After reading Dr. Karl T. Compton's article, "If the Atomic Bomb Had Not Been Used," which appeared in the Atlantic for December, the President wrote Dr. Compton a note which we are reproducing because of its historic import.
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After reading Dr. Karl T. Compton's article, "If the Atomic Bomb Had Not Been Used," which appeared in the Atlantic for December, the President wrote Dr. Compton a note which we are reproducing because of its historic import.
The White House
December 16, 1946
Dear Dr. Compton:—
Your statement in the Atlantic Monthly is a fair analysis of the situation except that the final decision had to be made by the President, and was made after a complete survey of the whole situation had been made. The conclusions reached were substantially those set out in your article.
The Japanese were given fair warning, and were offered the terms which they finally accepted, well in advance of the dropping of the bomb. I imagine the bomb caused them to accept the terms.
Sincerely yours,
Harry S. Truman
National Portrait Gallery
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