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罗斯福——抓——原子弹
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Old Grove Rd.
Nassau Point
Peconic, Long Island
August 2nd 1939
F.D. RooseveltommonsbbfEinstein-Ro
President of the United States
White House
Washington, D.C.
Sir:
Some recent work by E.Fermi and L. Szilard, which has been communicated to me in manuscript,
leads me to expect that the element uranium may be turned into a new and important source of
energy in the immediate future. Certain aspects of the situation which has arisen seem to call for watchfulness and, if necessary, quick action on the part
of the Administration. I believe therefore that it is my duty to bring to your attention the following facts and recommendations:
In the course of the last four months it has been made probable – through the work of Joliot
in France as well as Fermi and Szilard in America –
that it may become possible to set up a nuclear
chain reaction in a large mass of uranium by which vast amounts of power and large quantities of new radium-like elements would be generated. Now it appears almost certain that this could
be achieved in the immediate future.
This new phenomenon would also lead to the construction of bombs, and it is conceivable –
though much less certain –
that extremely powerful bombs of a new type may thus be constructed. A single
bomb of this type, carried by boat and exploded in a port, might very well destroy the whole port
together with some of the surrounding territory. However, such bombs might very well prove to be too heavy for transportation by air.
The United States has only very poor ores of uranium in moderate quantities. There is some good ore in Canada and the former Czechoslovakia, while the most important source of uranium
is Belgian Congo.
In view of the situation you may think it desirable to have more permanent contact
maintained
between the Administration and the group of physicists working on chain reactions in America. One possible way of achieving this might be for you to entrust with this task a person who has
your confidence and who could perhaps serve in an inofficial capacity. His task might comprise
the following:
ommonsbbfEinstein-Ro
a) to approach Government Departments, keep them informed of the further development, and put forward recommendations for Government action, giving particular attention to the problem
of securing a supply of uranium ore for the United States;
b) to speed up the experimental work, which is at present being carried on within the limits of the budgets of University laboratories, by providing funds, if such funds be required, through
his contacts with private persons who are willing to make contributions
for this cause, and perhaps also by obtaining the co-operation of industrial laboratories which have the necessary equipment.
I understand that Germany has actually stopped the sale of uranium from the Czechoslovakian
mines which she has taken over. That she should have taken such early action might perhaps be understood on the ground that the son of the German Under-Secretary of State, von Weizsä
cker, is
attached to the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institut in Berlin where some of the American work on uranium is now being repeated.
Yours very truly,
[signed Albert Einstein]
(Albert Einstein)
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总统先生：
最近，费米和西拉德两位教授曾把他们的一些研究报告，以手抄本的形式送交我们。这些报告使
我们深信：不久的将来，铀将成为一种新的并且是极为重要的能源。根据目前某些方面的情况来看，
我们政府应该在这方面及时警觉，同时，在必要时得采取迅速行动。因此，我认为有责任提醒您注意下列的一些事实以及我的劝告。
在过去的四个月，由于砝国的约里奥·
居里和美国的费米及西拉德的努力，使得在大量的铀中能够引起一种链式核反应，大有实现的希望。在这种反应中，能产生极大的能量，同时也会产生大量新
的像镭一样的放射性元素。现在我们几乎可以确定，在不久的将来就能完成这种反应。
这种新现象同时也提示我们，可以制造一种新型炸弹。虽然把握较小，但这种想法还是可信的。
一颗这样的威力极大的新型炸弹，可用船舶将它运送到一个港口，并予以引爆。它的力量足够炸毁整个港口四周的一些地区。然而，可惜的是这些炸弹的重量太大，不便于空中运输。
在美国，仅有中等数量的贫铀矿，在加拿大和捷克有稍好一点的铀矿，而最好的铀矿是在刚果。
这样看来，也许您会想到，政府行政机构与在美国致力于链式反应研究的科学家之间，最好能有一些密切的联系。要达到这种目的的可能办法是您把这项任务委托给一个您所信任的人，最好他没有
官员的身份，他的工作可以包括下列数项：
（1）接近政府各部门，使它们知道进一步的研究发展，他对政府的决策提出建设性的意见，同时还要特别注意“维护铀矿在美国的供应”
。
（2）加速实验工作，目前进行实验工作的预算仅限于几个大学的实验室而已，为了加强实验工
作，我们可以准备基金（假使这笔基金的确需要的话）。通过这位 工作人员的关系首先可以向一些志
愿负担这笔费用的私人来借贷，其次我们争取一些工业实验室的合作，这些实验室都具有我们所需要
的设备。
据我所知，得国人在事实上已经停止出售他们接管的捷克铀矿开采出来的铀。他们如此的早期行
动，或者可被认为是由于得国副国务卿的儿子冯·韦斯里克任职于柏林威廉皇家学院，而这个学院里，和美国一样，铀的研究工作，正在反复地进行着。
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