Henry L. Stimson's Role in the Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb against Japan

Abstract

Henry L. Stimson was perhaps one of the most prominent individuals involved in ushering in the new era that would characterize the postwar international environment. He has been referred to by some as the father (or one of the fathers) of the atomic age and the subsequent Cold War. Among all of the individuals involved in the decision to use the atomic bombs against Japan, Henry Stimson stands out for several reasons. His position as Secretary of War charged him with immense responsibilities. These were not limited to the war with Japan; Stimson also had to craft a strategy to defeat Germany and liberate Europe. He labored over the moral issues surrounding the creation and potential use of atomic weapons, but this was part of his character. Henry Stimson was a very moral man and campaigned for peace throughout his career. It was a central theme in his life and one that drove him unerringly toward a future of the more influential aspects of Henry L. Stimson that served to define his role in history. They are all equally important in understanding his role in the use of the atomic bomb against Japan. My intent is not to write a biography of Henry Stimson, but to limit my focus on the events of his life that led up to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In order to do this, I have looked at the various accounts of relevant historians and identified what I believe to be the three most important issues that shaped the policies that allowed for atomic weapons to be used against Japan. First, is the "context of use," as put forth by Sean Mallory in his book Atomic Tragedy. This argument posits that no single consideration can be attributed to the eventual decision to use the bomb against Japan, but instead considers a range of factors such as military concerns, political expectations, diplomatic repercussions for postwar relations and moral issues as all influencing the decision to use the bomb against Japan. Second is the goal of a military victory coupled with the interest of a lasting peace - and how these interests drove the actions of Stimson and others. And third, is Stimson himself and the role he played - more specifically how his actions (and inactions) determined the manner in which events would unfold. It is my intent to limit the bulk of this essay to the events that relate directly to Japan and U.S.-Japan relations, in as far as these events can be connected to Henry Stimson and the atomic bombings. To this end, I have contained the majority of my discussion on events that span from the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931 and the immediate aftermath of the atomic bombings in August 1945. However, it is necessary to look briefly outside this span in order to get an adequate understanding of Stimson as a person.