V-J Day! The atomic bomb ended the war, but I can't help worrying at what cost. We obliterated two cities with one bomb each. Everything and everyone killed. The atomic bomb is unable to be used for precision bombing of military targets - everyone dies. We abandoned precision bombing earlier in this war and destroyed entire cities with conventional bombs, but the potential for destruction now is just unimaginable.
H.A.’s primary concern with the bomb was “that the darn thing went off.”
As Vice President, H.A. was well aware of the development of the bomb. He attended a meeting on October 9, 1941 with FDR and Vanneavar Bush [head of the Office of Scientific Research and Development -A.S.] to be briefed about the conclusion of British and American scientists that the development of an atomic bomb was possible, the bomb's potential as a weapon, and the potential dangers of such a weapon. Following the meeting H.A. was appointed to a small group comprised of Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson, Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall, Arthur Compton of the National Academy of Sciences [University of Chicago professor and Nobelist in physics -A.S.], Bush, and H.A., to provide advise on building an atomic weapon. The S-1 program, later renamed the Manhattan Project, was approved by this small committee and the president. Development of the project was then placed under military control, but H.A. was frequently updated on the progress of this ultra-secret project.
At the Potsdam Conference just a few weeks ago, H.A. was informed of the successful atomic bomb test near Alamorgordo, New Mexico, and the confirmation of the devastating power of the bomb. H.A. informed Stalin of the weapon, the British had been working with us on the project since the beginning. Military and political consensus of those in the know were eager to use the bomb on Japan. Even though, the Japanese signaled an interest in having the Soviet’s broker a peace. Japan's key surrender condition was to be allowed to keep their emperor; however, FDR had wanted an unconditional surrender. The allies, continuing this policy, issued a joint demand for the unconditional surrender of Japan. Also during
the conference, Churchill was defeated in elections and Clement Attlee,
from the Labour Party, replaced him at Potsdam. It was very odd, opening the conference with Churchill and closing with Attlee. I was not sad to see Churchill go. Churchill wants to the western allies to create a united front against the Soviet Union. Churchill is eager to turn the Soviet Union from an ally into an enemy.
Having
good relations with the Soviet Union is a centerpiece of H.A.’s administration. “There is altogether too much
irresponsible defeatist talk about the possibility of war with Russia,” H.A. declared shortly after the conclusion of the war in Europe. “In my opinion, such talk, at a time when the blood of our
boys shed on the fields of Europe has scarcely dried, is criminal. There are certain people – and they are
the rankest kind of un-Americans – who are anxious to see the United States and
Russia come to blows.”
H.A. praised General Dwight D. Eisenhower for friendly remarks he
made that were quoted in an Associated Press article. Eisenhower replied to H.A. that “So far as a soldier should
have opinions about such things, I am convinced that friendship – which means
an honest desire on both sides to strive for mutual understanding – between
Russia and the United States, is absolutely essential to world
tranquility. Moreover, I believe
that most of the Russians I have met share this conviction.”
Now that we have the atomic bomb the forces seeking to attack the Soviet Union are emboldened and are eager to take action.
© 2012 Ron Millar
