6 October 1958
Dr. R. R. Williams
297 Summit Avenue
Summit, New Jersey
Dear Dr. Williams:
I have been disturbed to read your letter of 20 August, about my book No More War!.
You say that you have the feeling that I have exaggerated both the extent and certainty
of radiation damage to the world population from a nuclear test. I think that if
you will compare what I have written with the statements made in the report of the
United Nations committee you will find that my statements are in essentially complete
agreement with the statements of this committee, which, I think, have to be taken
as the most authoritative of the statements made so far.
I must say that I resent your including in your letter a statement to the effect that
I have followed the communist party line, inasmuch as this is a statement that, if
made in public, would render you subject to a libel suit. If you had said that I
follow the Christian line - that is, that what I advocate is what Christ has advocated,
I would agree with you. It is clear, however, that I do not follow the communist
party line; communist Russia, together with all other nations in the world, relies
upon force, and opposes justice and morality as the basis for settlement of disputes
between nations.
Yours truly,
Linus Pauling:JH
