Japan Without Reliance Upon The Atomic Bomb example essay topic
(Document G) But the United States seemed not to be concerned so much with the defeat of the Japanese which as General H.H. Arnold, Commander of the American Army Air Force stated: atomic bomb or no atomic bomb, the Japanese were already on the verge of collapse, (Document B), but instead with Soviet involvement in the war. The United States and Britain felt threatened by Russia. They knew that Russia was bitter from their loss of territory and dignity after Japan defeated them in 1904. At the Yalta Conference, Russia demanded its lost territory back. It sided against Japan on the condition that Outer Mongolia remain the same, and that what was taken from Russia in 1904 be given back to them.
(Document D) Dwight D. Eisenhower recollected from a meeting with Harry S. Truman on the subject. told him that since reports indicated the imminence of Japans collapse, I deprecated the Red Army engaging in that war. I foresaw certain difficulties arising out of such participation and suggested that, at the very least, we ought not to put ourselves in the position of requesting or begging for Soviet aid. It was my personal opinion that no power on earth could keep the Red Army our of that war unless victory came before they could get in. (Document C) British Prime Minister expressed approval when finding out that the atomic bomb was dropped during the Potsdam Conference in July 1945. We had no need to ask favors of them, he wrote.
He then said to Mr. Eden, It is quite clear that the United States do not at the present time desire Russian participation in the war against Japan. (Document E) Leo Szilard's recollection of a 1945 meeting between James Byrnes and a group of concerned atomic scientists sums up the US Governments feelings at the time. The question of whether the bomb should be used in the war against Japan came up for discussion. Mr. Byrnes did not argue that it was necessary to use the bomb against the cities of Japan in order to win the war. He knew at that time, as the rest of the Government knew, that Japan was essentially defeated and that we could win the war in another six months. At that time Mr. Byrnes was much concerned about the spreading of Russian influence in Europe Mr. Byrnes concern about Russia I fully shared, but his view that our possessing and demonstrating the bomb would make Russia more manageable in Europe I was not able to share I was dismayed when a few weeks later I learned that he was to be our Secretary of State.
(Document F) The United States Governments decision to drop the atomic bomb ultimately proved to scare Russia. As relations between the two countries weakened, the only way to receive respect from the other was to intimidate them. The war with Japan gave the United States a chance to off a power that only they had, thus making other countries subservient towards them.