How to Wrap Up a War

Had a nice visit to the USS Missouri the other day.  She's looking pretty good:




Missouri was towed to Pearl Harbor in 1998, and, in a stroke of genius, anchored next to the USS Arizona Memorial.  And there they reside, just a few hundred feet from one another - the symbols of the beginning and the end of the Pacific War.  The Instrument of Surrender was signed aboard Missouri, with representatives of Japan in (compulsory) attendance.

MacArthur ran the show, and delivered a fine speech for the occasion.  Here it is:

We are gathered here representative of the major warring powers to conclude a solemn agreement whereby peace may be restored. 

The issues, involving divergent ideals and ideologies, have been determined on the battlefields of the world and hence are not for our discussion or debate. Nor is it for us here to meet, representing as we do a majority of the people of the earth, in a spirit of distrust, malice or hatred. But rather it is for us, both victors and vanquished, to rise to that higher dignity which alone benefits the sacred purposes we are about to serve, committing all our people unreservedly to faithful compliance with the understanding they are here formally to assume. 

It is my earnest hope and indeed the hope of all mankind that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past - a world founded upon faith and understanding - a world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of his most cherished wish - for freedom, tolerance and justice.

The terms and conditions upon which the surrender of the Japanese Imperial Forces is here to be given and accepted are contained in the instrument of surrender now before you. 

As Supreme Commander for the Allied powers, I announce it my firm purpose, in the tradition of the countries I represent, to proceed in the discharge of my responsibilities with justice and tolerance, while taking all necessary disposition to insure that the terms of surrender are fully, promptly and faithfully complied with. 

[Documents are signed.] 

Let us pray that peace be now restored to the world and that God will preserve it always. 

These proceedings are closed.