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The Soon Coming Judgment Of God Upon America and How To Escape It 466
bomb not be used hastily; it should be the last resort the petition stated. If use of the bomb
became necessary, the petition suggested that it should not be used without Japans full
knowledge of what refusal to surrender would entail. The petition pointed out that with
Germany’s defeat there was no longer any potential atomic threat against the Allies. It further
warned that use of the bomb would set a terrible international precedent. Should a rival power
obtain the weapon, the petition warned, “cities of the United States as well as the cities of other
nations will be in continuous danger of sudden annihilation.” The Petition was eloquent, concise
and well represented the opinion that a Christian nation out to have. 155 scientists signed the
petition, 70 from the Chicago facility and 85 from Oak Ridge. General Leslie Groves, Director of
the Manhattan Project, delayed the petitions delivery to President Truman and Secretary of War
Stimson until they had left for the Postdam conference. The decision to use the bomb was made
at Postdam on July 24, while the petition sat in Truman’s and Stimson’s offices in Washington
DC. In consideration of all the facts surrounding the decision to use the bomb, I ponder whether
Groves was acting on behalf of Truman and Stimson so that they could deny seeing the petition
before making their decision to drop the bomb .
1504
Japanese Surrender
In September of 1944, at the Quebec Conference, the Combined Chiefs set a goal of
forcing an unconditional surrender of Japan within 18-months after the war in Europe had
ended.
1505
On May 7, 1945 Germany surrendered. Two-months later, on July 19, “the target date
for forcing the unconditional surrender of Japan was set for November 15, 1946.”
1506
The first indications received by the U.S. that the Japanese might be interested in
negotiating surrender began as early as July and August 1944. On August 11, 1944 the U.S.
intercepted a message from Foreign Minister Shigemitsu to Ambassador Sato in Moscow
instructing him to find out if Russia would be willing to assist in negotiating peace. Japanese
attempts to negotiate a surrender continued.
In September 1944, Sweden’s Ambassador in Tokyo indicated that Japanese civilians
were anxious to end the war and he offered to begin negotiations. In January 1945, the Office of
Strategic Services (OSS) issued reports that the Japanese were attempting to negotiate peace
through the Vatican. The U.S. State Department received what Sweden’s Ambassador
considered some of the probable conditions for peace in April of 1944. Four days after the
German surrender, the Japanese Minister to Switzerland expressed a desire to negotiate peace
between Japan and the Allies. The OSS and other U.S. government offices reported further
interest in negotiating peace on May 5, and 19, June 7, and July 7, 13 and 16, 1945.
1507
On July
13, 1945 a remarkably clear message was intercepted by U.S. intelligence indicating Japan was
ready to surrender. The message was from Foreign Minister Togo to Ambassador Sato in
Moscow, it stated:
His Majesty the Emperor, mindful of the fact that the present war daily
brings greater evil and sacrifice upon the peoples of all belligerent powers, desires
from his heart that it may be quickly terminated….
It is the Emperor’s private intention to send Prince Konoye to Moscow as
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