GENERAL FIELD HEADQUARTERS

IMPERIAL JAPANESE FORCES IN THE PHILIPPINES

August 26, 1945

To the Highest Commanding General,

United States Forces in

The Philippines

Sir:

We, the undersigned, Highest Commanders respectively of the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy in the Philippines, have the honor to convey to the Highest Commanding General of the United States Forces in the Philippines, that order from Imperial Headquarters pertaining to cessation of hostilities was duly received by the Army on August 20th and on August 24th by the Navy and that we have accordingly immediately issued necessary orders to all units under our respective commands, insofar as communications and transmission of order were possible, to the effect that hostilities should immediately cease.

Order reaching us from Imperial Headquarters subsequently has authorized us to negotiate all details pertaining to cessation of hostilities directly with your good self and in accordance with this order we are communicating hereby with you and transmitting the following data for your information. Your kind attention and reply are appreciated.

1. In order to acquaint ourselves with your plans and wishes in connection with the practical application of cessation of hostilities, we are desirous of dispatching staff officers and others from our Headquarters to await your pleasure and receive the details of your contemplated plan, and it will therefore be appreciated if you will designate the hour, day, and place for this purpose. For your information, it might be added that, for the time being, we are located near "Rest House No. 3" on the trail between Tekukan and Hungdan, Mountain Province, and since at present we have no access to motor transportation, we believe that somewhere in the vicinity of Kiangan might possibly be the most convenient point for the speedy dispatch of our staff officers. Should Kiangan present difficulties to your side, Naculongan might be given as an alternative.


2. In order to maintain speedy contact with you, we will make preparations for the receipt of your air borne message as detailed in attached Exhibit A. and it is requested that for urgent matters, you transmit your message by airplane, dropping communication tubes as per indicated arrangement.


3. We have also taken this opportunity to forward to you, attached hereto, relevant information and data concerning the present status, disposition etc., of our forces with the hope that this information might be of tangible assistance in the formulation of your plan concerning the detail application of cessation of hostilities and it is sincerely submitted that appropriate and necessary measures be adopted after due perusal of this document.

Conveying our compliments, and awaiting your reply, we remain,

Yours respectfully,

GENERAL TOMOYUKI YAMASHITA

Highest Commander, Imperial Japanese Army in the Philippines

VICE ADMIRAL DENHICHI OKOCHI

Highest Commander, Imperial Japanese Navy in the Philippines

Attachments:

Exhibits A, B, and C; Sketch No. 1 and 2

"Data concerning Present Status of Imperial Japanese

Forces in the Philippines

Exhibit AArrangement for Air-Ground Contact

Exhibit B

Data concerning Present Status of

Imperial Japanese Forces in the Philippines

1. The Imperial Japanese Forces in the Philippines are at present dispersed widely throughout the Philippines with a large number of units positioned in inaccessible and isolated mountain terrain cut off from communication with General Headquarters, with the result that even their exact positions can only be approximated by us. Therefore, in order to positively and speedily transmit orders for the cessation of hostilities as well as other detail instructions, it is desired to dispatch staff officers and others by the quickest possible means of transportation as per attached plan (Exhibit C) and in this connection, we wish to request your kind consideration for the use of your airplanes and motor vehicles.
   
   Also, in order that we may receive, from time to time relevant instructions from our superiors and in turn speedily and thoroughly transmit our orders to units under our commands, it is desired to maintain telegraphic and wireless communications between Japanese Forces and Imperial Headquarters, Tokyo, Supreme Southern command, Saigon, and various other points in the Philippines, and this request is additionally submitted for your favorable consideration.


2. It is respectfully submitted that the following be taken into consideration before change in status of the Imperial Japanese Forces from its present to that contemplated by you be carried into effect. namely,

1. The total strength of officers and men disposed in the Mountain Province of Northern Luzon numbers approximately forty thousand (40,000) but after excluding the sick, wounded and disabled and those others who will have to left behind, the approximate number of officers and men who can actually be assembled along the highway, the locality of assembly, and the time required for assembly are estimated as follow: (Reference: Sketch No. 1 attached hereto)

Tentative Point of assembly	Approximate Strength Officers and men		Required Time (Representing number of days after orders are issued from field Headquarters)
Banaue Vicinity	2,000		8 days
Kiangan	7,000		8 days
Solano	5,000		15 days
KM-21, Highway No. 11	3,000		15 days
KM 50, Highway No. 11	1,000		13 days
KM-90, Highway No. 11	6,500		11 days
Total . . . . .	24,500



2. It is our belief that units disposed in the Balete Pass District and the Cagayan Valley District can be assembled, in the vicinity of Benibang for the former and in the vicinities of Echague and Alcala for the latter, but on this point we are unable to be too definite.


3. The exact status of troops disposed in the District east of Manila, in the mountain district west of Clark Field, in the Visayas, and in Mindanao, is unascertainable.

3. The present condition of the Japanese troops is such that a considerable number of officers and men are unable to walk because of malarial, intestinal and other disorders and it is desired to hospitalize and leave these sick and disabled in the following localities: (Reference: Sketch No. 2 attached hereto)

Location of Hospital	Approximate Number to be hospitalized			Number of Medical Attendants (Including Regular Medical service and other branches of service and miscellaneous)
		Army		Attendants
District north of Hangduan		300		200
Western foothill of Mt Narsagsrray		700		300
Eastern foothills of Mt Pulog		700		300
North Antipolo Vicinity		800		400
District north of Kabayan		200		100
Baculongan Vicinity		700		300
Takukan		1,200		500
Rest House No. 4 Vicinity		1,000		400
Maggok Vicinity		1,200		500
		6,800		3,000

4. A large group of non-combatants civilian population comprising of the aged, the minors, women and the weak and sickly will also have to be left behind in line with the above mentioned plan and it is scheduled to assemble as follows: (Reference Sketch No. r attached hereto.)

5. The sick and disabled troops as well as the non-combatant civilian Population mentioned in paragraph 3 and 4 above are all physically unable to obtain food by themselves and since the Imperial Japanese Forces are themselves at present suffering from general and acute shortage of foodstuff and medical supplies and the prospect for supply being nil, it is sincerely and earnestly requested that specially humane consideration be accorded to the future supply of food and medicine as well as housing facilities to these sick and disabled troops and to the non-combatant civilians whom we will be forced to leave behind.

   Furthermore, since those who are to be left behind are without exception, all sickly and weak, it is also requested that full protection be accorded them against danger and harm and other tragic incidents that may befall them thereafter.

6. Finally, it is our special and earnest request that you favor us with your special consideration on the following two requests:

   First, that hereafter, all direct contacts with Imperial Japanese Forces be made by and through American Officers and men and American Troops.

   Second, that in disarming, Japanese officers be especially allowed to retain their swords, since these are private properties handed down from father to son and represent their most cherished and honored heirlooms.