The front page of The Canberra Times on this day in 1945 was hopeful; foreseeing, perhaps, of the announcement that would effectively bring World War II to an end.
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'Tokyo to make statement at noon today' blared across the masthead, after then-White House press secretary, Charles Griffith Ross, announced at 11.50pm the night before that Japan's response to allied surrender demands was in Swiss hands.
"It will probably take some hours to reach Washington," the Times' report said.
"Asked if the White House assumed that the reply will be favourable, Mr Ross remarked: 'It looks as if at last we are nearing the end of a long vigil'."
Mr Ross' optimism was justified with the announcement of Japan's surrender; the next day's paper declaring 'War over'. A report on its front page was titled 'Canberra delirious when glad news broke at last', and described ecstatic scenes in the national capital's streets and shopping centres.
"One reveller had gone around all the shops and painted yellow 'V' signs on the windows, while salvage baskets were uprooted, papers showered on the roadway and people singing and yelling everywhere," it read.
