THE CABLESWHICH ENDEDTHEWAR
302
●
(WORLD WAR TWO.)
Archive of General MacArthur’s official cables
relating to the Japanese surrender,
with related papers. 19 items, various sizes and
conditions, including 4 official cables on the surrender dated 15 August 1945.
Philippines, 1943-45
[3,000/4,000]
During the final months of the war, MacArthur was commander of all American military forces in
the Pacific.This archive includes two cable messages received by him on the fateful day of the surrender,
as well as the official copies of two outgoing cables he sent to the Japanese leadership that same day.
Apparently the first of these messages was the translated text of an intercepted Japanese imperial
radio broadcast announcing the surrender to their subjects. It was mimeographed onto official
headquarters stationery.The recent atomic bomb detonations at Hiroshima and Nagasaki are
referenced: “The enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb. . . . Should we continue
to fight, it would not only result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation,
but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization.”The second incoming cable,
also on official stationery, was addressed fromArmy Chief of Staff George Marshall to MacArthur,
announcing succinctly that “you are hereby officially notified of Japanese capitulation.Your directive
as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers is effective with the receipt of this message.”
Having thus been appointed as the leader of the Allied occupation,MacArthur fired off two of his
own cables, each addressed to the Japanese emperor and Imperial government. Both are typed
carbon copies on official headquarters note paper.The first announces MacArthur’s appointment
and states that he is “empowered to arrange directly with the Japanese authorities for the cessation
of hostilities at the earliest practicable date.”The second (and much longer) cable directs the Japanese
to “send to his headquarters at Manila CMA Philippine Islands CMA a competent representative
empowered to receive . . . certain requirements for carrying into effect the terms of surrender.”The
specifics for safely sending this envoy into enemy headquarters are spelled out in detail.
These official copies were retained by Elsie Eysenbach (1914-1976), aWAC stenographer at
MacArthur’s headquarters.The other papers in this archive mostly relate to her service, including
an army public relations photograph which clearly establishes the provenance, showing Eysenbach
handing off MacArthur’s first message as Supreme Allied Commander to aWAC dispatcher.
Rounding out the collection are two editions of the newspaper Free Philippines announcing
the surrender, 14 and 15 August 1945; a 12 September 1945 carbon cable concerning
transportation for Mrs. MacArthur; a folder of typescript poems relating to the war; two
contemporary mimeograph histories titled “Short History of the Thirteenth Air Force” and
“This Is Corregidor.”
WITH
—a group of paper money from Japan and various countries
occupied by the Japanese, 18 items, 1930-42 and undated.
Together, this important archive marks the cessation of hostilities in the PacificTheater and the
end of WorldWar Two. Provenance: consigned by members of the Eysenbach family.