nJune 11
nThe Franck
Committee on the social and political implications of the atomic bomb,
headed by Nobel Laureate James Franck, issues a report advising
against a surprise atomic bombing of Japan.
The report states, “If we consider
international agreement on total prevention of nuclear warfare
as the paramount objective…this kind of
introduction of atomic weapons to the world may easily destroy all our
chances of success.” The report correctly predicts that dropping an
atomic bomb “will mean a flying start
toward an unlimited armaments race.”
nJune 14
nThe Franck
Committee Report – with its recommendation that
bomb
be demonstrated to Japan before being used on civilians – is taken by Compton to Los
Alamos, and copies were given to Fermi, Lawrence and
Oppenheimer. June 16
nCompton, Fermi,
Lawrence and Oppenheimer conclude: “We can propose no
technical demonstration likely to bring an end to the war; we see no
acceptable alternative to direct military use.”