stu3@mhuxh.UUCP (Mark Modig) (10/12/84)
>> The United States used the atomic bomb twice in World War II, both times on >> Japanese cities. > >Let me quote Dr. Helen Caldicott who quoted some Japanese as saying: > >"We sort of understand the first bomb but why the second bomb?" > >The only excuse I have heard is that they didn't surrender immediately after the >first bomb was dropped. How much time were they given to comprehend the power of >the bomb? Why would they surrender if they didn't have a chance to examine the >ruins of Hiroshima and reach a decision? Why did the bombs have to be dropped >so close in time? > Farzin Mokhtarian > < ubc-vision!mokhtar > > The Japanese were given about 2 1/2 days to surrender between bombings, as near as I can tell. Some sources list the Nagasaki bomb on August 9, others on August 8. I think somewhere between 48 and 72 hours would be a fair statement. As far as "excuses" go, there were several good REASONS why the Americans and the British (yes, they were in on it, too, politically rather than militarily) dropped the bombs so close together. One IS that surrender was not immediate after the first bomb was dropped. There was plenty of time to contact the appropriate diplomatic channels and ask for a surrender. The meeting at which Hirohito pushed for surrender was at night; the NEXT MORNING arrangements were underway to surrender. In this view, I think 48 hours was ample time to make a decision. Another is that many Japanese officials simply refused to believe the reports flowing in from Hiroshima. To others, it made no difference; they would fight to the bitter end. Finally, I think the Americans felt they had to show that the bomb wasn't a fluke, and that they weren't bluffing when they said the bombing would continue until Japan surrendered. When there was no response from the Japanese after the first attack, the Americans felt their bluff had been called. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mark Modig ..ihnp4!btlunix!mom