Documentary History of the Truman Presidency

Transcription

1 Documentary History of the Truman Presidency General Editor Dennis Merrill Volume 1 The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb on Japan UNIVERSITY PUBLICATIONS OF AMERICA An imprint of CIS

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments Publisher's Note General Introduction Introduction r. xxi Document 1 1 April 24, 1945 Letter To: President Truman Fr: Henry L. Stimson Papers of Harry S. Truman: White House Central Files Confidential File Request for meeting to discuss secret matter. Document 2 2 May 9, 1945 Meeting notes Fr: R. Gordon Arneson Miscellaneous Historical Document File Notes of an Informal Meeting of the Interim Committee ' Secretary of War Stimson's statement on purpose and composition of Interim Committee and postwar use of atomic energy. Document 3 5 May 12, 1945 Memorandum To: Major General L. R. Groves Vertical File "Yale U. Documents" Summary of Target Committee Meetings on 10 and 11 May 1945 Agendas, meeting results, detonation information, and possible target cities. [Transcriptions of pages 6, 9, and 12.] Document 4 15 May 14, 1945 Meeting notes Fr: R. Gordon Arneson Miscellaneous Historical Document File Notes of an Informal Meeting of the Interim Committee Composition of Interim Committee's scientific and military panels; public statement on bomb testing; international aspects of program (Quebec Agreement, Combined Development Trust). Document 5 19 May 18,1945 Meeting notes Fr: R. Gordon Arneson Miscellaneous Historical Document File Notes of an Informal Meeting of the Interim Committee Comments on press release following bomb testing; Bush-Conant Memorandum on Quebec Agreement stipulations. Document 6 22 May 31, 1945 Meeting notes Fr: R. Gordon Arneson Miscellaneous Historical Document File Notes of the Interim Committee Meeting Discussion on mission of Interim Committee in areas of temporary wartime controls, public announcement, legislation, and postwar organization of atomic research and development. xiii xiii xv

3 Document 7 39 June 1, 1945 Meeting notes Fr: R. Gordon Arneson Miscellaneous Historical Document File Notes of the Interim Committee Meeting Discussion on temporary wartime and postwar organization of atomic research and development and private industry's views. Document 8 49 June 18, 1945 Minutes of meeting Fr: Harry S. Truman Miscellaneous Historical Document File Minutes of Meeting Held at the White House White House meeting on the campaign against Japan with representatives of the Army, Navy, and Army Air Corps, War Department, and Admiral William Leahy. Document 9 58 June 18, 1945 Minutes of meeting (draft) Fr: Harry S. Truman Miscellaneous Historical Document File Minutes of Meeting Held at the White House White House meeting on the campaign agaitist Japan with representatives of the Army, Navy, and Army Air Corps, War Department, and Admiral William Leahy. Document June 20,1945 Minutes of meeting (Clean draft) Fr: Harry S. Truman Miscellaneous Historical Document File Minutes of Meeting Held at the White House White House meeting on the campaign against Japan with representatives of the Army, Navy, and Army Air Corps, War Department, and Admiral William Leahy. Document 11 ; 94 June 21,1945 Meeting notes Fr: R. Gordon Arneson Miscellaneous Historical Document File Notes of the Interim Committee Meeting Publicity of bomb testing and test results; decision to delete references to Quebec Agreement, Combined Development Trust, and uranium; future policy with regard to research and development and immediate use of atomic weapon. Document July 2, 1945 Letter with attachment To: President Truman Fr: Henry L. Stimson Naval Aide Files Proclamation by the Heads of State Draft proclamation to Japan and unconditional surrender issue. Document July 6,1945 Meeting notes Fr: R. Gordon Arneson Miscellaneous Historical Document File Notes of the Interim Committee Meeting Comments on Swedish uranium; publicity statements on atomic research and development; legislation; Big Three Conference. Document 14 July 16, 1945 Diary entry Potsdam Conference Extract from July 16th entry commenting on drive to Berlin, destruction of city, Soviet looting, folly of Hitler and his followers, and repetition of fate of demagogues in history. [Transcription of handwritten diary entry.] Ill VI

