At Christmas 1944, the Japanese were informed (via the Soviets) that the Americans were developing the atomic bomb.
Still, they showed a remarkable lack of concern, confident that their own atomic bomb project would be ready first. (In fact, their uranium enrichment plant was to be destroyed in an air raid in February 1945).
In May 1945, the Japanese began their first feeble efforts to arrange a cessation of hostilities (but the word surrender was not used). These Peace Feelers were as tentative as their name implies.
You put out "feelers" to see if your friend's uncle can get you a job for the summer or to see if the girl in the computer lab likes you.
This was the time for bold and decisive action by the Japanese leadership, such as the offer of a cease fire or the surrender of Okinawa, but once again it failed to materialize.
On July 29, 1945, the allies delivered to the Japanese the conditions for their surrender in the so called Potsdam Ultimatum.
This document warned the Japanese leadership that unless they were willing to consider an "immediate surrender," they would "risk the total destruction of their country."
The document went on to promise that "the Japanese people will not be enslaved as a race nor destroyed as a nation" if the surrender was accepted.
One last time the Japanese leadership failed its people and refused to seek terms of surrender.
The atomic weapons were then used and Japan immediately surrendered.
Are there any "lessons of history" to take from this? Perhaps I may offer two.
Firstly, it is unwise of any nation, no matter how powerful and ruthless, to test the will of the democratic peoples of this world.
Secondly, each nation must choose its leaders with the utmost care, for the people will pay a terrible price for poor leadership.
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