- NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY 171

capabilities are now greater than the public believe, (2) the capabili-
ties of Western Europe are very low, (8) our own efforts are inade-
quate, and (4) there is a relation between confidence and security. One
question that arises then is should the situation be stated frankly?
Dr. Oppenheimer expressed the hope that the group’s work would
result in making the American people aware of the facts. He said
that those in Europe already know them. He admitted a connection
between morale and material power, but expressed the belief that the
connection was not too close. Mr. Nitze asked if the brutal facts would
not have to be coupled with the answer or at least the direction of the
answer, and Dr. Oppenheimer suggested that an attempt not be made
to give a complete answer.
' Dr. Oppenheimer wondered if the paper would present a a recog-
nizable picture to the average citizen of the Soviet Union and asked
if we were so sure that the comparison was one between jet black and
pure white. Mr. Nitze: said he didn’t think that we had given that
impression.

Dr. Oppenheimer said that if one is honest the most probable view
of the future is that of war, exploding atomic bombs, death, and the
end of most freedom. The people must see this and only then will
they do what must be done. The grave responsibility of the Govern-
ment is to let the people see and to undo the comfortable view of the
future. We are not able to defend Europe and the possibility exists
that if war came one of the first things that would happen would be
the end of Paris. Dr. Oppenheimer admitted the dilemma that if we
now renounce first use of the atomic bomb that itself might be the
end of Europe, but he repeated the suggestion that we might now be
able to so conduct ourselves that in five years we could renounce first.
use. Mr. LeBaron. pointed out that the opposite was possible as in
five years it might be recognized clearly that Europe is indefensible..

In reply to several questions as to what we can do to help Europe
and reduce the strength of Russia, Dr. Oppenheimer said that prob-
ably the first thing is to stand as an example which will i inspire those
who are drifting toward a concept of nuetrality. We must give back
to France the hope that they gave to us and the rest.of the world in
the age of enlightenment. We must demonstrate that human life can
be better. This calls for a new creative job which will be. applicable |
to the twentieth century rather than to the eighteenth, Mr. LeBaron
echoed the thought that we must have something new in order to stop
going down hill. He suggested that the people must come to this con-
viction by themselves. Dr. Oppenheimer said that: the basis of that
conviction is an understanding of the facts, and that the facts must
be placed in the public domain. Mr. LeBaron.-said that it was dis-