4 Document July 17, 1945 Diary entry Potsdam Conference Observations on Josef Stalin, negotiations, and Soviet decision to enter war against Japan on August 15th. [Transcription of handwritten diary entry.] Document July 18, 1945 Diary entry Potsdam Conference Comments on luncheon with Prime Minister Churchill, Manhattan, invitation to Stalin to visit the United States, and ease at which U.S. proposals were passed during agenda negotiations. [Transcription of handwritten diary entry.] Document July 18,1945 Memorandum To: Secretary of War Fr: L. R. Groves Papers of Lansing Lamont The Test Description of first full-scale atomic explosion with attachment highlighting atomic "mushroom" cloud formations. [Transcription on page 127.] Document July 19, 1945 Meeting notes Fr: R. Gordon Arneson Miscellaneous Historical Document File Notes of Interim Committee Meeting * Atomic energy bill. Document 19 : 145 July 20, 1945 Memorandum (for the Record) Miscellaneous Historical Document File Comments on preliminary British press release on bombing. Document July 20,1945 Memorandum To: President Truman Fr: Henry L. Stimson Naval Aide Files Proposed Proclamation to Japan and Heads of State Draft proclamation to Japan and unconditional surrender issue. Document July 23,1945 Memorandum To: Ambassador Hurley Fr: President Truman Naval Aide Files Request for Chiang Kai-shek's concurrence on proposed proclamation to Japan in regard to unconditional surrender. Document July 24, 1945 Memorandum To: General Arnold Fr: John N. Stone Vertical File "Yale U. Documents" Groves Project Targeting notes; list of cities. [Transcription of memorandum.] Document July 25, 1945 Diary entry Potsdam Conference Observations on success of atomic bomb test and resulting damage and intensity. Decision on when to use weapon and decision to choose strictly military targets. [Transcription of handwritten diary entry.] vii

5 Document May 9-July 28, 1945 Log Fr: R. G. A. [R. Gordon Arneson] Papers of George M. Elsey Interim Committee Log Summaries of meetings of the Interim Committee [to discuss postwar use of atomic energy/ weapons]. Document July 30, 1945 Incoming Message To: Tripartite Conference, Babelsberg, Germany [to President Truman] Fr: AGWAR Washington [from the Secretary of War] Papers of George M. Elsey War Department Message No Comments on rapidly progressing time schedule on Groves' project; request for release of revised White House statement; president's handwritten reply on back of telegram. Document July 31, 1945 Letter To: Bess Truman Fr: Harry S. Truman Papers of Harry S. Truman: Pertaining to Family, Business, and Personal Affairs Family Correspondence Discussion of Potsdam negotiations, reparations, Polish situation, Soviet intransigence, and Truman's "ace in the hole." [Transcription of handwritten letter.] Document July 31, 1945 Letter To: President Truman Fr: Henry L. Stimson Papers of Harry S. Truman: President's Secretary's File Transmittal of June 29th draft and July 30th final copy of statement prepared for release by president as soon as the new weapon is used. Document ca. early August 1945 Memorandum Miscellaneous Historical Document File Part I Psychological Warfare Excerpt from report highlighting two leaflets [translations only available] dropped on Japanese cities shortly before atomic bombs were dropped. Document ca. August 6, 1945 White House Press Release Fr: White House Papers of Eben A. Ayers Statement by the President of the United States Announcement of dropping of atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Document August 6, 1945 Memorandum for the Record Fr: W. H. K. Miscellaneous Historical Document File Comments on press release and decision to issue no more statements on bombing. Document ca. August 7, Pressrelease Fr: War Department, Washington, D.C. Papers of Eben A. Ayers Statement of the Secretary of War Announcement of dropping of atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Document August 8, 1945 Letter with enclosure To: Samuel I. Rosenman Fr: Archibald MacLeish Papers of Samuel I. Rosenman Statement on use of atomic bomb and world peace. VIII

