愛因斯坦給羅斯福的信(中英文對照)
愛因斯坦給羅斯福的信(中英文對照)
1939年8月2日,愛因斯坦出于對希特勒下令研制原子彈的憂慮,希望促使美國先于納粹得國造出原子彈,于是就此事致信美國總統(tǒng)羅斯福。下面是學習啦小編跟大家分享的愛因斯坦給羅斯福的信,歡迎大家來閱讀學習。
信件原文
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 Weizsäcker, 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)
參考譯文
總統(tǒng)先生:
最近,費米和西拉德兩位教授曾把他們的一些研究報告,以手抄本的形式送交我們。這些報告使我們深信:不久的將來,鈾將成為一種新的并且是極為重要的能源。根據(jù)目前某些方面的情況來看,我們政府應該在這方面及時警覺,同時,在必要時得采取迅速行動。因此,我認為有責任提醒您注意下列的一些事實以及我的勸告。
在過去的四個月,由于砝國的約里奧·居里和美國的費米及西拉德的努力,使得在大量的鈾中能夠引起一種鏈式核反應,大有實現(xiàn)的希望。在這種反應中,能產(chǎn)生極大的能量,同時也會產(chǎn)生大量新的像鐳一樣的放射性元素?,F(xiàn)在我們幾乎可以確定,在不久的將來就能完成這種反應。
這種新現(xiàn)象同時也提示我們,可以制造一種新型炸彈。雖然把握較小,但這種想法還是可信的。一顆這樣的威力極大的新型炸彈,可用船舶將它運送到一個港口,并予以引爆。它的力量足夠炸毀整個港口四周的一些地區(qū)。然而,可惜的是這些炸彈的重量太大,不便于空中運輸。
在美國,僅有中等數(shù)量的貧鈾礦,在加拿大和捷克有稍好一點的鈾礦,而最好的鈾礦是在剛果。
這樣看來,也許您會想到,政府行政機構(gòu)與在美國致力于鏈式反應研究的科學家之間,最好能有一些密切的聯(lián)系。要達到這種目的的可能辦法是您把這項任務委托給一個您所信任的人,最好他沒有官員的身份,他的工作可以包括下列數(shù)項:
(1)接近政府各部門,使它們知道進一步的研究發(fā)展,他對政府的決策提出建設性的意見,同時還要特別注意“維護鈾礦在美國的供應”。
(2)加速實驗工作,目前進行實驗工作的預算僅限于幾個大學的實驗室而已,為了加強實驗工作,我們可以準備基金(假使這筆基金的確需要的話)。通過這位 工作人員的關系首先可以向一些志愿負擔這筆費用的私人來借貸,其次我們爭取一些工業(yè)實驗室的合作,這些實驗室都具有我們所需要的設備。
據(jù)我所知,得國人在事實上已經(jīng)停止出售他們接管的捷克鈾礦開采出來的鈾。他們?nèi)绱说脑缙谛袆?,或者可被認為是由于得國副國務卿的兒子馮·韋斯里克任職于柏林威廉皇家學院,而這個學院里,和美國一樣,鈾的研究工作,正在反復地進行著。
相關評論
1939年8月2日,愛因斯坦出于對希特勒下令研制原子彈的憂慮,希望促使美國先于納粹德國造出原子彈,于是就此事致信美國總統(tǒng)羅斯福。羅斯福經(jīng)過全盤考慮,以4億美元預算,啟動了曼哈頓工程。到1945年為止,曼哈頓工程實際已耗資20億美元,并一度消耗著美國1/4的電力資源。
愛因斯坦簽署的信是擬好了,可是要把信送到總統(tǒng)手里,并說服當權(quán)者將巨額投資放到一項沒有把握的冒險的浩繁工程上,恐怕不是輕易能做到的。
1939年10月11日,總統(tǒng)的經(jīng)濟顧問薩克斯終于得到了親自向羅斯福總統(tǒng)遞呈這封信的機會。這封信已經(jīng)在他手里壓了將近10個星期。其間,第二次世界大戰(zhàn)已在歐洲爆發(fā)。為了使總統(tǒng)了解全面情況而又不致使此信件積壓等候處理,薩克斯當面向總統(tǒng)匯報了情況??墒橇_斯福已經(jīng)很疲倦。他向薩克斯說,這些都是很有趣的事,不過政府在現(xiàn)階段就干預此事,看來還為時過早。顯然,羅斯福是想推掉這件事。但是,當薩克斯要離開的時候,總統(tǒng)為了表示歉意而約他第二天早晨來共進早餐。
薩克斯一整夜沒合眼。他在旅館的房間里來回踱著,長時間地思索著怎樣說服總統(tǒng)從而得到他的支持。
看來,重溫歷史的教訓是有益的,薩克斯這樣想。
第二天早晨,薩克斯來到了白宮。羅斯福一見面就開玩笑地問道:“你又有了什么絕妙的想法嗎?”薩克斯鼓足了勇氣回答道:“我想向您講一段歷史?!苯又驼f:“在拿破侖戰(zhàn)爭時代,有一個年輕的美國發(fā)明家福爾頓來到了這位砝國皇帝面前,建議建立一支由蒸汽機艦艇組成的艦隊。他說,這樣的艦隊,無論什么天氣 都能在英國登陸。拿破侖想,軍艦沒有帆能走嗎?這簡直不可思議,因此竟把福爾頓趕了出去。根據(jù)英國歷史學家阿克頓爵士的意見,這是由于敵人缺乏見識而使英國得到幸免的一個例子;如果當時拿破侖稍稍動一動腦筋,再慎重考慮一下,那么19世紀的歷史進程也許完全會是另外一個樣子?!?/p>
歷史的進程是否真如阿克頓估計的那樣,當然并非如此。但此時此刻,經(jīng)濟顧問的話確實提醒了總統(tǒng)。
羅斯福沉默了幾分鐘。然后吩咐仆人拿來了一瓶拿破侖時代的砝國白蘭地與薩克斯碰杯。隨后說了一句:“阿列克塞,你有把握不讓納粹分子把我們炸掉,是嗎?”薩克斯回答說:“是這樣?!比缓罂偨y(tǒng)就把自己的隨員沃特遜將軍叫來,指著薩克斯帶來的信件說:“帕阿(沃特遜的綽號),對此事要立即采取行動!
行動馬上開始了,潘多拉的魔盒終于打開了!
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