Evening star., 1945-12-23
World Must Choose Soon
Between Peace and Chaos
Devastating Power Of Atomic Bomb Brings Threat
to Civilization Unless Nations Develop New
Understanding Within Next Few Years
BY Bertrand Russell.
Writer for This Month Magazine

America has an opportunity such as
has never come TO any nation in the
history of the world. II used 10 the
full. the peace OF the world will be Sc
cure for a long time. If not, 1t is
likely that during the present genera
tion all large cities in every part of the
world will be wiped out and civilized
life will be destroyed
During the next two or three years
the President and Congress of the
United States can decide this alterna-
tive either way After that time, if the
chance is missed, the worse alternative
will be a virtual certainty
In every part of the world hatred is
binding people. making them more
willing to perpetuate strife than to CO.
operate in making good the destruction
caused by the war.
Over this unheeding world of mad
hatreds hangs the black cloud of the
atomic bomb.
At present the United States alone
possesses finished atomic bombs and
the plant for their manufacture. The
OillGcu OtdGcS, SdIldud anu olCdG
Britain alone know the process. But
since the difficult theoretical principles
involved are we'll known to men of
science throughout the world, every ma
tion which chooses to spend the money
will soon be in a position to make its
own bombs.
May Embargo Uranium.
Presumably every country possessing
! uranium will place an embargo on its
export Except from Canada to the
United States This places a tenn
porary limitation on the countries that
can manufacture the bomb. But it is
expected that uranium will not long
remain Indispensable Before many
years have passed every considerable
country will be in position to launch
a surprise attack on any other country
at any moment And the measure of
the damage must not be judged by the
two bombs dropped on the japanese.
| They were immature and experimental:
| it is certain that very soon far more
| destructive bombs will be available
The outlook for the world is one of
| utter and unrelieved gloom. The United
States Government is aware of the
| gravity Of the issue and anxious to act
wisely in the interests of mankind But
| such a change in habits Of thought is
| called for that the necessary mental
adjustment may not be made quickly
| enough
The first mistake to be avoided is that
| of trusting to agreements as the kellogg
| pact No agreement will be observed by
some powers unless the penalties OF
infringing it are severe obvious and
| certain. 1t would be futile to negotiate
a treaty unless any power disregardine
such a treaty knew that it would be met
by force of atomic bombs exceeding its
own.
| 1t has been suggested that the secret
of the atomic bomb should be revealed
to the United Nations. Such action
would be mischievous, since some OF
own bombs. The United Nations would
need to be much tighter organization
before it could wisely be intrusted with
such source of national power.
| No Victors in Another War.
War is unlikely now only so long as
America retains her present supremacy.
Whatever measures are>to be taken to
prevent another world war must be
taken during this brief period and must
be insured by vigorous enforcement of