Review of the three books in question

Atomic Threat : New Weapon of the 1940s What follows will be a brief summary and review of three books concerning the advent of the atomic bomb , its use on Japan , the politics and diplomacy involved and the effects that Truman and his cabinet suspected that the bomb would have on future wars and future politics Three authors , Gar Alperoitz , Herbert Feis and J . Samuel Walker present similar information about the development and use of the atomic bomb and the concerns that those few politicians with intimate knowledge of the bomb suspected its

existence would have on future global politics . The authors speak from different perspectives and yet at points provide strikingly similar details about the events surrounding the development of the bomb . While all three authors focus on the development and use of the bomb , each approaches the subject from a slightly different perspective . Alperovitz focuses on diplomacy with Stalin , Walker focuses on the situation in Japan and Feis pays more attention to those involved with the development of the bomb , both politicians and scientists . We will begin our considerations of these different approaches with Alperovitz 's focus on the effects the bomb had on diplomacy and move on from there

Alperovitz book consists of a long 60 page introduction , eight chapters and four appendices describing the relations between the United States and the Soviet Union prior to and after the advent of the bomb He begins with Truman 's concerns about the Russians when he took over from FDR . As he prepared for his first meeting with a USSR representative Truman declared that "if the Russians did not care to cooperate 'they could go to hell " A few hours later , the President expressed the same view to Soviet Foreign Minister V . M . Molotov in rather undiplomatic terms . Truman desired to continue FDR 's policy of cooperation with the Russians , but his attitude when he spoke the above words were not the result of a moment 's flash of temper . Problems were developing over the USSR 's dealings with Poland . Alperovitz 's primary argument that the bomb had a very significant influence on American views of diplomacy with the USSR long before the bomb . The bomb was inextricably bound with Truman 's strategy at Potsdam in July 1945 and "was regarded as a 'master card ' of diplomacy (Alperovitz ,

. 1 Alperovitz states that .a major reason the bomb was used was 'to make Russia more manageable (Alperovitz ,

. 1 . Touched upon the impact of nuclear weapons on the beginning of the Cold War "In August 1945 Eisenhower felt that 'before the atom bomb was used , I would have said yes , I was sure we could keep peace with Russia . Now , I don 't know .People are frightened and disturbed all over . Everyone feels insecure again (Alperovitz ,

. 2 ) Truman and some members of his cabinet believed that Russia was attempting to dominate Eastern Europe so concerns over Poland had been chosen as a symbolic issue to force a showdown with...