 In addition to heading the Chemistry Division , Franck was also the chairman of the Metallurgical Laboratory 's Committee on Political and Social Problems regarding the atomic bomb , which consisted of himself and Donald J. Hughes , J. J. Nickson , Eugene Rabinowitch , Glenn T. Seaborg , J. C. Stearns and Leó Szilárd . In 1945 , Franck warned Henry A. Wallace of their fears that " mankind has learned to unleash atomic power without being ethically and politically prepared to use it wisely . " The committee compiled what became known as the Franck Report . Finished on 11 June 1945 , it recommended that the atomic bombs not be used on the Japanese cities without warning . In any event , the Interim Committee decided otherwise . 
