BRACERS Record Detail for 131609
To access the original letter, email the Russell Archives.
BR thanks Mikhailusenko for the 21 July 1962 letter (see record 84843). BR expresses sympathy with Mikhailusenko's point of view, but disagrees with policies of the USSR government. BR sends a copy of a leaflet for the 9 September 1962 demonstration in London.
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BR TO IGOR MIKHAILUSENKO, 26 JULY 1962
BRACERS 131609. TLS. Internet print
Proofread by K. Blackwell
From: The Earl Russell, O.M., F.R.S.
<letterhead>
Plas Penrhyn,
Penrhyndeudraeth,
Merioneth.1
26th July, 1962.
Mr. Igor Mikhailusenko,
24 Gorky Street,
Flat 10,
Moscow,
U.S.S.R.
Dear Mr. Mikhailusenko,
Thank you for your letter of July 21st. I was pleased to hear of your concern for the establishment of a peaceful world and, while I am not a complete pacifist, agree with you that a war with nuclear weapons would be a terrible catastrophe, which we must do all in our power to avoid.
While I feel sympathy with your own point of view, I quarrel strongly with the policies of your Government, and feel they are comparable in their irresponsibility to those of Great Britain and the United States. It is for this reason that I supported the recent demonstrations held by members of the Committee of 100 while attending the Moscow Disarmament Congress, and have protested vigorously when your Government have carried out nuclear tests.
While I appreciate the difficulties you face in the Soviet Union, I feel that people like yourself who appreciate the urgency of our present position must attempt to make their feelings known to governments and not fear to criticize them when they are wrong.
I am enclosing a copy of the leaflet we are issuing for our demonstration in London on September 9th.
With best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
<signed> Bertrand Russell
Bertrand Russell
- 1
[document] Proofread against an image of the original letter.
