Dinner at Banquet of Russian-American Club

Los Angeles. November 5, 1945

Ladies and Gentlemen: It has been a great pleasure to me to be here tonight, and to think again of some of the great Russian scientists - of Lomonosov, whom Professor Epstein will talk about tomorrow, Mendeleieff, who brought undreamed-of order into the whole field of chemistry, Federov, whose imagination and energy illuminated the science of crystallography, and such great contemporaries as Kapitza, who combines physics and engineering in a masterful way. And I hope that the world unity which characterizes the spirit of pure science will extend into human relationship generally. I am reminded of a comment of our youngest son Crellin. My wife said "I am going to study formal logic, to learn how to carry on an argument." Crellin, who is 8 years old, said "I know how to do that - you say 'Yeah?' 'Oh yeah.' 'Yeah?' 'Oh yeah.' 'Yeah?' 'Oh yeah!'"

Too much of international negotiation is of the "Oh Yeah" type - and too often it leads to combat. We must all strive for that great goal of world union - of perpetual amity between nations. And the goal is, I believe, in sight. Just because there have always been wars does not mean that there always will be wars. History is following the characteristic natural curve: increasing acceleration, and then asymptotic approach to the goal. History is now on the steep part of the curve; all that remains now is for the final steps to be taken, the steps that lead to union of the great powers, and the world will be safe forever, and we shall see the beginning of a new era of continuing peace and happiness.