The Tragedy of the Japanese Response to the Potsdam Declaration 'Mokusatsu' Being Translated as 'Ignore' or 'Reject' by the U.S. - Thoughts on Machine Translation (Part 5-1)

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Introduction

This is a continuation of "Thoughts on Machine Translation (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) (Part 4)." The diversity of understanding and interpretation due to linguistic relativity brings about positive and negative results: on one hand, creativity, imagination, and literary imagination; on the other, polysemy, ambiguity, and misunderstanding. This time, focusing on the negative aspects, I will delve into the difficulties of translation by using the discrepancies that arose between the Japanese government's Japanese translation and the U.S. government's English translation during the exchange surrounding the Potsdam Declaration. The original long version of this article was written in 2022 and published in another magazine (TOEFL Web Magazine series "For Lifelong English") titled "The Tragedy of the Japanese Response to the Potsdam Declaration 'Mokusatsu' Being Translated as 'Ignore' or 'Reject' by the U.S. - Thoughts on Machine Translation (Part 5)." This time, I have added to, revised, and re-edited it into three parts: (Part 5-1), (Part 5-2), and (Part 5-3). [1] This is (Part 5-1). Note that the information in the reference materials was collected in 2022.

The Potsdam Declaration issued in 1945 was translated by human hands, but it was not perfect

On July 26, 1945, the Allies issued a joint declaration against Japan, the Potsdam Declaration, at Potsdam Declaration. (Full original text in [2])

Upon receiving the declaration, the Japanese government immediately translated the full text into Japanese (full Japanese translation in [3]), interpreted it, and responded. Upon receiving that, the Allies, especially the U.S. government, translated the response into English, interpreted it, and responded.

In this process, discrepancies arose on both sides. In "Thoughts on Machine Translation (Part 1)", I introduced an article pointing out the imperfections of MT (machine translation) compared to HT (human translation), but this is an example showing that HT is also not perfect, is not immune to mistranslations and discrepancies, and that overconfidence is forbidden.

Reactions after the announcement of the Potsdam Declaration - General flow from the site

To explore the situational modality surrounding this declaration, I will summarize the general flow from Reactions after the announcement of the Potsdam Declaration.

→ The Japanese government considers its response upon receiving the declaration

→ Translation of the declaration (Translator: Takezo Shimoda, Chief of the First Section of the Treaties Bureau)

→ The regular meeting of senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decides that acceptance is unavoidable, but there is still room for negotiation, and that "it is wise to remain silent, and it is appropriate to instruct newspapers to publish it as 'no comment'"

→ Foreign Minister Shigenori Togo states at the Supreme Council for the Direction of the War and a cabinet meeting that "this declaration is a conditional peace offer, and if we reject it, it will cause extremely grave consequences"

→ The Army and Navy insist that since this declaration will eventually reach public opinion, they should be instructed to issue a "great order to resist resolutely"

→ Togo's opinion prevails, and it is decided at a cabinet meeting that while the Potsdam Declaration will be officially reported, the government will not make an official comment on its contents

→ July 27, the Japanese government announces the existence of the declaration without comment → On July 28, the Yomiuri Shimbun comments "Ridiculous, surrender terms for Japan," the Mainichi Shimbun comments "Ridiculous! U.S.-U.K.-China Joint Declaration, let us shatter their conceit, carry out the holy war to the end," "Daydream, revealing their illusions," etc., and the Army strongly demands that the government officially announce that it will ignore the declaration

→ On the same day, Prime Minister Kantaro Suzuki mentions at a press conference, "I think the joint statement is a rehash of the Cairo Conference; the government does not recognize it as having any significant value, will 'mokusatsu' (ignore/treat with silent contempt) it, and will resolutely strive to complete the war" (Mainichi Shimbun, 1945 (Showa 20) July 29)

→ On July 30, the Asahi Shimbun reports that "the government will 'mokusatsu' (ignore)"

→ "Mokusatsu (Mokusatsu) " is translated into English and reported as "ignore" by the Domei News Agency, Japan's national representative news agency, and as "reject" by Reuters and the Associated Press and reported → Togo protests that Suzuki's remarks were a violation of the cabinet decision.

Reactions after the announcement of the Potsdam Declaration - Excerpted and edited (Author)

The theory that the tragedy occurred because the Domei News Agency translated 'Mokusatsu' as 'ignore', while Reuters and the AP translated it as 'reject'

This 'Mokusatsu ({Mokusatsu)', reported in the Mainichi Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun, was translated as 'ignore' by Japan's national representative news agency, Domei News Agency, and as 'reject' by Reuters and the Associated Press. In connection with this, there is a theory that this translation led to the tragedy of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima on August 6 and Nagasaki on August 9 of the same year [4]. Furthermore, as mentioned in the article above, there is another theory, independent of the translation, that 'President Truman wrote in his diary on July 25 that he was convinced Japan would not accept the Potsdam Declaration, that Japan's refusal was already factored in, and that he believed the refusal of the declaration, rather than surrender based on the declaration alone, would justify a nuclear attack with the atomic bomb and, in combination, produce the effect of surrender.'

Whether this was a mistranslation of terms used between Japanese and American news agencies, or a political maneuver, I believe verification by political scientists and historians will continue. At the same time, it is necessary to verify the Japanese translation of the declaration by Takezo Shimoda, a section chief at the Treaty Bureau, who became the cornerstone of a series of discussions and resolutions within the Japanese government immediately after the declaration was accepted. I am curious about how the original text was understood and translated, as the interpretations and reactions of Foreign Minister Shigenori Togo, Prime Minister Kantaro Suzuki, and military officials varied, and I wonder how each of them understood it to arrive at such reactions. Below, I will consider this from the perspective of linguistic communication theory.

Continued in (Part 5-2)

[1] Those considering studying abroad in English-speaking countries should definitely read these materials, regardless of their major.

[2] Original text of the Potsdam Declaration:
Potsdam Declaration

Proclamation Defining Terms for Japanese Surrender
Issued, at Potsdam, July 26, 1945

1. 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, have conferred and agree that Japan shall be given an opportunity to end this war.

2. The prodigious land, sea and air forces of the United States, the British Empire and of China, many times reinforced by their armies and air fleets from the west, are poised to strike the final blows upon Japan. This military power is sustained and inspired by the determination of all the Allied Nations to prosecute the war against Japan until she ceases to resist.

3. The result of the futile and senseless German resistance to the might of the aroused free peoples of the world stands forth in awful clarity as an example to the people of Japan. The might that now converges on Japan is immeasurably greater than that which, when applied to the resisting Nazis, necessarily laid waste to the lands, the industry and the method of life of the whole German people. The full application of our military power, backed by our resolve, will mean the inevitable and complete destruction of the Japanese armed forces and just as inevitably the utter devastation of the Japanese homeland.

4. The time has come for Japan to decide whether she will continue to be controlled by those self-willed militaristic advisers whose unintelligent calculations have brought the Empire of Japan to the threshold of annihilation, or whether she will follow the path of reason.

5. Following are our terms. We will not deviate from them. There are no alternatives. We shall brook no delay.

6. There must be eliminated for all time the authority and influence of those who have deceived and misled the people of Japan into embarking on world conquest, for we insist that a new order of peace, security and justice will be impossible until irresponsible militarism is driven from the world.

7. Until such a new order is established and until there is convincing proof that Japan's war-making power is destroyed, points in Japanese territory to be designated by the Allies shall be occupied to secure the achievement of the basic objectives we are here setting forth.

8. The terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out and Japanese sovereignty shall be limited to the islands of Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku and such minor islands as we determine.

9. The Japanese military forces, after being completely disarmed, shall be permitted to return to their homes with the opportunity to lead peaceful and productive lives.

10. We do not intend that the Japanese shall be enslaved as a race or destroyed as a nation, but stern justice shall be meted out to all war criminals, including those who have visited cruelties upon our prisoners. The Japanese Government shall remove all obstacles to the revival and strengthening of democratic tendencies among the Japanese people. Freedom of speech, of religion, and of thought, as well as respect for the fundamental human rights shall be established.

