It may very well be that the decision of the President whether or not to use atomic bombs in the war against Japan will largely be based on considerations of expediency. On the basis of expediency, many arguments could be put forward both for and against our use of atomic bombs against Japan. . . .
I personally feel that it would be a matter of importance if a large number of scientists who have worked in this field went clearly and unmistakably on record as to their opposition on moral grounds to the use of these bombs in the present phase of the war. . . .
The fact that the people of the United States are unaware of the choice which faces us increases our responsibility in this matter since those who have worked on "atomic power" represent a sample of the population and they alone are in a position to form an opinion and declare their stand.
from Edward Teller's
response to Leo Szilard
First of all let me say that I have no hope of clearing my conscience. The things we are working on are so terrible that no amount of protesting or fiddling with politics will save our souls. . . . If we have a slim chance of survival, it lies in the possibility to get rid of wars. The more decisive a weapon is the more surely it will be used in any real conflict and no agreements will help.
Our only hope is in getting the facts of our results before the people. This might help to convince everybody that the next war would be fatal. For this purpose actual combat use might even be the best thing.
And this brings me to the main point. The accident that we worked out this dreadful thing should not give us the responsibility of having a voice in how it is to be used. This responsibility must in the end be shifted to the people as a whole and that can be done only by making the facts known. . . . My understanding is that this will be done as soon as the military situation permits it.
Multiple Choice Question
Based on the excerpt from Teller's response, what did Teller believe about nuclear weapons?
A.
that they should never be used in war
B.
that they might lead to the end of all war
C.
that they were needed to end World War II
D.
that they must be kept secret from the public
1 answer
The correct answer based on the excerpt from Teller's response is:
B. that they might lead to the end of all war
Teller suggests that the decisive nature of nuclear weapons might help convince people that the next war would be fatal, implying that their existence could potentially lead to a reduction or end of conflicts in the future.
