r. This was not acceptable to the Japanese, who considered "the Emperor as their god, the heart of the Japanese people and culture.(Long 2) Without actually specifying it, the Postdam ultimatum did appear to be threatening to the Emperor:"There must be eliminated for all time the authority and influence of those who have deceived and misled the people of Japan into embarking on world conquest" and "stern justice shall be melted out to all war criminals."(Postdam 2 pg. 1474-1476/Long 2) According to Henry Stimson, Secretary of War: "Only the imperial authority would induce the unconquered Japanese armies in Southeast Asia, China and Manchuria to lay down their arms." (Leckie 94) U.S. official Robert Morris reported that after careful interrogation to Japanese prisoners that "the Japanese would yield most readily if they were assured that they could keep Emperor Hirohito."(McManus 3) The Japanese maintained their political and cultural structure even after the bombings. For those who believe that the bombings brought on the immediate surrender of Japan, they are mistaken. On August 14, 1945, five days after the bombings, the Japanese had still not surrendered. According the Japanese politics, only the Japanese Cabinet could rule for surrender. It was not the Emperor's place to interfere in politics. In order to surrender, the voting had to be unanimous. There were some members of the Cabinet that opposed surrender and believed that the Japanese could still win the war, such as Minister Anami. The Cabinet finally voted unanimously when the Emperor asked the Cabinet to "accede to my wishes and forthwith accept the Allied reply."(Long 3) Minister Anami said, "As a Japanese soldier, I must obey my soldier."(Long 3) The participation of the USSR in the war against Japan brought on serious implications and was a factor that pushed the United States to use the bombs. When President Roosevelt went to the Yalta Conference in Febru...
