Peace at What Cost?: The Debate Over Conditional Surrender in the Suzuki Cabinet

Abstract

The final cabinet of the Japanese government during World War II was often in debate over issues regarding war termination. The members of the cabinet often found themselves split into two factions, one trying to end the war, and another trying to continue the war throughout an invasion of Japan. The members of each faction were often the same, though the issues of debate changed. The reason behind the conflict lie within the viewpoints of each group. The war group believed in the need for the army to fight to the last of their strength. They did not believe, despite heavy losses, that they were defeated. The peace group believed otherwise. Therefore, a debate on the conditions of surrender occurred, with the war group asking for four conditions in their surrender as opposed to the single condition of the peace group. In the end, it was a shared belief in something greater that terminated the war. The leadership of the Japanese government was organized in such a way that the members had equal say within the cabinet. Each figure had different influence, however, and leaders still emerged in Anami and Tōgō. Though these men, the "Big Six," were the men who had made the majority of the decisions during the war, Hirohito was able to make decisions above these men, if he chose to. The former prime ministers of Japan were the men who had to choose the next Premier after Suzuki's predecessor, Prime Minister Koiso, stepped down in early April. They had hoped to put Japan on a course away from the belligerent cabinets of the past. To this effect, they installed former admiral Suzuki Kantaro. Suzuki was a retired admiral, and popular for his integrity and loyalty to the Emperor. He has also survived as assassination attempt by a military fanatic in 1936. The men who were in his cabinet would guide Japan through the final days of the war. The leader of the "four conditions" group, and the military clique in general, was General Anami Korechika. Anami held adamantly to the idea that there should be a final battle for the defense of Japan. Or ketsu-go. While some sought to negotiate a peace as a way to preserve the homeland, Anami felt that a decisive battle would be the way to defend the kokutai. Lieutenant General Yoshizumi Masao characterized this belief in the defense plan when he noted, "Although Japan's victory in the decisive battle of the homeland is not certain, there is still some possibility. Therefore, the battle should be fought on the homeland at least once with a resolution to seek a way out of a desperate situation." Consequently, Anami had agreed to join Suzuki's cabinet if the Prime Minister pledged to continue the war and implement the ketsu-go strategy. Suzuki agreed and Anami joined.