- 274
MacArthur, Douglas
Estimate
25,000 - 35,000 USD
bidding is closed
Description
- Document signed ("Douglas MacArthur"), being a typed contemporary transcript of General MacArthur's radio address announcing the end of the War in the Pacific, delivered aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, 2 September 1945
- paper, ink
5 leaves (9 1/4 x 6 1/4 in.; 235 x 160 mm), typed on rectos only, headed "USS Missouri | 1000 hours | September 2, 1945," signed at the foot of the fifth page at conclusion of text, accompanied by an envelope postmarked "U.S. Navy Sep 2 1945" and ink-stamped "USS Skagit, Tokyo Bay," in which the transcript was sent by sailor J. H. Brooks to his wife in Lakewood, Ohio — Accompanied by an undated, but presumably post-War, letter from Brooks to his wife — Also accompanied by an unaddressed U.S. Airmail envelope postmarked "U.S. Navy Sep 2 1945" and ink-stamped "USS Skagit, Tokyo Bay," annotated in pencil "SAVE" — Also accompanied by a carbon-copy typed letter signed by Albert G. Cederstrom on 'United States Pacific Fleet Third Fleet' letterhead, 2 September 1945, to Dr. George F. Baker regarding "a special surrender day cancellation stamp authorized for that day only and to be used only during the 24 hours, being destroyed after that time. It is going to be used exclusively on the U.S.S. MISSOURI"; the letter accompanied by its original envelope with the "U.S.S. Missouri Japanese Formal Surrender" postmark and censor's stamp. MacArthur speech very lightly creased where folded for mailing, accompanying envelope a bit soiled.
Condition
5 leaves (9 1/4 x 6 1/4 in.; 235 x 160 mm), typed on rectos only, headed "USS Missouri | 1000 hours | September 2, 1945," signed at the foot of the fifth page at conclusion of text, accompanied by an envelope postmarked "U.S. Navy Sep 2 1945" and ink-stamped "USS Skagit, Tokyo Bay," in which the transcript was sent by sailor J. H. Brooks to his wife in Lakewood, Ohio — Accompanied by an undated, but presumably post-War, letter from Brooks to his wife — Also accompanied by a carbon-copy typed letter signed by Albert G. Cederstrom on United States Pacific Fleet Third Fleet letterhead, 2 September 1945, to Dr. George F. Baker regarding "a special surrender day cancellation stamp authorized for that day only and to be used only during the 24 hours, being destroyed after that time. It is going to be used exclusively on the U.S.S. MISSOURI"; the letter accompanied by its original envelope with the "U.S.S. Missouri Japanese Formal Surrender" postmark and censor's stamp. MacArthur speech very lightly creased where folded for mailing, accompanying envelope a bit soiled.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot provided by Sotheby's. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colours and shades which are different to the lot's actual colour and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation because Sotheby's is not a professional conservator or restorer but rather the condition report is a statement of opinion genuinely held by Sotheby's. For that reason, Sotheby's condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot provided by Sotheby's. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colours and shades which are different to the lot's actual colour and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation because Sotheby's is not a professional conservator or restorer but rather the condition report is a statement of opinion genuinely held by Sotheby's. For that reason, Sotheby's condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot.
Catalogue Note
"Today the guns are silent": Douglas MacArthur addresses the American people after accepting the surrender of the Empire of Japan, marking the end of World War II. The unconditional surrender of the German armed forces ended the Second World War in Europe on 7 May 1945. The Supreme Allied Commander for that theatre, Dwight Eisenhower, had issued a characteristically terse statement of the fact: "The mission of this Allied Force was fulfilled at 0241, local time, May 7th, 1945." But fighting continued in the Pacific for nearly four more months, and when the Japanese finally signed the official instrument of surrender, the Supreme Allied Commander of the Pacific, Douglas MacArthur, also delivered a characteristic statement. Perhaps already looking ahead to his unsuccessful foray into presidential politics, MacArthur addressed the American public directly, via radio, and laid out at some length his thoughts on the just-completed war and his vision for the future. "Today the guns are silent. A great tragedy has ended. A great victory has been won. The skies no longer rain death—the seas bear only commerce—men everywhere walk upright in the sunlight. The entire world lies quietly at peace. And in reporting this to you, the people, I speak for the thousands of silent lips, forever stilled among the jungles and the beaches and in the deep waters of the Pacific which marked the way. … A new era is upon us. Even the lesson of victory itself brings with it profound concern, both for our future security and survival of civilization. The destructiveness of the war potential, through progressive advance in scientific discovery, has in fact now reached a point which revises the traditional concept of war. …
"We have had our last chance. If we do not devise some greater and more equitable system, Armageddon will be at our door. … We stand in Tokyo today reminiscent of our countryman Commodore Perry ninety two years ago. His purpose was to bring to Japan an era of enlightenment and progress by lifting the veil of isolation to the friendship, trade, and commerce of the world. But, alas, the knowledge thereby gained of Western science was forged into an instrument of oppression and human enslavement. … We are committed by the Potsdam Declaration of principles to see that the Japanese people are liberated from this condition of slavery."
MacArthur concludes with a tribute to the American forces that must have been meant to appeal as well to American voters: "And so, my fellow countrymen, today I report to you that your sons and daughters have served you well and faithfully with the calm, deliberate, determined fighting spirit of the American soldier, and sailor, based upon a position of historical truth, as against the fanaticism of an enemy supported only by mythological fiction. Their spiritual strength and power has brought us through to victory. They are homeward bound—take care of them."
Transcripts of MacArthur's speech are much less common in the market than are copies of Eisenhower's taciturn statement. The present copy is one of just two that can be linked to the spot of the Japanese surrender. The 'U.S.S. Skagit', on which J. H. Brooks served, was a Tolland-class attack cargo ship. She was commissioned on 2 May 1945, and sailed first to Marseille. She left France at the end of June, bound for Manila with cargo and passengers. Arriving in Manila in mid August, the 'Skagit' resupplied and sailed for Japan; she was present for the surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945. Another copy of the speech preserved by Brooks was sold at Sotheby's, 18 June 2004, lot 411.
"We have had our last chance. If we do not devise some greater and more equitable system, Armageddon will be at our door. … We stand in Tokyo today reminiscent of our countryman Commodore Perry ninety two years ago. His purpose was to bring to Japan an era of enlightenment and progress by lifting the veil of isolation to the friendship, trade, and commerce of the world. But, alas, the knowledge thereby gained of Western science was forged into an instrument of oppression and human enslavement. … We are committed by the Potsdam Declaration of principles to see that the Japanese people are liberated from this condition of slavery."
MacArthur concludes with a tribute to the American forces that must have been meant to appeal as well to American voters: "And so, my fellow countrymen, today I report to you that your sons and daughters have served you well and faithfully with the calm, deliberate, determined fighting spirit of the American soldier, and sailor, based upon a position of historical truth, as against the fanaticism of an enemy supported only by mythological fiction. Their spiritual strength and power has brought us through to victory. They are homeward bound—take care of them."
Transcripts of MacArthur's speech are much less common in the market than are copies of Eisenhower's taciturn statement. The present copy is one of just two that can be linked to the spot of the Japanese surrender. The 'U.S.S. Skagit', on which J. H. Brooks served, was a Tolland-class attack cargo ship. She was commissioned on 2 May 1945, and sailed first to Marseille. She left France at the end of June, bound for Manila with cargo and passengers. Arriving in Manila in mid August, the 'Skagit' resupplied and sailed for Japan; she was present for the surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945. Another copy of the speech preserved by Brooks was sold at Sotheby's, 18 June 2004, lot 411.