Who Wants the Atom Bomb?

Faced with the question ‘Are you against use of the atom bomb?’ there is hardly a man in the world who would fail to answer ‘Yes!’ The uncertainties and disagreements arise only when a further question is asked: ‘What effective means do you advocate against its use?’ Would the mere prohibition accepted and endorsed by all sovereign states in a solemn international conference constitute such a means? I presume that everyone agrees in believing that an international accord simply forbidding the signatory states to resort to use of the atom bomb would be just one of those pieces of paper destined to end up in the waste paper basket, should the need to apply its clauses arise. A renewed Kellog Pact outlawing states and men guilty of fabricating and using the atom bomb would be signed by all states without any hesitation; but this would do little to dispel the grave concern that pervades all peoples at the mere thought that despite this prohibition, fabrication of the deadly device is continuing. On the contrary, there would be increasing suspicion that some state with evil designs, confident of the good faith of others, might well be preparing to launch an unanticipated assault on the adversary. In other words, it is hard to distinguish the advocates from the adversaries of the atom bomb merely on the basis that the former refuse and the latter agree to sign a protocol banning atomic weapons. Someone who has happened to sign a manifesto against use of the atom bomb has no reason to brand another person who refused to sign the manifesto an enemy of mankind and vile promoter of the use of this most deadly of weapons.