Scripto | Revision Difference | Transcription

B. L. Professor Harold C. Urey -2- July 2, 1947

potential dangers to civilization that are inherent in this same development. If the stress is laid on the beneficial side, and the opposite side of the picture is only brought in surreptitiously and incidentally, I can not see how you could fail to arouse wide-spread interest, particularly in this nation. The popular support which you need would then follow automatically.

At a time when people seek relief after a war, it is natural that they turn away and refuse to consider the still greater horrors that the figure may have in store for them, and it is I think in the circumstances perfectly legitimate to reach them over the more accessible road of popular interest in the prospects of great and startling developments to our material advantage. Some of the books published have, of course, helped and it would seem to be, therefore, that one could be rather certain that, if the same sort of fare were served out in small doses in the newspapers, it would be very eagerly and readily digested by the public. Those who are not interested in popularized science often turn away from such books even if they concern a subject about which they are curious, but I feel sure they would not balk at a properly presented newspaper column. I realize that it is almost certain that you have considered some such plan as this, and that it may have been impossible for some reason to realize it. I nevertheless felt I wanted to make sure by putting these lines before you.

I take this opportunity to send you a further contribution to your fund which I have had in mind and enclose my check for $20.00

Sincerely yours, Bertil Lind

BL:B Encl.