Peace Declaration (1963)

We are gathered today to observe the eighteenth anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

Looking hard at the dreadful scars inflicted by the atomic holocaust which we have barely survived, we have kept appealing to the people of the world for the past eighteen years that the tragedy of Hiroshima should never be allowed to repeat itself.

The faith which we have in the meantime unswervingly upheld in man's goodwill and wisdom brings us today great gratification in that at long last a pact for the partial banning of nuclear weapons has been concluded among the United States, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union.

It is true that the pact still leaves some fundamental problems unsettled; nevertheless, we attach great significance to it as having carried our earnest wish a step forward to its ultimate realization.

It should be highly desirable at this juncture that even greater efforts at achieving a total abolition of nuclear weapons and a complete renunciation of wars be spent by all peoples and nations in full realization that a war in the nuclear age would be nothing less than a means leading to annihilation not only the warring powers, but also the whole mankind.

On this day of commemoration that we observe for the bomb victims with renewed remembrances, we once again put forth this appeal to all people of the world.

August 6, 1963

Shinzo Hamai
Mayor
The City of Hiroshima