The United States, United Kingdom, and China issued the Potsdam Declaration to Japan on 26 July 1945.
The declaration set out the Allied terms for Japan’s surrender and warned that refusal would bring “prompt and utter destruction.” It was released during the Potsdam Conference, where Allied leaders were coordinating the final stages of World War II and planning the postwar order.
The document called for the disarmament of Japanese forces, the removal of militarist influence, and Allied occupation of designated points in Japan. It also stated that Japanese sovereignty would be limited to the main islands and other islands determined by the Allies.
The Soviet Union did not sign the declaration on 26 July because it was still neutral in the war against Japan. The Soviet Union declared war on Japan on 8 August, shortly before Japan accepted the Allied terms. Japan’s final surrender was formally signed on 2 September.