<P> In reply, Satō clarified: </P> <P> It goes without saying that in my earlier message calling for unconditional surrender or closely equivalent terms, I made an exception of the question of preserving (the imperial family). </P> <P> On July 21, speaking in the name of the cabinet, Tōgō repeated: </P> <P> With regard to unconditional surrender we are unable to consent to it under any circumstances whatever...It is in order to avoid such a state of affairs that we are seeking a peace,...through the good offices of Russia...it would also be disadvantageous and impossible, from the standpoint of foreign and domestic considerations, to make an immediate declaration of specific terms . </P>

When did the us ask japan to surrender