Even now, at this late stage of the campaign, basic questions of military strategy and foreign policy in the Pacific remained unresolved. Would an invasion of Japan be necessary, or would the intensifying blockade and bombing campaign be enough to force surrender? Should the Allies land on the coast of China? Did they still need or want Russia in the war? How strong was the “peace party” in the Japanese ruling circle, and could it be strengthened? Must the late FDR’s doctrine of unconditional surrender be unbendingly applied? Did Hirohito wield the power and influence to put an end to the
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