Radioactive Poison

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28896, 16 May 1959, Page 3

Radioactive Poison

Sir, —“8.1.H.*” cannot have it > both ways. Having conceded the . United Nations’ advice that man- : kind should “proceed with great ( caution” with nuclear explosions in view of the proved harmful effects of fall-out and our limited knowledge, he cannot accuse those who take the warning seriously of “hysteria.” He cannot logically regard this concern as an invitation to the Soviet to attack, since similar concern has been freely and publicly voiced by Soviet scientists and laymen. He agrees that nuclear war is “too terrible to contemplate” and proceeds to contemplate it—for without this final likelihood in view, a “nuclear deterrent” would not deter anyone. With a few powerful men in possession of weapons that could shatter civilisation, we must realise that we are all one human race, just as our ancestors, through the evil of baronial wars, had to realise they were one nation.— Yours, etc., ELSIE LOCKE. May 15, 1959.

Sir, —S. Grant’s contribution to the nuclear correspondence brings to mind an interesting point. Apart from such minor embarrassments as homestead demolition, an Hbomb attack on a modern city would result in a large number of its inhabitants being reduced to a quite unrecognisable condition, while a high proportion of survivors would suffer from obscure disorders for which the prognosis would be exceedingly poor. Assuming that the remainder were possessed of the inclination and

capacity to reproduce their kind, their progeny might exhibit certain undesirable characteristics due to the effects of radiation. It is, however, possible—and herein lies the interesting point—that highly desirable mutations would occur from which might arise a species worthy of the title Homosapiens. In view of this possibility, dull unimaginative people who view the prospect of nuclear warfare with equanimity might be well advised to reconsider their views.—Yours, etc., R. J. CRANE. May 15. 1959.