Henry L. Stimson
Henry L. Stimson
Henry Lewis Stimsonwas an American statesman, lawyer and Republican Party politician and spokesman on foreign policy. He served as Secretary of Warunder Republican William Howard Taft, and as Governor-General of the Philippines. As Secretary of Stateunder Republican President Herbert Hoover, he articulated the Stimson Doctrine which announced American opposition to Japanese expansion in Asia. He again served as Secretary of Warunder Democrats Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, and was a leading hawk calling for war against Germany. During...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionStatesman
Date of Birth21 September 1867
CountryUnited States of America
On Tuesday, August 14th, when the news arrived of the final surrender of the Japanese we had a little thanksgiving meeting in the Casino after dinner.
I told him that my own opinion was that the time now and the method now to deal with Russia was to keep our mouths shut and let our actions speak for words.
I do not see how the Japanese can hold out against this united front.
The Japanese campaign involves therefore two great uncertainties; first, whether Russia will come in though we think that will be all right; and second, when and how S-1 will resolve itself.
I think it is very important that I should have a talk with you as soon as possible on a highly secret matter. I mentioned it to you shortly after you took office but have not urged it since on account of the pressure you have been under.
Over any such tangled wave of problems the S-1 secret would be dominant and yet we will not know until after that time probably, until after that meeting, whether this is a weapon in our hands or not.
When the news first came that Japan had attacked us my first feeling was of relief that ... a crisis had come in a way which would unite all our people. This continued to be my dominant feeling in spite of the news of catastrophes which quickly developed.
History knows no greater display of courage than that shown by the people of the Soviet Union.
As to the war with Japan, the President had already received my memorandum in general as to the possibility of getting a substantial unconditional surrender from Japan which I had written before leaving Washington and which he had approved.
A private meeting with Hoover is like sitting in a both of ink.
Now the thing is not to get into unnecessary quarrels by talking too much and not to indicate any weakness by talking too much; let our actions speak for themselves.
The bomb and the entrance of the Russians into the war will certainly have an effect on hastening the victory.
Marriage should be a duet -- when one sings, the other claps. Joe Murray The only way to make a man trustworthy is to trust him.
The only deadly sin I know is cynicism.