A superb set of five original telegrams announcing the acceptance of the terms of surrender of the Allied powers by the Emperor of Japan. Each telegram emanates from the War Department, Washington, Aug. 17, 1945, and is printed in a period font on official ‘Standard Form No. 14A’ letterhead. These telegrams, due to the lack of docketing and exact time stamps, are most likely contemporary copies made for internal distribution at the War Department or were produced for filing purposes. In any event, they were most likely made at the same time that the original radiotelegrams were sent and received. The order in which the telegrams were sent is not immediately clear, however two telegrams are almost identical and read, in small part: ‘…Pursuant to the acceptance of the terms of surrender of the Allied powers by the Emperor of Japan [the] Japanese Imperial Government and the Japanese Imperial Headquarters the Supreme Commanders for the Allies Powers will direct the Imperial cessation of hostilities of Japan’s forces. Stop…The Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers further directs the Japanese Imperial Government to send to this headquarters at Manila comma Philippine Islands comma a competent representative…carrying into effect the terms of surrender…’ Another telegram outlines the Japanese orders: ‘…transmitted Aug. 16 through the Swiss government quote send emissa[ary] SS at once to the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers. Fully empowered to make any arrangements…to enable him and his accompanying forces to arrive at the place designated by him to receive the formal surr[end]er unquote according to this message the task of the quote emissaries quote is to be understood to make necessary arrangements…In the name of the Emperor of Japan Imperial Government…it appears that the task of the Japanese representative is to perceive quote certain requirements for a carrying into effect the terms of surrender unquote…’. A fourth telegram is noted as having been 'Intercepted', and originates from the Imperial Japanese Headquarters in Japan to the Allied Headquarters in Manila: '…it is stated in the message of the President of the U.S.A. transmitted on August 16, through the Swiss government quote send emissaries at once to the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers and fully empowered to make any arrangements…to receive the formal surrender…representative is to receive quote certain requirements for carrying into effect the terms of surrender unquote – 3- We should like to clarify the following points because the forms and contents of the quote full powers unquote to be issued will be different depending upon your answer. Can we proceed according to the understanding stated in the said Item 1…’. Finally, the lot includes a telegram ‘From the Japanese G H Q to the Allied Supreme Commander…The Soviet forces are still positively carrying on the offensive and the spearhead is reaching near a point west of Mukon stop as the result comma the Japanese forces in Manchukuo are meeting great difficulty in carrying out the Imperial Order stop It is urgently [underlined] requested that the Supreme Commander would take proper steps to bring about immediate cessation of Soviet Offensive stop…’. Folds, else fine condition.