740.00119 P.W./12–546: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Gallman) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 5—7:06 a.m.]
9917. Urtel 8026, Dec 4.50 Following official text questions and answers was only obtainable 10:30 a.m. Thursday:51
“Mr. Horabin asked the Prime Minister if he will state the date on which overtures for peace were first received from Japan, the date on which the decision was reached to drop the first atomic bomb on Japan, and the date on which the bomb was dropped.
“The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee): The decision in principle to use atomic weapons against Japan was taken at the beginning of July 1945 and the first bomb was dropped on 6th August. The offer of peace made to Japan by the Potsdam Declaration on 26th July was not accepted until 10th August.”52
“Mr. Piratin asked the Prime Minister whether it is the Government’s intention to seek to prohibit the use of the atom bomb.
[Page 368]“The Prime Minister: Yes, sir.
“Mr. Piratin: Do I understand from, that gratifying answer that our representative in the US at this time is informed of the Prime Minister’s opinion and is acting on that?
“The Prime Minister: Yes, sir.
“Mr. Piratin: Thank you.”
Horabin left wing Independent, formerly Liberal, and Piratin Communist MP.
- Not printed; it asked for Prime Minister Clement R. Attlee’s actual reply as delivered in the House of Commons to a question on the date of the Japanese surrender offer and of the atomic bomb (740.00119 PW/12–446).↩
- December 5.↩
- The London Press Association on December 5 issued a statement as follows: “Owing to a mishearing of a reply by the Prime Minister to a question in the House of Commons on Wednesday, the impression was conveyed by our report that Japan had made a peace offer before the first atomic bomb was dropped.” (740.00119 P.W./12–646)↩