The room where Let-Gen Yamashita and Lt-Gen Percival met was a simple office in the Ford Motor Factory. The Four British officers, led by Percival who was white as a paper, sat before a large meeting table. Yamashita and other Japanese officials were at the opposite side. Next these questions and answers were exchanged:
Yamashita: unconditional surrender. Yes or No?
Percival: Answers will be given tomorrow morning.
Yamashita: Tomorrow? Why tomorrow? Our army will make a night attack tonight.
Percival: Please wait until 11.30 p.m. (Japan time)
Yamashita: Up to 11.30 p.m. our soldiers will attack until that time
Percival ... ..
Yamashita: I asked clearly. Unconditional surrender. Yes or No!
When Lieutenant General Yamashita banged his clenched fist on the table with a hard voice, Percival said: "Yes" and signed the surrender document.
That was 7:50 p.m. on February 15, 1942 .Britain's 100 years dream of a far eastern empire is broken.
This is now a deeply emotional moment for the Japanese, who would later rename Singapore "Syonan" (Southern Light).
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