The sincerity of Compton's concern is... highly questionable. http://www.dannen.com/decision/scipanel.html …pic.twitter.com/STtDA7KmRX
Memo by Arthur Compton, May 28, 1945: "[the atomic bomb] introduces the question of mass slaughter, really for the first time in history."pic.twitter.com/ESmibmyJ8I
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I don't doubt his sincerity, but I agree the memo raises lots of interesting questions. (Which is why I really wanted to track it down!)
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Seriously? Compton undercut the efforts of scientists holding those views, and lied about them in his book Atomic Quest.
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I think Compton (and Stimson, and Conant) were trying to thread a pretty tight needle. Didn't quite pull it off, to be sure.
End of conversation
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"First time in history", except for all the other times. Including simultaneously/contemporaneous to the writing, across all of Europe.
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That's a stunning letter--mind sharing which archive?
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Mr Compton clearly never heard of the Mongols.
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