11. Japan shall be permitted to maintain such industries as will sustain her economy and permit the exaction of just reparations in kind, but not those which would enable her to re-arm for war. To this end, access to, as distinguished from control of, raw materials shall be permitted. Eventual Japanese participation in world trade relations shall be permitted.

12. The occupying forces of the Allies shall be withdrawn from Japan as soon as these objectives have been accomplished and there has been established in accordance with the freely expressed will of the Japanese people a peacefully inclined and responsible government.

13. We call upon the government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action. The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction.

14. (From: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs "Chronology of Japanese Diplomacy and Major Documents: 1840-1945" vol.2, 1966)

[3] Japanese translation of the Potsdam Declaration:

Potsdam Declaration

July 26, 1945
Proclamation by the Heads of Government, United States, United Kingdom, and China
(At Potsdam, July 26, 1945)

• 1. 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, have conferred and agree that Japan shall be given an opportunity to end this war.

• 2. The prodigious land, sea, and air forces of the United States, the British Empire, and China, many times reinforced by their armies and air fleets from the west, are poised to strike the final blows upon Japan. This military power is supported and inspired by the determination of all the Allied Nations to prosecute the war against Japan until she ceases to resist.

• 3. The result of the futile and senseless German resistance to the might of the aroused free peoples of the world stands forth in awful clarity as an example to the people of Japan. The might that now converges on Japan is immeasurably greater than that which, when applied to the resisting Nazis, necessarily laid waste to the lands, the industry, and the method of life of the whole German people. The full application of our military power, backed by our resolve, will mean the inevitable and complete destruction of the Japanese armed forces and just as inevitably the utter devastation of the Japanese homeland.

• 4. The time has come for Japan to decide whether she will continue to be controlled by those self-willed militaristic advisers whose unintelligent calculations have brought the Empire of Japan to the threshold of annihilation, or whether she will follow the path of reason.

• 5. Following are our terms. We will not deviate from them. There are no alternatives. We shall brook no delay.
  

• 6. There must be eliminated for all time the authority and influence of those who have deceived and misled the people of Japan into embarking on world conquest, for we insist that a new order of peace, security, and justice will be impossible until irresponsible militarism is driven from the world.

• 7. Until such a new order is established and until there is convincing proof that Japan's war-making power is destroyed, points in Japanese territory to be designated by the Allies shall be occupied to secure the achievement of the basic objectives we are here setting forth.

• 8. The terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out and Japanese sovereignty shall be limited to the islands of Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku, and such minor islands as we determine.

• 9. The Japanese military forces, after being completely disarmed, shall be permitted to return to their homes with the opportunity to lead peaceful and productive lives.

• 10. We do not intend that the Japanese shall be enslaved as a race or destroyed as a nation, but stern justice shall be meted out to all war criminals, including those who have visited cruelties upon our prisoners. The Japanese Government shall remove all obstacles to the revival and strengthening of democratic tendencies among the Japanese people. Freedom of speech, of religion, and of thought, as well as respect for the fundamental human rights shall be established.

• 11. Japan shall be permitted to maintain such industries as will sustain her economy and permit the exaction of just reparations in kind, but not those which would enable her to re-arm for war. To this end, access to, as distinguished from control of, raw materials shall be permitted. Eventual Japanese participation in world trade relations shall be permitted.

• 12. The occupying forces of the Allies shall be withdrawn from Japan as soon as these objectives have been accomplished and there has been established in accordance with the freely expressed will of the Japanese people a peacefully inclined and responsible government.

• 13. We call upon the government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action. The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction.

(Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (ed.), 'Chronology and Major Documents of Japanese Diplomacy,' Vol. 2, published in 1966)

[4] Masao Kunihiro's 'Japan-U.S. Deepening Theory, Part 4' (Mainichi Shimbun, December 24, 1991).