EMERGENCY COMMITTEE of ATOMIC SCIENTISTS INCORPORATED Room 28, 90 Nassau Street Princeton, New Jersey

Trustees Albert Einstein Chairman Harold C. Urey Vice-Chairman Hans A Bethe T. R. Hogness Philip M. Morse Linus Pauling Leo Szilard V.F. Weisskopf

January 15, 1947

Dear Friend:

  I write to you for help at the suggestion of a friend.  
  Through the release of atomic energy, our generation has brought into the world the most revolutionary force since prehistoric man's discovery of fire.  This basic power of the universe cannot be fitted into the outmoded concept of narrow nationalisms.  For there is no secret and there is no defense; there is no possibility of control except through the aroused understanding and insistence of the peoples of the world.  
  We scientists recognize our inescapable responsibility to carry to our fellow citizens an understanding of the simple facts of atomic energy and its implications for society.  In this lies our only security and our only hope - we believe that an informed citizenry will act for life and not for death.  
  We need $1,000,000 for this great educational task.  Sustained by faith in man's ability to control his destiny through the exercise of reason, we have pledged all our strength and our knowledge to this work.  I do not hesitate to call upon you to help.  
                  Faithfully yours,
                   A. Einstein 

AE/ef