Abstract
Sir Charles Darwin opened a discussion on “Atomic Energy and the Veto” which formed part of the programme of a meeting of the Atomic Scientists' Association held at Oxford on September 20. He said he wanted to examine carefully the grounds on which a case might be built for treating atomic energy in a different way from other armaments, in the setting up of the proposed Atomic Development Administration and in its freedom from the veto. This he analysed coldly under seven headings: (1) pure military, (2) novelty, (3) mass destruction, (4) start of war, (5) treachery, (6) scale effect and (7) feasibility. Under the first three headings he found no reason for special treatment; but under the last three he found there is a definite case. The strongest argument is the unanimous report of the Atomic Energy Technical Committee of the United Nations Organisation that international control is, in fact, a workable proposition from a technical point of view. Sir Charles discussed the seven headings in some detail. In relation to (1), he said he thought that the atomic bomb is not a ‘good weapon’. Although it would certainly be effective for use on naval bases, he did not believe it would be used for land warfare. In relation to (4), he said that although the bomb could deliver a tremendous blow, it could not prevent retaliation in kind, which he thought might act as a severe deterrent to its use. With regard to (5), he stressed the possible use of the bomb as a secret weapon of treachery by an unidentifiable third party in a dispute.
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International Control of Atomic Energy. Nature 160, 460 (1947). https://doi.org/10.1038/160460a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/160460a0