A historic phrase: I will return!
Hardly arrived in Australian territory gave the best known of his sentences. The full sentence, to history, would only end: I will return! (Shall I return!). And he returned.
The August 6, 1945 flying a B-29 Superfortress dropped on Hiroshima the first atomic bomb in history, forcing Japan to surrender. The next day, not wanting to be the margin of victory and occupation of the conquered territory, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan
MacArthur wanted the trip to Japan for the formal signing of surrender nipónica, ended at the airport in Yokohama. The Japanese expressed their displeasure at this idea, arguing that such an airport outside of the kamikaze bases, many of whom continued to reside there. More: many of these suicide pilots, had expressed their discontent, a demonstration that had taken place at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, the Japanese surrender.
On 30 August, MacArthur's plane (named after Bataan) landed at the airport in Atsugi. Hardly put a foot on land, MacArthur did not wait long to utter his words of another, this time addressed to General Eichelberger: Bob, there is great distance between Melbourne and Tokyo, but the path seems to have ended.
Surrender aboard the Missouri
The path, over 15 miles that separated Yokohama Atsugi was traversed on foot, flanked by U.S. soldiers. The official ceremony of the surrender of Japan was held on September 2, 1945, with the stage covering the battleship Missouri. No official information about what to do or say, MacArthur acted - he said the prórpio - as U.S. proconsul. Has been undoubtedly the best that could have happened. For you, for Japan and the United States. The work done does not leave doubts as to the general performance.
The Japanese spared as far as possible, the humiliation that usually awaits the losers. The vast knowledge they had about the oriental mentality, and the passion he had for the East, were vital to the balance of his work. Even the Japanese emperor, Hirohito, has not ceased to warn his fellow citizens: Look how they treat the general. It is not an enemy. It is a friend.
The MacArthur and the occupation policy that developed, Japan to democratic rule and prosperity today. A policy guided by fairness and moderation that many considered a lack of firmness towards the vanquished.
In Washington and in Moscow, was required strong hand in dealing with the vanquished as remembered, had been agreed in Potsdam. Rather than listen to Americans and Russians, MacArthur chose to do justice, condemning the Japanese officers accused of war crimes. Among these officers were counted Generals Yamashita and Homma, the latter responsible for the bloody Death March of Bataan.
