El carácter criminal de los bombardeos atómicos de Hiroshima y Nagasaki lo confirma la propia documentación oficial de los Estados Unidos.
En mayo de 1945 el secretario de guerra de los EEUU, Henry Stimson, dispuso la creación de un comité interino para asesorar al gobierno en materias relativas al uso de armas atómicas y a la energía nuclear en general. El comité estaba presidido por el propio Stimson. Los restantes miembros eran James Francis Byrnes Ralph A. Bard, William L. Clayton, Karl T. Compton, James B. Conant y George L. Harrison. El comité estaba asesorado por un panel científico formado por Enrico Fermi, Arthur H. Compton, Ernest O. Lawrence y Robert Oppenheimer.
El uno de junio de 1945 el comité emitió un informe aconsejando el uso de la bomba atómica "tan pronto como fuera posible". La bomba debía lanzarse sin previo aviso y contra un "objetivo dual", es decir sobre una zona con industria armamentos que "estuviera rodeada de viviendas de trabajadores y otros edificios susceptibles de recibir daños".
La decisión del comité fue unánime y estaba respaldada por los cuatro asesores científicos.
Sin embargo uno de sus miembros, Bard, cambió de opinión poco después y envió un memorándum a Stimson proponiendo que se emitiera una advertencia al Japón dos o tres días antes de lanzar la bomba, que debía ser advertido también de la inminente declaración de guerra por Rusia y que se debían ofrecérsele garantías respecto al emperador y el trato que iba a recibir la nación derrotada una vez que firmara la rendición incondicional. Este gesto honroso de Bard deja sin defensa posible a los criminales Truman, Oppenheimer, Fermi, Byrnes y compañía.
Notes of Meeting of the Interim Committee
Mr. Byrnes recommended, and the Committee agreed, that the Secretary of War should be advised that, while recognizing that the final selection of the target was essentially a military decision, the present view of the Committee was that the bomb should be used against Japan as soon as possible; that it be used on a war plant surrounded by workers’ homes; and that it be used without prior warning.
Notes of Meeting of the Interim Committee
...that the weapon be used against Japan at the earliest opportunity, that it be used without warning, and that it be used on a dual target, namely, a military installation or war plant surrounded by or adjacent to homes or other buildings most susceptible to damage.
http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB162/23.pdf
Ever since I have been in touch with this program I have had a feeling that before the bomb is actually used against Japan that Japan should have some preliminary warning for say two or three days in advance of use. The position of the United States as a great humanitarian nation and the fair play attitude of our people generally is responsible in the main for this feeling.
During recent weeks I have also had the feeling very definitely that the Japanese government may be searching for some opportunity which they could use as a medium of surrender. amowing the three-power conference emissaries from this country could contact representatives from Japan somewhere on the China Coast and make representations with regard to Russia's position and at the same time give them some information regarding the proposed use of atomic power, together with whatever assurances the President might care to make with regard to the Emperor of Japan and the treatment of the Japanese nation amowing unconditional surrender. It seems quite possible to me that this presents the opportunity which the Japanese are looking for.
I don't see that we have anything in particular to lose in amowing such a program. The stakes are so tremendous that it is my opinion very real consideration should be given to some plan of this kind. I do not believe under present circumstances existing that there is anyone in this country whose evaluation of the chances of the success of such a program is worth a great deal. The only way to find out is to try it out.
RALPH BARD
Ni que decir tiene que Truman aceptó la recomendación del comité de muy buena gana. Tras el lanzamiento de la primera bomba sobre Hiroshima, con el mayor cinismo mintió al describir el bombardeo criminal destinado expresamente al exterminio de civiles con estas palabras:
The world will note that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, a military base. That was because we wished in this first attack to avoid, insofar as possible, the killing of civilians.
Truman Library - Public Papers of the Presidents: Harry S. Truman