On July 26, 1945,United StatesPresidentHarry S. Truman,United KingdomPrime MinisterWinston Churchill, andPresidentofChinaChiang Kai-shekissued the document, which outlined the terms ofsurrenderfor theEmpire of Japan, as agreed upon at thePotsdam Conference. Theultimatumstated that, if Japan did not surrender, it would face prompt and utter destruction.[1][2]