To Stop Bomb Tests

To the N. Y. Herald Tribune:

Marguerite Higgins' premise
that "the nuclear fallout, contro-
versy . . . is a matter of poli-
tics and sociology rather than
science" is not valid, and this
makes most of the rest of her
article irrelevant and mislead-
ing. The `Peal experts in the
field-strategists and diplomats"
are here misusing the work of
the scientist-and this applies
to the Russians, as weI1.  Only
the scientist is qualified to warn
the world of the dangers in the
misuse of his discovery, dangers
which it is convenient for the
"strategist and the diplomat" to
ignore.

True, scientists are divided on
just how close humanity is to
the brink of disaster and untold
misery, because information on
harmful doses of radiation to
human beings and the magni-
tude of the danger from fallout
is still so limited.  All scientists
are agreed, however, that there
are potential dangers to man-
kind, and that the danger will
increase if the tests continue. If
the "strategists and diplomats''
wait until their scientific col-
leagues have the proof, what will
the policies of the "strategists
and diplomats" be worth to a
doomed, decaying, and disinte-
grating humanity?  If it is not
already too late, the alternative
is simple: An immediate, negoti-
ated, controlled cessation of the
tests.

MICHAEL HEIDELBERGER.

New Brunswick, N. J., June

12, 1957.