Peace Declaration (1968)

Today we greet the returning anniversary of the atomic destruction of our city. On this day twenty-three years ago, Hiroshima was reduced to ashes in a moment and human lives were destroyed in countless numbers. Furthermore, the radioactive emanations which then penetrated deep into the human body present continued threats even now to the life of the survivors, filling their hearts with unspeakable apprehensions.

It is not simply that the nuclear bomb is a powerful weapon of mass destruction; obviously, its radioactive emissions diffused over the earth will eventually preclude human habitation on it, a dreadful consequence which a large segment of the world population still remains unaware of.

Nuclear disarmament, though already on the agenda of international politics, does not necessarily promise a total abolition of nuclear arms; it may, on the contrary, seriously jeopardize the world by poising it on a balance of power, for to regard unclear weapons as an effective war deterrent will only serve to spur the nuclear race, the ultimate end of which will be linked with the end of mankind.

The existing state of affairs demands that a retrospective reference be made constantly to the experience of Hiroshima. The misgivings that we felt at the time of the atomic bombing about the self-destruction of mankind should be brought back to mind anew, and our initial determination revived to make the voice of Hiroshima the voice of the world. This is a task devolved on the citizens of Hiroshima and a mission on the part of those awakened to the crisis of the century.

All weapons are forged by man, and all wars are waged by man; by no means should it be beyond man's power to triumph by his own hands over the abominable arms and wars. It is high time for the nations of the world to make an express determination that all efforts spent on war-making be concentrated on the building of an ideal world where mankind may share in common prosperity. The world is one, and all the men are human brothers. Creation of a society governed by justice and a new world order should verily be the task imposed on us as bearers of the glory of humanity.

We, the citizens of Hiroshima, ever since that fatal day, have set our hearts on the absolute banning of nuclear bombs and complete abolition of wars, and at no time have we desisted from addressing this appeal to the world. As we pay homage to the victims of the atomic bomb today, we declare this once again with all the emphasis at command.

August 6, 1968

Setsuo Yamada
Mayor
The City of Hiroshima