6 Document August 9, 1945 Letter with enclosure To: Richard B. Russell Fr: Harry S. Truman Papers of Harry S. Truman: White House Central Files Official File President's reply to August 7 telegram expressing desire to save American lives and to spare Japanese women and children; attached August 7 telegram commenting on carrying the war to Japan and dealing with them harshly. Document August 11, 1945 Letter with enclosure To: Samuel McCrea Cavert Fr: Harry S. Truman Papers of Harry S. Truman: White House Central Files Official File Reply to August 9th telegram commenting on use of atomic bombs; attached August 9th telegram commenting on use of atomic bomb and desire to allow Japanese effort to surrender before the use of another. Document August 18, 1945 Memorandum for the Record Fr: George L. Harrison Miscellaneous Historical Document File Decision to continue atomic bomb developments and comments on proposed international atomic bomb agreement. Document September 6,1945 Memorandum with attachments To: James Byrnes Fr: Matthew J. Connelly Miscellaneous Historical Document File Transmittal of letter from Dr. Leo Szilard of the Metallurgical Laboratory, Chicago, with attached March 25, 1945, letter from Albert Einstein commenting on secrecy of the atomic program and lack of contact between scientists and members of the Cabinet and transmittal of petition with signatures of scientists regarding need to use atomic bomb. Document September 11,1945 Letter To: President Truman Fr: Henry L. Stimson Papers of Harry S. Truman: President's Secretary's Files Relations with Russia and the atomic bomb. Document September 11,1945 Memorandum To: President Truman Fr: Henry L. Stimson Papers of Harry S. Truman: President's Secretary's Files Proposed Action for Control of Atomic Bombs Control of atomic information and prognostication of nuclear arms race with USSR. Document September 25, 1945 Letter To: President Truman Fr: Clinton P. Anderson Papers of Harry S. Truman: President's Secretary's Files Response to president's request for suggestions in connection with disposition of atomic energy secret. Document September 27, 1945 Letter To: President Truman Fr: Kenneth McKellar Papers of Harry S. Truman: President's Secretary's Files Transmittal of Senator McKellar's views on the atomic bomb as requested by the president. Document September 28, 1945 Letter To: President Truman Fr: Philip B. Fleming Papers of Harry S. Truman: President's Secretary's Files Response to president's request for views on atomic bomb, peacetime development of atomic energy, and Russians. ix

7 Document ca. late 1945 Handwritten notes Fr: United States Strategic Bombing Survey, Chairman's Office Comments on June 18, 1945, White House meeting on the campaign against Japan. [Transcription of handwritten notes.] Document June 1946 Article Fr: O.N.I. Review Papers of George M. Elsey "The Decision for Peace" Interrogation of Hisatsume Sakomizu, a career government official and Chief Cabinet Secretary in the Suzuki Cabinet, from a report of the United States Strategic Bombing Survey. Document June 20, 1946 Letter with report To: President Truman Fr: Franklin D'Olier Transmittal of June 19, 1946, U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey, Chairman's Office, The Effects of the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Highlights include: "Effects of the Atomic Bombings"; "How the Atomic Bomb Work's"; "Signposts The Danger, and What We Can Do About It" [defense shelters etc.]. Document June 30, 1946 Report Fr: United States Strategic Bombing Survey, Chairman's Office Papers of Harry S. Truman: White House Central Files Confidential File The Effects of Atomic Bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki Document July 1, 1946 Report Fr: United States Strategic Bombing Survey, Chairman's Office Papers of George M. Elsey Japan's Struggle to End the War Report contains "Some Properties of the Political Target"; "Behind the Collapse of Tojo"; "The Koiso Government"; "The Suzuki Cabinet"; "The Political Target Under Assault"; "Appendix (Japanese) Survey of National Resources as of 1-10 June 1945." Document July 1,1946 Report United States Strategic Bombing Survey: Summary Report (Pacific War) Summary of air operations against Japan. Document December 12, 1946 Letter To: Roman Bohnen Fr: Harry S. Truman President's reply commenting on portrayal of his decision-making episode in film on atomic bomb development and use on Japan. [Transcription of letter.] Document December 16, 1946 Letter To: Dr. Karl T. Compton Fr: Harry S. Truman Papers of Harry S. Truman: President's Secretary's Files Acknowledgment of Atlantic Monthly article "If the Atomic Bomb Had Not Been Used." [Transcription of letter.] Document June 30, 1947 Enclosure Fr: Joint Chiefs of Staff Evaluation Board for Operation Crossroads Enclosure "A," The Evaluation of the Atomic Bomb as a Military Weapon. Enclosure to The Final Report of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Evaluation Board for Operation Crossroads.

