August 8, 1945

United States Department of State Bulletin.

I welcome the news of the declaration by the Soviet Government that it will consider itself in a state of war with Japan as of August 9. This action of the Soviet Government should materially shorten the war and save the loss of many lives. I am happy, too, that the Allied powers that cooperated in Europe to defeat the enemy will continue their cooperation in the Far East and will bring peace to the world.

In our discussions at Berlin regarding the war with Japan, the following expression of the viewpoint of the President was conveyed to Generalissimo Stalin:

"Paragraph 5 of the Declaration signed at Moscow, October 30, 1943 by the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and China, provides:

"'5. That for the purpose of maintaining international peace and security pending the reestablishment of law and order and the inauguration of a system of general security, they will consult with one another and as occasion requires with other members of the United Nations with a view to joint action on behalf of the community of nations.'

"Article 106 of the proposed Charter of the United Nations provides:

"'Pending the coming into force of such special agreements referred to in Article 43 as in the opinion of the Security Council enable it to begin the exercise of its responsibilities under Article 42, the parties to the Four Nation Declaration, signed at Moscow, October 30,1943, and France, shall, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 5 of that Declaration, consult with one another and as occasion requires with other Members of the United Nations with a view to such joint action on behalf of the Organization as may be necessary for the purpose of maintaining international peace and security.'

"Article 103 of the Charter provides:

"'In the event of a conflict between the obligations of the Members of the United Nations under the present Charter and their obligations under any other international agreement, their obligations under the present Charter shall prevail.'

"Though the Charter has not been formally ratified, at San Francisco it was agreed to by the Representatives of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Soviet Government will be one of the permanent members of the Security Council.

"It seems to me that under the terms of the Moscow Declaration and the provisions of the Charter, above referred to, it would be proper for the Soviet Union to indicate its willingness to consult and cooperate with other great powers now at war with Japan with a view to joint action on behalf of the community of nations to maintain peace and security."

I hope that the people of Japan will now realize that further resistance to the forces of the nations now united in the enforcement of law and justice will be futile. There is still time-but little time-for the Japanese to save them selves from the destruction which threatens them.