This is coolbert: Most authorities make this comment regarding the end of WW2 in the Pacific. If the U.S. had not dropped the a-bomb on Japan and hastened the end of the war, a catastrophic die off of POW's held by the Japs would have occurred. At the end of the war, about 300,000 POW's, military and civilian internees, were still being held by Jap forces. All throughout the Orient. From the extreme mistreatment rendered these misfortunates by the Japs all throughout the war, most of these POW's were what could be called last-leggers. A few more months of captivity and most would have died from an accumulation of hunger, illness, mistreatment, etc. With or without any executions or any action on the part of the Japs. Whether or not this was a major consideration in the decision to a-bomb Japan I just cannot say. The documents may or not exist regarding such considerations. It should have been a consideration, and rightly so. A negotiated settlement with Japan would have taken time, during which most of the POW's would have died. This would have been totally unacceptable.

coolbert.