The debate to drop the atomic bomb?

Question

I know that Truman was all for using the atomic bomb but were there people who were saying THIS IS A BAD IDEA WE SHOULDNT DO THIS! ...I know people argue NOW that it wasnt a good idea but I am talking about in 1945 right before it happened.... Who were these people?..Tell me anything you know about the debate!!

THANKS

Answer 1

The scientists that worked on the bomb felt strongly that the bomb should not be dropped on Japanese cities. The sent a petition http://www.dannen.com/decision/45-07-17.html to Truman stating their objections and their belief that the war was already won and we should give the Japanese time to consider the hopelessness of their position before we committed what they considered a war crime. Truman's haste to end the war was motivated by the fact the with the end of the war in Europe, Russia was preparing to enter the war against Japan, and he did not want them to occupy additional territory in Asia. For more information about the decision see http://www.dannen.com/decision/index.html

Answer 2

There were people, including the scientists who developed the bomb that did not want to use it. The people who criticize Truman now do not factor in the war and the millions of people who died, and would have died if there was an invasion of Japan. Today the Japanese admit they had trained the children to fight in the streets with bamboo swords. It is estimated that there would have been more than 1 million deaths if the invasion had taken place. So, the terrible loss of life, and injuries caused by the atom bombs is relatively much better than the other options.

Answer 3

Its difficult to have a policy debate over the atomic bomb within the Truman Administration when so few members of his administration even knew of the bombs existence. Harry Truman's first briefing after taking oath of office on FDR's death was to be told quietly by the Secretary of War that plans were underway to build the bomb and a test would be conducted soon. Even FDR's vice president didn't know about the bomb, so its doubtful anyone not directly involved in the prosecution of the war would know about it or know enough to raise a voice against its use.

And if someone had objected, what President, after leading his country through a world war could refuse to use the bomb knowing the casualties that were likely to be suffered with the wars continuation. Casualties on both sides remember, huge numbers of Japanese would have been killed as well. As the war lingered huge numbers of Japanese were being killed in bomber raids which turned the Japanese cities into infernos, killing tens of thousands at at time.

Its a great moral question, whether to end the war as soon as possible, and suffer the lingering effects of radiation for generations or wipe out perhaps hundreds of thousands of American troops and millions of Japanese citizens with a prolonged conventional war.

Answer 4

The Pentagon had estimated there would be ONE MILLION American casualties should we be forced to invade the main islands of Japan.
The only detractor I can think of was Robert Oppenheimer, who lost his nerve after seeing the Manhattan project test.
Beyond the Government and The Nuclear scientists involved in it's development, the Atomic Bomb was top-secret, until it was used in Japan.