Correspondence Between President Harry S. Truman and Senator Richard Russell

ARE BROUGHT GROVELING TO THEIR KNEES. WE SHOULD CEASE OUR APPEALS TO JAPAN TO SUE FOR PEACE. THE NEXT PLEA FOR PEACE SHOULD COME FROM AN UTTERLY DESTROYED TOKYO. WELCOME BACK HOME. WITH ASSURAN- CES OF ESTEEM RICHARD B. RUSSELL US SENATOR. THAT THEY WILL BE ATTACKED. THESE GENERALS DO NOT FLY OVER JAPAN AND THIS SHOWMANSHIP CAN ONLY RESULT IN THE UNNECESSARY LOSS OF MANY FINE BOYS IN OUR AIR FORCE AS WELL AS OUR HELPLESS PRISONERS IN THE HANDS OF THE JAPANESE, INCLUDING THE SURVIVORS OF THE MARCH OF DEATH ON BATAAN WHO ARE CERTAIN TO BE BROUGHT INTO THE CITIES THAT HAVE BEEN WARNED. THIS WAS A TOTAL WAR AS LONG AS OUR ENEMIES HELD ALL THE CARDS. WHY SHOULD WE CHANGE THE RULES NOW, AFTER THE BLOOD, TREASURE AND ENTERPRISE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN US THE UPPER HAND. OUR PEOPLE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN THAT THE JAPANESE STRUCK US IN THE FIRST BLOW IN THIS WAR WITHOUT THE SLIGHTEST WARNING. THEY BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO STRIKE THE JAPANESE UNTIL THEY SHOULD NOT BE THE BENEFICIARY OF A SOFT PEACE. THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICAN PEOPLE, INCLUDING MANY SOUND THINKERS WHO HAVE INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF THE ORIENT, DO NOT AGREE WITH MR. GREW IN HIS ATTITUDE THAT THERE IS ANY THING SACROSANCT ABOUT HIROHITO. HE SHOULD GO. WE HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO SHINTOLISM. THE COMPTEMT- UOUS ANSWER OF THE JAPS TO THE POTSDAM ULTIMATIUM JUSTIFIES A REVISION OF THAT DOCUMENT AND STERNER PEACE TERMS. IF WE DO NOT HAVE AVAILABLE A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF ATOMIC [handwritten] x692-A Misc. BOMBS WITH WHICH TO FINISH THE JOB IMMEDIATELY, LET US CARRY ON WITH TNT AND FIRE BOMBS UNTIL WE CAN PRODUCE THEM. I ALSO HOPE THAT YOU WILL ISSUE ORDERS FORBIDDING THE OFFICERS IN COMMAND OF OUR AIR FORCES FROM WARNING JAP CITIES The White House Washington AUG 7 9 05 PM 1945 WU80 LG GOVT WINDER GA AUG 7 427P THE PRESIDENT (PERSONAL DELIVERY) THE WHITE HOUSE PERMIT ME TO RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST THAT WE CEASE OUR EFFORTS TO CAJOLE JAPAN INTO SURRENDERING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE POTSDAM DECLARATION. LET US CARRY THE WAR TO THEM UNTIL THEM BEG US TO ACCEPT THE UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER. THE FOUL ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR BROUGHT US INTO WAR AND I AM UNABLE TO SEE ANY VALID REASON WHY WE SHOULD BE SO MUCH MORE CONSIDERATE AND LENIENT IN DEALING WITH JAPAN THAN WITH GERMANY. I EARNESTLY INSIST JAPAN SHOULD BE DEALT WITH AS HARSHLY AS GERMANY AND THAT SHE [handwritten; circled] 197 [handwritten] Misc. August 9, 1945 Dear Dick: I read your telegram of August seventh with a lot of interest. I know that Japan is a terribly cruel and uncivilized nation in warfare but I can't [handwritten] x197 bring myself to believe that, because they [handwritten] x887185 are beasts, we should ourselves act in the same manner. For myself, I certainly regret the necessity of wipe out whole populations because of the "pigheadedness" of the leaders of a nation and, for your information, I am not going to do it unless it is absolutely necessary. It is my opinion that after the Russians enter [handwritten] x220 into war the Japanese will shortly fold up. My object is to save as many American lives as possible but I also have a humane feeling for the women and children in Japan. Sincerely yours, [stamped] HARRY S. TRUMAN Honorable Richard B. Russell [handwritten] xPP71072 Winder [handwritten] xGen. Georgia x190 - Misc.