San Francisco Peace Treaty 1951

The New Yorker Cover - September 8, 1951

On 8 September 1951 The Treaty of Peace with Japan (commonly known as the Treaty of San Francisco, Peace Treaty of San Francisco, or San Francisco Peace Treaty), between Japan and part of the Allied Powers, was officially signed by 48 nations (including Australia) at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco.


The treaty came into force on April 28, 1952 and served to officially end World War II, to formally end Japan's position as an imperial power (it had to give up Taiwan, Korea and Hong Kong), and to allocate compensation to Allied civilians and former prisoners of war who had suffered Japanese war crimes -  Japan paid £4,500,000 to the Red Cross.

Yoshida and members of the Japanese delegation sign the Treaty.

Notably India and the Soviet Union did not sign the treaty, nor did China, who were not invited to attend due to their on-going civil war.  Japan and the Soviet Union signed a Joint Declaration ending the war and reestablishing diplomatic relations five years later.