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Oregon State System of Higher Education Libraries

Oregon State College Oregon College of Education Eastern Oregon College of Education University of Oregon University of Oregon Medical School Southern Oregon College of Education

Office of the Director Corvallis, Oregon

January 30, 1947

Mr. Albert Einstein Emergency Committee of Atomic Scientists Room 28, 90 Nassau Street Princeton, New Jersey

Dear Mr. Einstein:

In response to your invitation of January 22, I am enclosing my check for $5 as a modest contribution toward your efforts to promote understanding of atomic energy and its implications for all of us. I must say, however, that I have little hope that any fund of $1,000,000 can effectively bring to people everywhere the wisdom and understanding which is needed to turn this marvelous new discovery to good uses rather than evil.

I do not believe that our citizens here in America need much education or selling on the terrible effectiveness of atomic energy in bomb form. I feel, too, that the important thing for most of us is not to understand the scientific principles of atomic energy, but only to be aware of their implications and this, I believe, most Americans already are. It seems to me that the real need for an educational program lies in those countries where the majority of people are too uneducated and illiterate to understand the implications of atomic energy and in those countries where freedom of speech and press is not permitted. No matter how well we under-stand atomic energy and its implications in America, we shall still be in danger until such time as all other important countries of the world also understand it.

It seems to me that the fundamental issue which atomic energy places be-fore all men, in America and elsewhere, is the elimination of greed and fear from the minds of all of us; and here we in America are probably as much to blame and as much in need as any other nation in the world. I see little hope that these two fundamental motivations, which we have brought up with us from the jungle and which have been productive of so much that is evil, can be eradicated from the mind of mankind. They could be, I think if all the wonderful possibilities of modern science should be turned directly to the benefit of mankind in the mass. Promotion of any such utopia, however, is a matter requiring billions and not millions.

I am afraid therefore that your Committee and all of us are only grasping at straws. I sincerely hope that I am wrong.

Very truly yours, Wm. H. Carlson Director of Libraries

WHC/dh Encl.