BRACERS Record Detail for 132432

To access the original letter, email the Russell Archives.

Collection code
RA3
Recent acquisition no.
1831
Source if not BR
Internet print from K. Blackwell
Recipient(s)
Silverstein, Louis
Sender(s)
BR
Date
1961/03/29
Full date (Estimate)
1961/03/29
Form of letter
TLS(DX)
Pieces
1
BR's address code (if sender)
PP
Notes and topics

"As for Mr. Kennedy's administration--we must wait to see what it does; so far, what we see is Laos and more Polaris missiles. The spread of nuclear weapons to new Powers immensely increases the danger of nuclear war and therefore the likelihood of disaster. Chemical and biological warfare are as much to be condemned as nuclear warfare. The only answer to all dangers is the outlawing of war." BR encloses a copy (not present) of a recent speech. In a postscript he states: "Kindly note that I do not advocate unilateral nuclear disarmament for the U.S." 

The missing enclosure was BR's first Birmingham speech of 1961, titled in the pamphlet published later Win We Must. The letter was offered in this auction: Bid Now: RUSSELL, BERTRAND. Typed Letter Signed, to "Dear Mr. Silverstein," - June 4, 0121 10:30 AM EDT (invaluable.com).

Record 29263 is a typed carbon of this letter, and record 127129 is its dictation, dated 3 days earlier.

Transcription

BR TO LOUIS SILVERSTEIN, 29 MAR. 1961
BRACERS 132432. TLS. Internet print
Proofread by K. Blackwell


from: The Earl Russell, O.M.,F.R.S.,1
<letterhead>
Plas Penrhyn,
Penrhyndeudreath,
Merioneth.
29 March, 1961.

Dear Mr. Silverstein,

Thank you for your letter of February. I enclose a copy of a speech that I recently made at Birmingham which will answer some of your questions. As for Mr. Kennedy’s administration — we must wait to see what it does; so far, what we see is Laos and more Polaris missiles. The spread of nuclear weapons to new Powers immensely increases the danger of nuclear war and therefore the likelihood of disaster. Chemical and biological warfare are as much to be condemned as nuclear warfare. The only answer to all dangers is the outlawing of war.

Yours sincerely,
<signed> Bertrand Russell
Bertrand Russell

P.S.: Kindly note that I do not advocate unilateral nuclear disarmament for the U.S.

  • 1

    [document] Proofread from a digital facsimile of the original.

Publication
Re B&R A116
Permission
Everyone
Image
Transcription Public Access
Yes
Record no.
132432
Record created
May 29, 2021
Record last modified
May 16, 2026
Created/last modified by
blackwk