Soviet–Japanese Joint Declaration

JOINT DECLARATION BY THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS AND JAPAN. SIGNED AT MOSCOW, ON 19 OCTOBER 1956

From 13 to 19 October 1956 negotiations were held at Moscow between the Delegations of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Japan.

The following representatives of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics took part in the negotiations:


 * N. A. Bulganin, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR.


 * N. S. Khrushchev, Member of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.


 * A I. Mikoyan, First Vice-Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR,


 * A. A. Gromyko, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the USSR, and


 * N. T. Fedorenko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the USSR.

The following representatives of Japan took part in the negotiations:


 * Prime Minister, Ichiro Hatoyama,


 * Ichiro Kono, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, and,


 * Shunichi Matsumoto, Member of the House of Representatives.

In the course of the negotiations, which were held in an atmosphere of mutual understanding and co-operation, a full and frank exchange of views concerning relations between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Japan took place. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Japan were fully agreed that the restoration of diplomatic relations between them would contribute to the development of mutual understanding and co-operation between the two States in the interests of peace and security in the Far East.

As a result of these negotiations between the Delegations of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Japan, agreement was reached on the following:


 * 1. The state of war between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Japan shall cease on the date on which this Declaration enters into force and peace, friendship and good-neighbourly relations between them shall be restored.


 * 2. Diplomatic and consular relations shall be restored between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Japan. For this purpose, it is intended that the two States shall proceed forthwith to exchange diplomatic representatives with the rank of Ambassador and that the question of the establishment of consulates in the territories of the USSR and Japan respectively shall be settled through the diplomatic channels.


 * 3. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Japan affirm that in their relations with each other they will be guided by the principles of the United Nations Charter, in particular the following principles set forth in Article 2 of the said Charter:


 * (a) To settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered;


 * (b) To refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.


 * The USSR and Japan affirm that, in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, each of the two States has the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence.


 * The USSR and Japan reciprocally undertake not to intervene directly or indirectly in each other's domestic affairs for any economic, political or ideological reasons.


 * 4. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics will support Japan's application for membership in the United Nations.


 * 5. On the entry into force of this Joint Declaration, all Japanese citizens convicted in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics shall be released and repatriated to Japan.


 * With regard to those Japanese whose fate is unknown, the USSR, at the request of Japan, will continue its efforts to discover what has happened to them.


 * 6. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics renounces all reparations claims against Japan.


 * The USSR and Japan agree to renounce all claims by either State, its institutions or citizens, against the other State, its institutions or citizens, which have arisen as a result of the war since 9 August 1945.


 * 7. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Japan agree that they will enter into negotiations as soon as may be possible for the conclusion of treaties or agreements with a view to putting their trade, navigation and other commercial relations on a firm and friendly basis.


 * 8. The Convention on deep-sea fishing in the north-western sector of the Pacific Ocean between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Japan and the Agreement between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Japan on co-operation in the rescue of persons in distress at sea, both signed at Moscow on 14 May 1956, shall come into effect simultaneously with this Joint Declaration.


 * Having regard to the interest of both the USSR and Japan in the conservation and rational use of the natural fishery resources and other biological resources of the sea, the USSR and Japan shall, in a spirit of co-operation, take measures to conserve and develop fishery resources, and to regulate and restrict deep-sea fishing.


 * 9. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Japan agree to continue, after the restoration of normal diplomatic relations between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Japan, negotiations for the conclusion of a Peace Treaty.


 * In this connexion, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, desiring to meet the wishes of Japan and taking into consideration the interests of the Japanese State, agrees to transfer to Japan the Habomai Islands and the island of Shikoton, the actual transfer of these islands to Japan to take place after the conclusion of a Peace Treaty between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Japan.


 * 10. This Joint Declaration is subject to ratification. It shall enter into force on the date of the exchange of instruments of ratification. The exchange of the instruments of ratification shall take place at Tokyo as soon as may be possible.

the undersigned plenipotentiaries have signed this Joint Declaration.

in two copies, each in the Russian and Japanese languages, both texts being equally authentic.

Moscow, 19 October 1956.

By authorization of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics:





By authorization of the Government of Japan: