Memorable Quotes from

WWII-Pacific/Hiroshima
Winston Churchill in regards to the atomic bomb:

We seemed suddenly to have become possessed of a merciful abridgement of the

slaughter in the Far East To bring the war to an end, to avoid indefinite butchery, to

give peace to the world, to lay a healing hand upon its people by a manifestation of

overwhelming power at the cost of a few explosions, seemed, after all our toils and

perils, a miracle of deliverance.

President Truman in regards to the dropping of Little Boy on Hiroshima:

We have used it to shorten the agony of war, in order to save thousands and

thousands of Americans. We shall continue to use it until we completely destroy Japans

capacity to make war. Only a Japanese surrender will stop us.

Unknown petty Italian officer visiting Japan after alliance is sealed:

For Americans, it is the dollar that is the moving spirit. They cannot win.

Emperor Hirohitos announcement to the Japanese people of acceptance of

Potsdam Conference:

Despite the best that has been done by everyone, the war situation has developed not

necessarily to Japans advantage In order to avoid further bloodshed, perhaps even the
total extermination of human civilization, we shall have to endure the unendurable, to

suffer the insufferable.

Dwight Eisenhower, interview in Newsweek, 11/11/63

"...The Japanese were ready to surrender and it wasn't necessary to hit them with that

awful thing."

Herbert Hoover, reportedly addressing President Truman:

"I am convinced that if you, as President, will make a short-wave broadcast to the people

of Japan - tell them they can have their Emperor if they surrender, that it will not mean

unconditional surrender except for the militarists - you'll get a peace in Japan - you'll

have both wars over."