Det danske Fredsakademi
Kronologi over fredssagen og international politik 17. Juli 1945 / Time Line July 17, 1945
Version 3.007/17/1945
Atompacifisme ;
USA - Szilárd appellen
Videnskabsfolk advarer mod anvendelse af atomvåben. Deres
advarsel mod brugen af atomvåbnet hemmeligstemples
secret.
Kilde: A Petition to the President of the United
States.
U.S. National Archives, Record Group 77, Records of the Chief of
Engineers, Manhattan Engineer District, Harrison-Bundy File, folder
#76.
07/17/1945
Nuclear pacifism, USA - the Szilárd appeal
Scientists warn against the use of nuclear weapons. Their warning
against the use of nuclear weapon is stamped secret.
…. We, the undersigned scientists, have been working in the
field of atomic power for a number of years. Until recently we have
had to reckon with the possibility 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 this
danger averted we feel impelled to say what follows:
The war has to be brought speedily to a successful conclusion and
the destruction of Japanese cities by means of atomic bombs may
very well be an effective method of warfare. We feel, however, that
such an attack on Japan could not be justified in the present
circumstances. We believe that the United States ought not to
resort to the use of atomic bombs in the present phase of the war,
at least not unless the terms which will be imposed upon Japan
after the war are publicly announced and subsequently Japan is
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
would then be faced with a situation which might require a
re-examination of her position with respect to the use of atomic
bombs in the war. Atomic bombs are primarily a means for the
ruthless annihilation of cities. Once they were introduced as an
instrument of war it would be difficult to resist for long the
temptation of putting them to such use.
The last few years show a marked tendency toward increasing
ruthlessness. At present our Air Forces, striking at the Japanese
cities, are using the same methods of warfare which were condemned
by American public opinion only a few years ago when applied by the
Germans to the cities of England. Our use of atomic bombs in this
war would carry the world a long way further on this path of
ruthlessness.
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 this
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.
In view of the foregoing, we, the undersigned, respectfully
petition that you exercise your power as Commanderin- Chief to rule
that the United States shall not, in the present phase of the war,
resort to the use of atomic bombs.
Leo Szilard and 58 co-signers (Dr. Leo Szilard, 62, is a
Hungarian-born physicist who helped persuade President Roosevelt to
launch the A-bomb project and who had a major share in it. In 1945,
however, he was a key figure among the scientists opposing use of
the bomb.)
Source: A Petition til President of the United States. U.S.
National Archives, Record Group 77, Records of the Chief of
Engineers, Manhattan Engineer District, Harrison-Bundy File, folder
# 76th
07/17/1945
Potsdamkonfenrencen mellem Truman, Stalin og Churchill og deres
udenrigsministre starter. Politikerne enes om at etablere et
allieret kontrolråd for Tyskland, forbyde tysk krigsindustri,
truster og karteller; kontrol med tysk metal- og kemisk industri
samt opløsning af nazistiske organisationer. Tyskland skal
demilitariseres.
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