. At no time, from 1941 to 1945, did I ever hear it suggested by the President, or by any other responsible member of the government, that atomic energy should not be used in war.
I therefore emphasize that it was our common objective, throughout the war, to be the first to produce an atomic weapon and use it.
Among the suggestions thus forwarded was one memorandum which questioned using the bomb at all against the enemy.
Japan, in July 1945, had been seriously weakened by our increasingly violent attacks. It was known to us that she had gone so far as to make tentative proposals to the Soviet government, hoping to use the Russians as mediators in a negotiated peace. T
There was as yet no indication of any weakening in the Japanese determination to fight rather than accept unconditional surrender.
We estimated that if we should be forced to carry this plan to its conclusion, the major fighting would not end until the latter part of 1946, at the earliest. I was informed that such operations might be expected to cost over a million casualties, to American forces alone.
The determination of the Allies to destroy permanently all authority and influence of those who have deceived and misled the country into embarking on world conquest. I personally think that if in saying this we should add that we do not exclude a constitutional monarchy under her present dynasty, it would substantially add to the chances of acceptance.
Hiroshima was bombed on August 6, and Nagasaki on August 9. These two cities were active working parts of the Japanese war effort. One was an army center; the other was naval and industrial. Hiroshima was the headquarters of the Japanese Army defending southern Japan and was a major military storage