FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO THE PRESS
Office of the President of the United States
Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Early this morning, Japanese time, the United States dropped a second atomic bomb, on the Japanese city of Nagasaki. This city was chosen as the target of the second bombing because is an important port and center of manufacturing goods that feed the Japanese war machine.
The dropping of this bomb will be seen by many as inhumane, a supreme act of terror. My opponent Mr. Wallace will most likely tell you I now have even more blood on my hands. Let me assure that this is not so. The decision to use a second atomic bomb was not an easy one, but we believe it is the right one. America has taken every precaution and act of mercy possible in a time of war, to ensure as few civilian deaths as possible will result from this action. First, we gave the Japanese government days to surrender, on top of the months they had already had to end the war. I stated explicitly that bombing would continue unless we receive an unconditional surrender. They chose not to surrender. They ? and I implicate everyone of importance in the Japanese government, from the Emperor on down ? decided to continue the war. Why would they do such a thing, when they have seen the terrible destruction prepared for them? I do not know the answer. All I know is that we have waited for a surrender, and none has come.
Second, this was not a surprise attack as the first bombing of Hiroshima was. We made every effort to limit civilian deaths. We have leafleted Japanese cities for days now, dropping thousands of pamphlets containing a message written in Japanese. This message stated in the clearest of terms that America was only beginning its use of the atomic bomb, and that we would use it again if the government did not surrender. The message informed the Japanese people with facts about the destructiveness of the bomb, and urged them to sue their leaders for peace. The final lines on this pamphlet say that we will continue to use the bomb and beg all civilians to evacuate their cities.
Unfortunately, the Japanese chose not to heed our warnings and our offers of surrender. We have been forced to employ the atomic bomb again because of their actions. I would like to take this opportunity to restate my position firmly. America will continue to bomb Japan until we either are forced to invade or receive a Japanese surrender. However, we will not risk the lives of our soldiers in an invasion if it can be avoided. The atomic bomb is the best chance we have to avoid this invasion, which would be the most massive and bloody operation of World War II. I beg the Japanese government, again, to accept a prompt surrender. The choice is in their hands.
Office of the President of the United States
Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Early this morning, Japanese time, the United States dropped a second atomic bomb, on the Japanese city of Nagasaki. This city was chosen as the target of the second bombing because is an important port and center of manufacturing goods that feed the Japanese war machine.
The dropping of this bomb will be seen by many as inhumane, a supreme act of terror. My opponent Mr. Wallace will most likely tell you I now have even more blood on my hands. Let me assure that this is not so. The decision to use a second atomic bomb was not an easy one, but we believe it is the right one. America has taken every precaution and act of mercy possible in a time of war, to ensure as few civilian deaths as possible will result from this action. First, we gave the Japanese government days to surrender, on top of the months they had already had to end the war. I stated explicitly that bombing would continue unless we receive an unconditional surrender. They chose not to surrender. They ? and I implicate everyone of importance in the Japanese government, from the Emperor on down ? decided to continue the war. Why would they do such a thing, when they have seen the terrible destruction prepared for them? I do not know the answer. All I know is that we have waited for a surrender, and none has come.
Second, this was not a surprise attack as the first bombing of Hiroshima was. We made every effort to limit civilian deaths. We have leafleted Japanese cities for days now, dropping thousands of pamphlets containing a message written in Japanese. This message stated in the clearest of terms that America was only beginning its use of the atomic bomb, and that we would use it again if the government did not surrender. The message informed the Japanese people with facts about the destructiveness of the bomb, and urged them to sue their leaders for peace. The final lines on this pamphlet say that we will continue to use the bomb and beg all civilians to evacuate their cities.
Unfortunately, the Japanese chose not to heed our warnings and our offers of surrender. We have been forced to employ the atomic bomb again because of their actions. I would like to take this opportunity to restate my position firmly. America will continue to bomb Japan until we either are forced to invade or receive a Japanese surrender. However, we will not risk the lives of our soldiers in an invasion if it can be avoided. The atomic bomb is the best chance we have to avoid this invasion, which would be the most massive and bloody operation of World War II. I beg the Japanese government, again, to accept a prompt surrender. The choice is in their hands.
Posted Thursday, August 8-9, 1945 at 8:00 AM.
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