The Decision To Use The Atom Bomb

At A Time When Science Plays Such A Powerful Role In The Life Of Society, When The Destiny Of The Whole Of Mankind May Hinge On The Results Of Scientific Research, It Is Incumbent On All Scientists To Be Fully Conscious Of That Role, And Conduct Themselves Accordingly.

All Nuclear Weapon States Should Now Recognize That This Is So, And Declare - In Treaty Form - That They Will Never Be The First To Use Nuclear Weapons. This Would Open The Way To The Gradual, Mutual Reduction Of Nuclear Arsenals, Down To Zero.

Let Me Remind You That Nuclear Disarmament Is Not Just An Ardent Desire Of The People, As Expressed In Many Resolutions Of The United Nations. It Is A Legal Commitment By The Five Official Nuclear States, Entered Into When They Signed The Non-proliferation Treaty.

Long Before The Terrifying Potential Of The Arms Race Was Recognized, There Was A Widespread Instinctive Abhorrence Of Nuclear Weapons, And A Strong Desire To Get Rid Of Them.

So I Ask The Nuclear Powers To Abandon The Out-of-date Thinking Of The Cold War Period And Take A Fresh Look. Above All, I Appeal To Them To Bear In Mind The Long-term Threat That Nuclear Weapons Pose To Humankind And To Begin Action Towards Their Elimination.