Potsdam Declaration or the Proclamation Defining Terms for Japanese Surrender was a statement that called for the surrender of all Japanese armed forces during World War II . On July 26 , 1945 , United States President Harry S. Truman , United Kingdom Prime Minister Winston Churchill , and Chairman of China Chiang Kai-shek issued the document , which outlined the terms of surrender for the Empire of Japan as agreed upon at the Potsdam Conference . This ultimatum stated that , if Japan did not surrender , it would face " prompt and utter destruction "
Potsdam Conference
Potsdam Conference
Potsdam Declaration