End of WWII in 1947.. or later?

Highbury · 07-19-11, 11:02 AM

I know, strange title but I just came across an online document (Truman Library) that is a transcript of a press conference with Harry Truman on Dec 31, 1946. The purpose of the gathering was to issue this statement.

""I have today issued a proclamation terminating the period of hostilities of World War II, as of 12 o'clock noon today, December 31st, 1946."

He goes on to state that: "It should be noted that the proclamation does not terminate the states of emergency declared by President Roosevelt on September 8, 1939, and May 27, 1941. Nor does today's action have the effect of terminating the state of war itself. It terminates merely the period of hostilities."

http://trumanlibrary.org/publicpaper...x.php?pid=1842

Obviously the end of actual hostilities is well documented, but according to this statement, under US law on Dec. 31, 1946 the state of war had not been terminated. It seems to be just a case of Government taking it's usual long time to do the simple and obvious, but it seems a long delay for a war that ended with unconditional surrender. I thought that such a surrender in itself, when signed, was a formal end to the war.

Anyways I just thought it was an interesting side note to history, and maybe some of the people here may have a bit more insight. When does the US classify the war as actually having ended? Was the period of war not cancelled as a legal expedient to keeping troops in place? Would that have even been necessary?

Please share your thoughts, opinions or facts on the matter

07-19-11, 11:02 AM	#1
Highbury The Old Man Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: 51.557, -0.102 Posts: 1,311 Downloads: 177 Uploads: 0	End of WWII in 1947.. or later? I know, strange title but I just came across an online document (Truman Library) that is a transcript of a press conference with Harry Truman on Dec 31, 1946. The purpose of the gathering was to issue this statement. ""I have today issued a proclamation terminating the period of hostilities of World War II, as of 12 o'clock noon today, December 31st, 1946." He goes on to state that: "It should be noted that the proclamation does not terminate the states of emergency declared by President Roosevelt on September 8, 1939, and May 27, 1941. Nor does today's action have the effect of terminating the state of war itself. It terminates merely the period of hostilities." http://trumanlibrary.org/publicpaper...x.php?pid=1842 Obviously the end of actual hostilities is well documented, but according to this statement, under US law on Dec. 31, 1946 the state of war had not been terminated. It seems to be just a case of Government taking it's usual long time to do the simple and obvious, but it seems a long delay for a war that ended with unconditional surrender. I thought that such a surrender in itself, when signed, was a formal end to the war. Anyways I just thought it was an interesting side note to history, and maybe some of the people here may have a bit more insight. When does the US classify the war as actually having ended? Was the period of war not cancelled as a legal expedient to keeping troops in place? Would that have even been necessary? Please share your thoughts, opinions or facts on the matter