June 23, 1957
eeane ee nae me
PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
Dear Mr. Cousins:
I read with interest your letter of June seventh. It seems
to me that you have made a very personal interpretation of
prees conference statements which, even if furzy -- as you
imply -- in the first uttering, were certainly amplified
later in the same conferences to say exactly what I meant.
Of course I do not have the scientific competence to argue
one side or the other of the question of the ultimate effects
of radioactive fallout from bomb testings.
What I had te
say with respect to the composition of the signers of the
so-called "Pauling petition" was based on information
simtlar to that given in the attached tear sheet from the
"U. 8. News and World Report."
With respect to America's intentions and good will {n this
matter, I call your attention to the fact that as long ago as
1947, this country, then enjoying a monopoly in the field,
earnestly tried to put the whole development in the hands
of an international organisation and to insure that the
atomic sclence would be forever devoted to man's better ment.
You may examine my own public statements over the past
five years and find no wavering from this position, I ask -as I believe any reasonable American should ask -- only
some assurances that we are not exposing ourselves unnecessarily to unacceptable risks in the military fleld.
cue ae
Sincerely,
:
oy
Seoaett
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OTATUS VERIFIED UNCLASSIFIED
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PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
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Mr. Norman Cousins
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