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Crowe, Marguerite O'Loghlin, July 4, 1947.
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II Woodlawn Avenue, Albany, New York. July 4, 1947
Professor Albert Einstein, Institute for Advanced Studies, Princeton, New Jersey.
Dear Professor Einstein:
I have received your letter requesting contributions to the fund for the campaign of education to ensure that atomic energy will be used for useful purposes and not for the destruction of mankind. I enclose a small contribution to this fund.
I have a deep conviction that we are in great and immediate peril. The Political and Military minds are entirely incapable of consummating a durable peace. The Foreign Ministers Conferences have failed and will continue to fail in their peace efforts as long as we hold and continue to make stockpiles of the Atomic Bomb.
Certain physicists are responsible for this World Dilemma since they have contributed their efforts to building these stockpiles. The men and women of good will amongst the physicists of the world should take active and forceful measures to rid the world of the Fear that has been brought into being by the Menace of the Bomb. It will take time to organize a World Government and to establish controls of nuclear fission energy;but the Peril we face is immediate and the urgency for the resolution of this problem is great. If a great majority of the physicists in the world would refuse to take any part in the fabrication of the atom bomb, the world would be relieved from the intolerable tension that now grips it.
I urge you to use your influence to bring about immediately an International Congress of Physicists consisting of the memberships of the National Physical Societies of all nations including Russia. In this Congress all physicists could be persuaded and be free to pledge themselves not to take part in any project involving the use of nuclear fission energy for destructive purposes, and should recommend the destruction of existing stockpiles of bombs. The American Institute of Physics could be instrumental in calling this Congress. Thus, the jockeying for advantageous positions for their separate nations in Power Politics on the part of the Politicians and the Militarists of the world might be hatled or, at least be rendered less dangerous.
Albert A. Michelson was my guide and teacher in my youth and he was also your friend. I think that, if he were living, he would support me in this request I make of you. There is Loyalty above all loyalties * * * THE LOYALTY WE ALL OWE TO THE HUMAN RACE * * *
The politicians and the militarists are tolling the DEATH KNELL for all the world while some of the physicists stany by and do their bidding and all too many do not raise their voices in protest against the immorality of engaging in this WORK OF DESTRUCTION. I am not willing to be led like a lamb to slaughter without making a vigorous protest.
Very sincerely yours,
Marguerite O'Loghlin Crowe.