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Russell, Bertrand, November 24, 1947.
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Welbeck 5522 | Welbeck 5522 | ||
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Dear Einstein | Dear Einstein | ||
| − | Thank you for your letter of Nov. 19. I wish with all my heart that I | + | Thank you for your letter of Nov. 19. I wish with all my heart that I could agree to the alterations you suggest. But your suggestions spring from an opinion different from mine and if I agreed, the article would no longer say what I believe. I have no hope of reasonableness in the Soviet government; I think the only hope of peace (and that a slender one) lies in frightening Russia. I favored appeasement before, 1939, wrongly, as I now think; I do not want to repeat the same mistake. |
In particular: | In particular: | ||
| − | A. I only advocated "some end scheme" as that of the Lilienthal Report; I should be glad to see any emendation that did not make it ineffective, but inspection is essential. | + | A. I only advocated "some end scheme" as that of the Lilienthal Report; I should be glad to see any emendation that did not make it ineffective, but inspection is essential. |
| − | B. I did not say that Russia is preparing an aggressive war; what I said implied rather that Russia expects to have to wage a defensive war. The line of action is the same in either case. | + | B. I did not say that Russia is preparing an aggressive war; what I said implied rather that Russia expects to have to wage a defensive war. The line of action is the same in either case. |
| − | C. I think it essential that America should assume leadership; without a leader nothing gets done, and without United States leadership all minor Powers will be too frightened to do anything. | + | C. I think it essential that America should assume leadership; without a leader nothing gets done, and without United States leadership all minor Powers will be too frightened to do anything. |
I have no objection to suggested changes as regards | I have no objection to suggested changes as regards | ||
D & F. | D & F. | ||
| − | |||
| − | I came to my present view of the Soviet Government when I went to Russia in 1920; all that has | + | Generally: I think it useless to make any attempt whatever to conciliate Russia. The hope of achieving anything by this method seems to me "wishful thinking". |
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| + | I came to my present view of the Soviet Government when I went to Russia in 1920; all that has happened since has made me feel more certain that I was right. | ||
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| + | The work of the Atomic Scientists of America seems to me most admirable, and I am the more sorry that I cannot collaborate in this matter. | ||
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| + | All best wishes | ||
| − | + | Yours sincerely | |
| − | + | /s/ Bertrand Russell | |
| − | Yours sincerely | + | |
| − | /s/ | + | |
Revision as of Apr 6, 2015 1:03:23 PM
COPY
Welbeck 5522
Ext. 81
27 Dorset House Gloucester Place N.W. 1
Nov. 24, 1947
Dear Einstein
Thank you for your letter of Nov. 19. I wish with all my heart that I could agree to the alterations you suggest. But your suggestions spring from an opinion different from mine and if I agreed, the article would no longer say what I believe. I have no hope of reasonableness in the Soviet government; I think the only hope of peace (and that a slender one) lies in frightening Russia. I favored appeasement before, 1939, wrongly, as I now think; I do not want to repeat the same mistake.
In particular:
A. I only advocated "some end scheme" as that of the Lilienthal Report; I should be glad to see any emendation that did not make it ineffective, but inspection is essential.
B. I did not say that Russia is preparing an aggressive war; what I said implied rather that Russia expects to have to wage a defensive war. The line of action is the same in either case.
C. I think it essential that America should assume leadership; without a leader nothing gets done, and without United States leadership all minor Powers will be too frightened to do anything.
I have no objection to suggested changes as regards
D & F.
Generally: I think it useless to make any attempt whatever to conciliate Russia. The hope of achieving anything by this method seems to me "wishful thinking".
I came to my present view of the Soviet Government when I went to Russia in 1920; all that has happened since has made me feel more certain that I was right.
The work of the Atomic Scientists of America seems to me most admirable, and I am the more sorry that I cannot collaborate in this matter.
All best wishes
Yours sincerely
/s/ Bertrand Russell