The Pros And Cons Of The First Atomic Bomb

The american public and military personnel saw the only two options for the defeat of Japan. Either to invade the Japanese homeland, or dropping an atomic bomb on Japan. There were in fact a number of alternatives that could have evaded both of these possibilities. A key alternative was to perform a demonstration of the bomb. This alternative was supported by a committee of scientists at the University of Chicago’s Metallurgical Laboratory, a significant Manhattan Project facility. Two months before the bombing of Hiroshima, the team of scientists chaired by James Franck, created a report contending the use of the first atomic bomb on an inhabited city. The committee argued that a demonstration of the bomb on a barren piece of land or island could be an effective warning to the Japanese without causing casualties.Another possible place for a demonstration of the first atomic bomb could have been the centre of Tokyo Bay, which would have been visible from the Imperial Palace but have little to no casualties if exploded high in the air.

Truman chose not act on any of these recommendations. A key point highlighted in the Franck report was that it could be difficult to persuade other countries that their country “which was capable of secretly preparing and suddenly releasing a weapon, as indiscriminate as the rocket bomb and a thousand times more destructive” was to be trusted in its desire of having that exact weapon abolished by an international agreement. The Franck Report displays the scientists concern about the repercussions and possible tainted image of America on a national and international stage and their strong recommendation to use demonstration as it was a more humane alternative to dropping the bomb on populated