The atomic bombings in Japan were somewhat inevitable since Japan lacked good leadership. With such a strong military force over the country that would rather fight till a better end, it was hard for Japan to surrender. President Truman feared another Okinawa battle, but possibly even on a larger scale. Japan could take on half of the U.S troops by using kamikazes. The bombing undermined morale and economic activity since many Japanese people wanted to surrender because they were nearly defeated. Despite the country’s cry for surrender and the weak defense, the military still sacrificed civilians by prolonging the war. As Joint Chiefs noticed: “saw no prospect of surrender until army leaders acknowledge defeat,” so it really came down to the military to determine whether the war would end. Japan was trying hard to end the war, but they were unable to advocate peace in public since the military assassinated those who wanted to surrender.

In addition, they disinclined to unconditional surrender because they defended their national and spiritual leader. So Prime Minister Winston Churchill; Secretary of War, Henry Stimson; Secretary of Navy, James Forrestal, and Undersecretary of State, Joseph Grew, pushed Truman to retaining the emperor so Japan could surrender. However, new secretary of state, James Byrnes returned it warning, “There would be hell with the voters.” According to a poll, few Americans wanted Hirohito to stay, they wanted him executed.

SOURCES:

Steinmann, Martin Jr. ed. Hiroshima: The Decision to Use the A-Bomb. Charles Scribner’s Sons: New York, 1964.