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A PETITION TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
July 17, 1945
Discoveries of which the people of the United States are not aware
may affect the welfare of this nation in the near future. The
liberation of atomic power which has been achieved places atomic
bombs in the hands of the Army. It places in your hands, as
Commander-in-Chief, the fateful decision whether or not to sanction
the use of such bombs in the present phase of the war against Japan.
We,
the undersigned scientists, have been working in the field of atomic
power. Until recently, we have had to fear that the United States
might be attacked by atomic bombs during this war and that her only
defense might lie in a counterattack by the same means. Today, with
the defeat of Germany, this danger is averted and we feel impelled
to say what follows:
The
war has to be brought speedily to a successful conclusion and
attacks by atomic bombs may very well be an effective method of
warfare. We feel, however, that such attacks on Japan could not be
justified, at least not unless the terms which will be imposed after
the war on Japan were made public in detail and Japan were given an
opportunity to surrender.
If
such public announcement gave assurance to the Japanese that they
could look forward to a life devoted to peaceful pursuits in their
homeland and if Japan still refused to surrender our nation might
then, in certain circumstances, find itself forced to resort to the
use of atomic bombs. Such a step, however, ought not to be made at
any time without seriously considering the moral responsibilities
which are involved.
The
development of atomic power will provide the nations with new means
of destruction. The atomic bombs at our disposal represent only the
first step in this direction, and there is almost no limit to the
destructive power which will become available in the course of their
future development. Thus a nation which sets the precedent of using
these newly liberated forces of nature for purposes of destruction
may have to bear the responsibility of opening the door to an era of
devastation on an unimaginable scale.
If
after this war a situation is allowed to develop in the world which
permits rival powers to be in uncontrolled possession of these new
means of destruction, the cities of the United States as well as the
cities of other nations will be in continuous danger of sudden
annihilation. All the resources of the United States, moral and
material, may have to be mobilized to prevent the advent of such a
world situation. Its prevention is at present the solemn
responsibility of the United States -- singled out by virtue of her
lead in the field of atomic power.
The
added material strength which this lead gives to the United States
brings with it the obligation of restraint and if we were to violate
this obligation our moral position would be weakened in the eyes of
the world and in our own eyes. It would then be more difficult for
us to live up to our responsibility of bringing the unloosened
forces of destruction under control.
In
view of the foregoing, we, the undersigned, respectfully petition:
first, that you exercise your power as Commander-in-Chief, to rule
that the United States shall not resort to the use of atomic bombs
in this war unless the terms which will be imposed upon Japan have
been made public in detail and Japan knowing these terms has refused
to surrender; second, that in such an event the question whether or
not to use atomic bombs be decided by you in light of the
considerations presented in this petition as well as all the other
moral responsibilities which are involved.
  
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