8 Document ca Report Papers of Eben A. Ayers The Atomic Bomb Report on Stimson's statements and recollections used in his book On Active Service in Peace and War. Document ca Annotated Chronology Papers of Eben A. Ayers : Truman & The Atom Bomb Chronology with annotations, June August 10, 1945, related to decision to drop bomb and excerpts/analysis from several books written after fact by Leahy, Stimson, and Byrnes. Background information, daily diary entries, and memories of Truman's awareness of Manhattan Project. Document August 6,1951 Memorandum Papers of Eben A. Ayers Interview with Truman commenting on his first knowledge and connection with atomic bomb development. Document December 23,1952 Memorandum with attachment To: General Landry Fr: Irving Perimeter Transmittal of Professor Cate's letter of December 6, 1952, to president, in which he comments on directive ordering launch of attack on Hiroshima. Attached are December 6, 1952, letter and its enclosure, the July 25,1945, bombing directive from Acting Chief of Staff General Thos. T. Handy to General Carl Spaatz. Document December 30, 1952 Memorandum To: President Truman Fr: R. B. Landry Request for information from president for Professor Cate. Document December 31, 1952 Letter (Handwritten draft) To: James L. Cate Fr: Harry S. Truman Truman's thoughts on bombing decision. Document December 31, 1952 Letter (Typed draft) To: James L. Cate Fr: Harry S. Truman Truman's thoughts on bombing decision. Document January 2, 1953 Memorandum To: David D. Lloyd Fr: Kenneth W. Hechler Recommended changes to president's draft response to James L. Cate's letter. Document January 5, 1953 Memorandum To: David D. Lloyd Fr: Kenneth W. Hechler Comments on when president was made aware of success of test and decision to bomb. Document 60.' 523 January 5, 1953 Memorandum To: David D. Lloyd Fr: Kenneth W. Hechler Comments on order from General Handy to General Spaatz to begin preparations for bombing. xi

9 xii Document January 6, 1953 Memorandum To: President Truman Fr: David D. Lloyd Acknowledgment of revisions to draft letter to Professor Cate. Document January 12, 1953 Letter To: James L. Cate Fr: Harry S. Truman Papers of Harry S. Truman: President's Secretary's Files Comments on decision to bomb Japan and events leading up to that point. Document January 19, 1953 Letter with enclosure To: Thomas E. Murray Fr: Harry S. Truman President Truman's acknowledgment of January 16, 1953, letter and commenting on atomic warfare. Document ca Excerpt Papers of Eben A. Ayers Atom Bomb Excerpt from Rigdon's book, White House Sailor, regarding the announcement of dropping of atom bomb on Hiroshima. Document ca Interview excerpt Papers of Harry S. Truman: Post-Presidential Files Memoirs Discussion on use of bomb and feeling that it would save 250,000 soldiers and Truman's decision "to use the atomic bomb purely as a military blow to create a military surrender." Document May 29, 1957 Chronology Papers of Eben A. Ayers Tentative Chronology of Part Played by Scientists in Decision to Use the Bomb Against Japan. Development of atomic bomb. Document March 1,1958 Letter with attachment To: Harry S. Truman Fr: Tsukasa Nitoguri Papers of Harry S. Truman: Post-Presidential Files Comments on and transmittal of resolution protesting Truman's comments on the use of atomic weapons. Document March 12, 1958 Press, Radio, and Television Release To: Tsukasa Nitoguri Fr: Harry S. Truman Papers of Harry S. Truman: Post-Presidential Files Reply to chairman of the Hiroshima City Council regarding resolution passed by city council protesting Truman's recently televised comments on dropping of atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Document ca Handwritten notes Papers of Harry S. Truman: Post-Presidential Files Commentary on disarmament, the power of atomic weapons, desire for mankind to live peaceably, national and international petitions by scientists, and desire for superpowers to police the world. [Transcription of handwritten notes.] Document August 5, 1963 Letter To: Irv Kupcinet Fr: Harry S. Truman Papers of Harry S. Truman: Post-Presidential Files Comments on Chicago Sun-Times column relating to Truman's decision to bomb Japan. Subject Index 555