Shun'ichi Kase
Shun'ichi Kase (加瀬 俊一, Kase Shun'ichi, October 23, 1897– September 9, 1956) was a Japanese diplomat both during and after World War II.
Shun'ichi Kase was a secretary to Japanese Foreign Minister
The names Shun'ichi Kase and Toshikazu Kase are spelled in Japanese using the same characters, but are two different people. Toshikazu was a bureau chief in the foreign office in Tokyo who also served as secretary to several foreign ministers.[2]
Role in final days of World War II
While serving as Japan's ambassador to Switzerland, Kase advised his government about the
That position still fell short of the U.S. "unconditional surrender" demand, retaining the sticking point that had held up the war's conclusion for months. Strong voices within the administration, including Secretary of State James Byrnes, counseled fighting on. At that point, "[Secretary of the Navy James] Forrestal came up with a shrewd and simple solution: Accept the offer and declare that it accomplishes what the Potsdam Declaration demanded. Say that the Emperor and the Japanese government will rule subject to the orders of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers. This would imply recognition of the Emperor while tending to neutralize American public passions against the Emperor. Truman liked this. It would be close enough to 'unconditional.'"[5]
See also
References
- ^ “Shunichi Kase, 59, Was Envoy to Bonn,” New York Times (1956-09-10).
- ^ Butow, Robert. Japan's Decision to Surrender, page 108 (Stanford University Press 1954).
- ^ Weintraub, Stanley. The Last Great Victory: the End of World War II, page 288 (Dutton Adult 1995).
- ^ Williams, Josette. “Paths to Peace: The Information War in the Pacific, 1945” Archived 2009-03-11 at the Wayback Machine. Via website of the Central Intelligence Agency.
- ^ J. Robert Moskin, Mr. Truman's War (1996), pp. 311-313