They wanted one thing and we gave it to them anyway
Japan didn't offer to surrender until after the Soviets declared war. By that time both A-bombs had already been dropped.
That one thing that Japan asked for was that Hirohito would retain unlimited dictatorial power. We did not give that to them. Mr. Truman replied that Hirohito would be subordinate to MacArthur.
Yes we did. The Potsdam Proclamation was a list of generous surrender terms.
So did japan sign a conditional surrender?
Yes. They had all of the conditions that were offered in the Potsdam Proclamation.
MacArthur says he was not even asked. The rest remains top secret
Not really. It's all been declassified long ago.
Do you think we should dismiss the opinions of MacArthur, Eisenhower, nimitz, lemay, arnold, leahy and halsey?
Yes, unless someone can produce a reason why their opinions are relevant.
Careful scholarly treatment of the records and manuscripts opened over the past few years has greatly enhanced our understanding of why Truman administration used atomic weapons against Japan. Experts continue to disagree on some issues, but critical questions have been answered. The consensus among scholars is the that the bomb was not needed to avoid an invasion of Japan. It is clear that alternatives to the bomb existed and that Truman and his advisers knew it."
- J. Samuel Walker
Chief Historian
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Of course there were alternatives to using atomic bombs. We also could have tried to fight the war without using tanks. Or without using bullets.
In fact, seven of America's eight five-star officers in 1945 said that the bombs were either militarily unnecessary, morally reprehensible or both.
Seven of America's eight five star officers didn't say anything of the sort until after Japan surrendered.
And the one who did, didn't say it to Mr. Truman.
I am glad we agree that most scholars on this subject agree the bombs were not needed.
Who cares whether they were needed? I can't think of an issue that could be less relevant.
Japan was refusing to surrender and we kept attacking them. Then when they surrendered we stopped attacking them.
Did the president understand the possibility that the atomic bomb was not required to prevent an invasion? On this question there is much dispute. However, the documents now available make it very difficult to believe he did not.
First, Truman was repeatedly advised that a change in the unconditional surrender formula allowing Japan to keep the emperor seemed likely to end the war. There is also documentation -- from the diaries of Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson, acting Secretary of State Joseph C. Grew and from British Prime Minister Winston Churchill -- confirming that the president did not regard such a change as major.
Actually Japan would not have surrendered until the Soviets declared war even if we had offered some kind of guarantee for the Emperor.
And Mr. Truman was advised that a guarantee for the Emperor would be counterproductive.
And in the end, of course, he did make such a change after the bomb was used.
Wrong. When Japan requested that Hirohito retain unlimited dictatorial power, Mr. Truman's reply was that Hirohito would be subordinate to MacArthur.
