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{
    "localId": "313081703",
    "label": "Memorandum, \"Tentative Chronology of Part Played by Scientists in Decision to Use the Bomb Against Japan\"",
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    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "Memorandum, \"Tentative Chronology of Part Played by Scientists in Decision to Use the Bomb Against Japan\"",
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        "Eben A. Ayers Papers",
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            "day": 29,
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{
    "seq": 5,
    "pageIndex": 0,
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    "ocrText": "Chronology -5-\n37. July 17 to 24, 1945 Truman makes the decision to use\nthe bomb against Japan when it is\nready for delivery unless surrender\nhas taken place. Truman does not date\nthis decision exactly, but says as soon\nas he received details of test from\nStimson on July 17th he called together\nchiefs of staff to review military\nstrategy in light of successful test.\n(p. 415) Truman also says when he\ntalked with Churchill he favored use\nof bomb (p. 419) Compton (p. 245)\nsays that Truman h ter told him that\nit was at that meeting wi th the Joint\nChiefs that he gave his \"formal assent\"\nto use of bomb.\n38. July 17, 1945\nAs soon as Stimson arrived in Potsdam,\n(Truman here uses the date given in\n#36) Truman called in Byrnes, Leahy,\nMarshall, Gen. Arnold and Adm. King;\nthey reviewed military strategy in\nlight of the successful test, (Truman,\npp. 419-21)\n39. July 23, 1945\nCol. Nichols asks Compton at Oak Ridge\nfor result S of the poll at the Met.\nLab. C. wrote out a message summarizing\nHARRY ARCHIVES TRUMAN \"NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AND LIBRARY\nthe results of the \"votes and petitions\nas objectively as he could. An hour\nlater Nichols came back wanting to\nknow what C. himself thought; gave\nopinion favoring use. (Compton, p. 246)\n40. July 24, 1945\nThe War Department \"was given orders\"\nto instruct Gen. Spaatz that first bomb\nwould be dropped as soon after August\n3rd as weather permits. Truman told\nStimson that order to Spaatz would\nstand unless Truman notified him of\nfavorable Japanese reply. (Truman,\npp. 420-21)\n41. July 24, 1945\nTruman tells Stalin of \"new weapon of\nunusual destructive force.\" (Truman,\np. 416)\n42. July 26, 1945\nAllies broadcast demand that Japan\nsurrender or face destruction.\n43. July 28, 1945\nPremier of Japan rejects Potsdam ulti-\nmatum as unworthy of notice. (Stimson,\n\"Decision\"; Truman, p. 421)"
}