britain and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics through the intermediary of Sweden, as well as to the Government of China through the intermediary of Switzerland. The Chinese Minister at Berne has already been informed of the foregoing through the channel of the Swiss Political Department.

Please be assured that I am at your disposal at any time to accept for and forward to my Government the reply of Government of the United States.

Accept (etc.)

Grassli,

Charge d'Affaires ad interim of Switzerland
 http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/war.term/093_03.html

[3] In its declaration of war against Japan, effective as of Aug. 9 1945,
the Soviet Government retroactively joined in the declaration of July 26,
1945, issued at Potsdam, Germany, defining terms of surrender for Japan.
 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/70-7_23.htm

"In September 1944 the Swedish Minister in Tokyo had been approached unofficially, presumably in the name of Prince Konoye, to sound out the Allies on terms of peace. This overture came to nought, as did another the following March. But the Swedish Minister did learn that those who advocated peace in Japan regarded the Allied demand for unconditional surrender as their greatest obstacle."

They tried with the Swedes. They tried with the Russians. They eventually worked through the Swiss.

It was essentially over on August 10; they sued for peace. The unconditional surrender was August 14. The signing of documents was September 2.

That's it.