first, the knowledge now possessed by several nations will eventually be shared by others, possibly all others.
second, even a vast superiority in numbers of weapons, and a consequent capability of devastating retaliation, is no preventive, of itself, against the fearful material damage and toll of human lives that would be inflicted by surprise aggression. the free world, at least dimly aware of these facts, has naturally embarked on a large program of warning and defense systems. that program will be accelerated and expanded. but let no one think that the expenditure of vast sums for weapons and systems of defense can guarantee absolute safety for the cities and citizens of any nation. the awful arithmetic of the atomic bomb does not permit of any such easy solution. even against the most powerful defense, an aggressor in possession of the effective minimum number of atomic bombs for a surprise attack could probably place a sufficient number of his bombs on the chosen targets to cause hideous damage.
should such an atomic attack be launched against the united states, our reactions would be swift and resolute. but for me to say that the defense capabilities of the united states are such that they could inflict terrible losses upon an aggressor, for me to say that the retaliation capabilities of the unites states are so great that such an aggressor’s land would be laid waste, all this, while fact, is not the true expression of the purpose and the hope of the united states.