We must remember that we do not possess the bomb but are only developing it, and Russia has received, through indiscretion, _the most valuable hint that our experts believe the development possible_. Perhaps the development of the hydrogen bomb has already been under way in Russia for some time. But if it was not, our decision to develop it must have started the Russians on the same program. If they had already a going program, they will redouble their efforts. Statements in the press have given the power of the H-bomb as between two and 1,000 times that of the present fission bomb. Actually, the thermonuclear reaction on which the H-bomb is based is limited in its power only by the amount of hydrogen which can be carried in the bomb. Even if the power were limited to 1,000 times that of a present atomic bomb, the step from an A-bomb to an H-bomb would be as great as that from an ordinary TNT bomb to the atom bomb. To create such an ever-present danger for all the nations of the world is against the vital interests of both Russia and the United States. Three prominent Senators have called for renewed efforts to eliminate this weapon and other weapons of mass destruction from the arsenals of all nations. Such efforts should be made, and made in all sincerity from both sides. In the meantime, we urge that the United States, through its elected government, make a solemn declaration that we shall never use this bomb first. Before discussing in detail the merits of the proposal that the United States renounce the use of the H-bomb, “no matter how righteous its cause,” except in retaliation for its use against us or our allies, it behooves us to examine the effect of our decisions to proceed with the development of the H-bomb on Russia’s A-bomb progress. We know that the H-bomb requires an A-bomb for its trigger. We also have strong grounds for assuming that, in addition to the A-bomb, an H-bomb will require certain quantities of tripleweight hydrogen, or tritium, as extra superkindling to boost the A-bomb. We know, furthermore, that it takes eighty times as many neutrons to make a given quantity of tritium as it does to make a corresponding amount of plutonium, which, of course, means a reduction in A-bombs.