30 PHENOMENA, ATOMS, AND MOLECULES 



If the Russian insecurity rises until it is comparable to that induced by 

 Hitler they might react much as they did then and put lo percent or more 

 of their national income into a huge atomic energy program while we 

 continue to spend 0.5 percent on bombs and might even dissipate our 

 energies in building a strong but obsolete navy, 



RUSSIAN ADVANTAGES IN AN ALL-OUT ATOMIC ARMAMENT RACE 



I believe the Russians may reach the second stage, that is, begin to 

 produce atomic bombs, in about three years. Thereafter, however, they 

 might produce bombs faster than we do and so be the first to reach stage 4. 

 In such a race they have certain advantages : they have a large population 

 which can be regimented and can sacrifice standards of living for a long- 

 range defense program ; they have a remarkable system of incentives 

 which is increasing their efficiency ; they have no unemployment and no 

 strikes ,' they have already started a more extensive science program than 

 that contemplated by any other government. In Russia they are frankly 

 incorporating into their communistic government some of the best features 

 of our capitalism while we tend to put into our democracy some of the 

 worst features of communism — now discarded in Russia. Thus the effi- 

 ciency of labor will increase in Russia while in America the stifling of 

 incentives through taxation, the regulation of industry, and unwise labor 

 legislation may impair our capacity to produce. We talk too much about 

 personal security and not enough about opportunity. 



I think the actions of the Soviet Union before, during, and after the 

 war have demonstrated that she has no desire for world conquest. She 

 wants primarily security through the destruction of Naziism. We should 

 find grounds for hope and optimism in the fact that the fundamental 

 interests of Russia and the United States are so nearly identical. 



We need, however, much better contacts with one another. Edgar 

 Snow, writing recently from Moscow, stated that there are only two 

 hundred sixty Americans in all the Soviet Union. Molotov said on 

 November 6: "Acquaintance with the life of other nations would certainly 

 be of benefit to our people and would broaden their outlook." I hope that 

 this marks the beginning of a new policy which will facilitate travel of 

 Russians to the United States and permit the circulation of American 

 newspapers and magazines in Russia. Another good sign is that English is 

 to be taught to all Russian children. 



Changes are taking place rapidly in Russia. Family life is now valued ; 

 divorces are hard to get. Efficiency of education has been improved by 

 having separate schools for boys and girls. Churches can be opened wher- 

 ever the people want them. 



The most important change is the abandonment of all plans for foster- 



