nMay 9
nThe Interim
Committee meets for the first time. Its
purpose
is “to study and report on the
whole problem of temporary war controls and later publicity, and to
survey and make recommendations on post war research, development and
controls, as well as legislation necessary to effectuate
them.” The Interim Committee appoints a Scientific Panel,
which included Oppenheimer, Lawrence, Fermi and Compton.
nMay 25
nLeo Szilard visits
White House with letter of introduction from Albert Einstein to warn
President Truman of the dangers atomic weapons pose
for the post-War world and to urge him not to authorize
use of atomic weapons against Japan. Szilard is referred Matthew J. Connelly,
Truman’s appointments
secretary, to James Byrnes in Spartanburg, South Carolina.