Date
August 10, 1945
Document
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Description
This memo from Leslie R. Groves to Chief of Staff George Marshall announces the availability of a third atomic bomb for use against Japan during World War II. Groves writes that the third bomb may be ready by August 17 or 18. Written on the memo is the immediate reply from Marshall: “It is not to be released upon Japan without express authority from the President.”
Commentary
Citation
General Leslie R. Groves to Chief of Staff George Marshall (10 August 1945), National Archives and Records Administration, RG 77, General Correspondence 1945-1950, File 25 Q.
Provenance
Topics
Referenced in
Document entry started by Alex Wellerstein on May 12, 2018. Entry last updated by Mikael Kelly on October 3, 2018.
The initial strike order for the use of the atomic bomb against Japan (25 July 1945) was open-ended on the use of additional weapons (“Additional bombs will be delivered on the above targets as soon as made ready by the project staff”). On August 10th, 1945, Truman announced to his cabinet members that there would be no further nuclear bombing of Japan. According to the diary account of his Secretary of Commerce, Henry Wallace, “he had given orders to stop atomic bombing. He said the thought of wiping out another 100,000 people was too horrible. He didn’t like the idea of killing, as he said, ‘all those kids.'” This particular memo reflects Truman assertion of express personal control of future nuclear use.