iam Leahy, the Chief of Staff to President Roosevelt and then to President Truman , wrote, By the beginning of September [1994], Japan was almost completely defeated through a practically complete sea and air blockade. (Long pg. 3) The most troubling aspect in the actual decision of the bombing of Hiroshima relies on the Postdam Conference and its declaration for peace issued to the Japanese from the Postdam by the United States, Great Britain, and China as an ultimatum to complete and utter destruction. Two features of this Postdam Declaration are especially controversial: first, the absence of explicit mention of the new atomic weapon; and , second the absence of an explicit guarantee that the Japanese Imperial System would be preserved. Critics of the declaration have maintained that, if the Japanese leaders had been specifically warned about the impending atomic attack and if they had been assured that their Emperor would remain on his throne during the occupation, then surrender would have followed without the bombing of Hiroshima. Before the Atomic Bomb was dropped, May 28, 1945, Herbert Hoover visited President Truman and suggested a way to end the Pacific war quickly: I am convinced that if you, as President, will make a short-wave broadcast to the people of Japan-tell them they can have their Emperor if they surrender, that it will not mean unconditional surrender except for the militarists- youll get peace in Japan- youll have both wars over. (Long/quotes pg.2) Unfortunately this advice given by Herbert Hoover was not followed and in the end the conditional surrender was given to Japan anyway. The Emperor kept his place in the thrown during the occupation. If this is true, why did the Atomic Bombing take place? Japan was obviously beaten and trying to surrender to terms that the United States was willing to agree to! Were there ulterior motives to the bombing? And if so, what could the U.S. gain by bombin...
