这封信十分有名，因为它促使美国决定制造原子弹...... 一样是三流翻译，有翻错之处请见谅。 http://tinyurl.com/klykahv Sir: Some recent work by E.Fermi and L. Szilard, which has been communicated to me in manuscript, leads me to expect that the element uranium may be turned into a new and important source of energy in the im- mediate future. Certain aspects of the situation which has arisen seem to call for watchfulness and, if necessary, quick action on the part of the Administration. I believe therefore that it is my duty to bring to your attention the following facts and recommendations: 总统先生：近期Enrico Fermi和Leó Szilárd以信件向我沟通时，告知在即将不久的未 来里，元素铀将会成为一种新的能源来源。某些方面的情况已经上升到必须呼吁警觉的程 度。如果必要的话，请迅速管理这个部份。我相信，提醒您以下的事实与建议乃是我的职 责。 In the course of the last four months it has been made probable - through the work of Joliot in France as well as Fermi and Szilard in America - that it may become possible to set up a nuclear chain reaction in a large mass of uranium,by which vast amounts of power and large quantities of new radium-like elements would be generated. Now it appears almost certain that this could be achieved in the immediate future. 在过去四个月的过程中，法国的Jean Frédéric Joliot-Curie和美国的Enrico Fermi、 Leó Szilárd已经让这件事变成可能──使用大量的铀，进行一连串的核链锁反应，可 以产生大量的电和类镭元素。现在看来，在不久的未来里，这几乎可以肯定会实现。 This new phenomenon would also lead to the construction of bombs, and it is conceivable - though much less certain - that extremely powerful bombs of a new type may thus be constructed. A single bomb of this type, carried by boat and exploded in a port, might very well destroy the whole port together with some of the surrounding territory. However, such bombs might very well prove to be too heavy for transportation by air. 完全可以想像，这个新现象也可以利用於制作炸弹──虽然并非如此确定──可以制造一 种相当强力的炸弹。一颗这类炸弹，只要用船只运送到港口，就可能摧毁整个港口及周边 区域。然而，这类炸弹可能会被证实因为太过沉重而无法以飞机运送。 The United States has only very poor ores of uranium in moderate quantities. There is some good ore in Canada and the former Czechoslovakia. while the most important source of uranium is Belgian Congo. 美国只有非常少量、质量普通的铀矿。在加拿大和前捷克斯洛伐克都有相当好的铀矿，而 世界上最重要的铀来源是比利时属地刚果。 In view of the situation you may think it desirable to have more permanent contact maintained between the Administration and the group of physicists working on chain reactions in America. One possible way of achieving this might be for you to entrust with this task a person who has your confidence and who could perhaps serve in an inofficial capacity. His task might comprise the following: 在这种情况下，您可能需要与在美国的链锁反应物理学家进行更密切的接触与管理。对您 而言，要达成这件事的一种可能方法，是委托一位您信任的非官方人士来执行这项任务。 他的任务可能包含以下两点： a) to approach Government Departments, keep them informed of the further development, and put forward recommendations for Government action, giving particular attention to the problem of securing a supply of uranium ore for the United States; a.接近政府，让他们报告进一步的发展，并且对政府行动提出前瞻性建议，以及在确保 美国的铀矿供应问题上给予特别关注。 b) to speed up the experimental work,which is at present being carried on within the limits of the budgets of University laboratories, by providing funds, if such funds be required, through his contacts with private persons who are willing to make contributions for this cause, and perhaps also by obtaining the cooperation of industrial laboratories which have the necessary equipment. b.在大学实验室预算的限制范围之内，加快实验工作。提供必要的资金──如果某些资金 是必要的，与那些愿意在这个任务上做出贡献的私人做出接触，也许还需要和拥有必要设 备的工业实验室合作。 I understand that Germany has actually stopped the sale of uranium from the Czechoslovakian mines which she has taken over. That she should have taken such early action might perhaps be understood on the ground that the son of the German Under-Secretary of State, von Weizsäcker, is attached to the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institut in Berlin where some of the American work on uranium is now being repeated. 据我所知，德国已经禁止从他所占据的前捷克斯洛伐克出口铀矿。也许可以认为，德国副 国务卿之子，Carl Friedrich Freiherr von Weizsäcker，与位於Berlin的 Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institut有些关联，他正在重复美国人有关铀的研究。 Yours very truly, Albert Einstein 您真诚的Albert Einstein -- “听好，我的孩子，是伟人的话，只要忠告一次就会反省。是普通人的话，重复谏言二次 也会改正。而即使是较不成材的人，被说了三次也就会重新考虑。如此却仍不改变态度的 那种人，就可以置之罔顾了。” “不必做第四次的忠告吗？” “因为到了第四次，不是被放逐、下狱，要不就是被杀。所谓的昏君就是如此。所以第四 次的忠告不仅会危害自己，还会让对方多增罪过，对任何人都没有好处。” --

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