Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, The Conference of Berlin (The Potsdam Conference), 1945, Volume II

740.00119 Potsdam/8–745: Telegram

No. 1251
The Ambassador in China (Hurley) to the President and the Secretary of State¹

top secret
urgent

[Chungking,] 26 July 1945.

(The following message is top secret and urgent for the eyes alone of the Secretary of State James F Byrnes Potsdam, Germany for the President from Ambassador Hurley.)

The following message is from the Generalissimo, Chiang Kai Shek, for President Truman.

“I concur in the proposed proclamation to Japan, with the single alteration that paragraph (1) should be revised to read ‘We, the President of the United States, the President of the National Government of the Republic of China and the Prime Minister of Great Britain, representing the hundreds of millions of our countrymen etc, etc, etc’ since the proclamation is to be by the heads of the three governments concerned, Chiang Kai Shek”.

Concurrence given to me by Chiang Kai Shek at Yellow Mountain, 0930 hours² Chungking time July 26th. Delay in transmission due to fact I had to return to Chungking by ferry Yangtze River because lack of communications. Foregoing message handed both Army and Navy for transmission at 1105 hours³ Chungking time July 26th.

1. Sent by the Commander, Naval Group, China, via Navy channels. An identical message, numbered Cfb 1713, was sent by the Commanding General, United States Forces, China.
2. i. e., 9:30 a.m.
3. i. e., 11:05 a.m.