President Truman Discusses the Bomb at Potsdam, July 1945
HS Truman diary, July 17, 18, and 25,1945, President's Secretary's Files,
Papers of the President, Truman Library, Independence, Mo.
[Potsdam] July 17,
[19]45
Just spent a couple of
hours with Stalin. Joe Davies called on Maiski and made the date last night for
noon today. Promptly a few minutes before twelve I looked up from the desk and
there stood Stalin in the doorway. I got to my feet and advanced to meet him.
He put out his hand and smiled. I did the same[,] we shook[,] I greeted Molotov
and the interpreter, and we sat down. After the usual polite remarks we got
down to business. I told Stalin that I am no diplomat but usually said yes
& no to questions after hearing all the argument [sic]. It pleased
him. I asked him if he had the agenda for the meeting. He said he had and that
he had some more questions to present. I told him to fire away. He did and it
is dynamite—but I have some dynamite too which I am not exploding now. He wants
to fire [Generalissimo Francisco] Franco [the Spanish fascist dictator], to
which I wouldn't object and divide up the Italian colonies, and other mandates,
some no doubt that the British have. Then he got on the Chinese situation[,]
told us what agreements had been reached and what was in abeyance. Most of the
big points are settled. He'll be in the Jap War on August 15th. Fini Japs when
that comes about. We had lunch[,] talked socially[,] put on a real show drinking
toasts to everyone, then had pictures made in the back yard. I can deal with
Stalin. He's honest—but smart as hell.
[Potsdam] July 18, 1945
At breakfast with nephew
Harry, a sergeant in the Field Artillery [in which Truman had served as a
Captain during World War I]. He is a good soldier and a nice boy. They took him
off [the troopship] Queen Elizabeth at Glasco [Glasgow] and flew him here.
Sending him home Friday. Went to lunch with P.M. [British Prime Minister Winston
Churchill] at 1:30 walked around to British Hqrs [Headquarters]. Met at the gate
by Mr. Churchill. Guard of honor drawn up. Fine body of men Scottish Guards
Band played the Star Spangled Banner. Inspected Guard and went in for lunch.
P.M. & I ate alone. Discussed Manhattan [Project] (it is a success).
Decided to tell Stalin about it. Stalin had told P.M. of telegram from Jap
Emperor asking for peace. Stalin also read his answer to me. It was
satisfactory. Believe Japs will fold up before Russia comes in.
I am sure they will when
Manhattan appears over their homeland. I shall inform Stalin about it at an
opportune time. Stalin's luncheon was a most satisfactory meeting. I invited
him to come to the U.S. Told him I'd send the Battleship Missouri for him if
he'd come. He said he wanted to cooperate with U.S. in peace as we had cooperated
in War but it would be harder. Said he was grossly misunderstood in the U.S.
and I was misunderstood in Russia. I told him that we each could help to remedy
that situation in our home countries and that I intended to try with all I had to
do my part at home. He gave me a most cordial smile and said he would do as much
in Russia.
We then went to the
conference and it was my job to present the Ministers' proposed agenda. There
were three proposals and I banged them through in short order, much to the
surprise of Mr. Churchill. Stalin was very much pleased. Churchill was too
after he had recovered. I'm not going to stay around this terrible place all
summer just to listen to speeches. I'll go home to the Senate for that.
[Potsdam] July 25, 1945
We met at 11 a.m. today.
That is Stalin, Churchill and the U.S. President. But I had a most important
session with Lord Mountbatten & General Marshall before that. We have
discovered the most terrible bomb in the history of the world. It may be the
fire destruction prophesied in the Euphrates Valley Era, after Noah and his fabulous
Ark.
Anyway we
"think" we have found the way to cause a disintegration of the atom.
An experiment in the New Mexico desert was startling—to put it mildly. Thirteen
pounds of the explosive caused the complete disintegration of a steel tower 60
feet high, created a crater 6 feet deep and 1,200 feet in diameter, knocked
over a steel tower 1/2 mile away and knocked men down 10,000 yards away. The
explosion was visible for more than 200 miles and audible for 40 miles and
more.
This weapon is to be
used against Japan between now and August 10th. I have told the Secretary], of
War, Mr. [Henry] Stimson to use so that military objectives and soldiers and
sailors are the target and not women and children. Even if the Japs are
savages, ruthless, merciless, and fanatic, we as the leader of the world for
the common welfare cannot drop this terrible bomb on the old Capital [Kyoto] or
the new [Tokyo].
He & I are in
accord. The target will be a purely military one and we will issue a warning
statement asking the Japs to surrender and save lives. I'm sure they will not
do that, but we will have given them the chance. It is certainly a good thing
for the world that Hitler's crowd or Stalin's did not discover this atomic
bomb. It seems to me to be the most terrible thing ever discovered, but it can
be made the most useful.