J Robert Oppenheimer & Albert Einstein:

TOP SECRET

DRAFT June 1947

Relationships with Inhabitants
of Celestrial Bodies

Relationships with extraterrestrial men presents
no basically new problem from the standpoint of international
law: but the possibility of confronting intelligent beings
that do not belong to the human race would bring us problems
whose solution it is difficult to conceive.

In principle, there is no difficulty in accepting the
possibility of coming to an understanding with them, and of
establishing all kinds of relationships. The difficulty lies
in trying to establish the principles on which these
relationships should be based.

In the first place, it would be necessary to establish
communication with them through some language or other, and
afterwards, as a first condition for all intelligence, that
they should have a psychology similar to that of men.

At any rate, international law should make place for
a new law on a different basis, and it might be called "Law
Among Planetary Peoples", following the guidelines found in
the Pentateuch. Obviously, the idea of revolutionizing
international law to the point where it would be capable of
coping with situations would compel us to make a change
in its structure, a change so basic that it would no longer
be international law, that is to say, as it is conceived
today, but something altogether different, so that it could
no longer bear the same name.

If these intelligent beings were in possession of a
more or less culture, and a more or less perfect political
organization, they would have an absolute right to be
recognised as independent and sovereign peoples, we would
have to come to an agreement with them to establish the
legal regulations upon which future relationships should be
based, and it would be necessary to accept many of their
principles.

Finally, if they should reject all peaceful
cooperation and become an imminent threat to the earth, we
would have the right to legitimate defense, but only insofar
as would be necessary to annul this danger.

*****

Another possibility may exist, that a species of homo
sapiens might have established themselves as an independent
nation on another celestrial body in our solar system and

-1-

evolved culturally independently from ours. Obviously, this
possibility depends on many circumstances, whose conditions
cannot yet be foreseen. However, we can make a study of the
basis on which such a thing might have occurred.

In the first place, living conditions on these bodies
lets say the moon, or the planet Mars, would have to be such
as to permit a stable, and to a certain extent, independent
life, from an economic standpoint. Much has been speculated
about the possibilities for life existing outside of
our atmosphere and beyond, always hypothetically, and there are
those who go so far as to give formulas for the creation of
an artificial atmosphere on the moon, which undoubtedly have
a certain scientific foundation, and which may one day come
to light. Let's assume that magnesium silicates on the moon
may exist and contain up to 13 percent water. Using energy
and machines brought to the moon, perhaps from a space station,
the rocks could be broken up, pulverized, and then backed to
drive of the water of crystallization. This could be collected
and then decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen, using an electric
current or the short wave radiation of the sun. The oxygen
could be used for breathing purposes; the hydrogen might be
used as a fuel.

In any case, if no existence is possible on celestrial
bodies except for enterprises for the exploration of their
natural riches, with a continuous interchange of the men who
work on them, unable to establish themselves there indefinitely
and be able to live isolated life, independence will never
take place.

*****

Now we come to the problem of determining what to
do if the inhabitants of celestrial bodies, or extraterrestrial
biological entities (EBE) desire to settle here.

1. If they are politically organised and possess a
certain culture similar to our own, they may be recognised as
a independent people. They could consider what degree of
development would be required on earth for colonizing.

2. If they consider our culture to be devoid of political
unity, they would have the right to colonize. Of course, this
colonization cannot be conducted on classic lines.

A superior form of colonizing will have to be conceived,
that could be a kind of tutelage, possibly through the tacit
approval of the United Nations. But would the United Nations
legally have the right of allowing such tutelage over us in such
a fashion?
-2-

(a) Although the United Nations is an
international organisation, there is no doubt that it would
have no right of tutelage, since its domain does not extend
beyond relationships between its members. It would have the
right to intervene only if the relationships of a member
nation with a celestrial body affected another member nation
with an extraterrestrial people is beyond the domain of the
United Nations. But if these relationships entailed a
conflict with another member nation, the United Nations would
have the right to intervene.

(b) If the United Nations were a supra-national
organisation, it would have competency to deal with all
problems related to extraterrestrial peoples. Of course,
even though it is merely an international organization, it
could have this competence if its member states would be
willing to recognise it.

*****

It is difficult to predict what the attitude of
international law will be with regard to the occupation by
celestrial peoples of certain locations on our planet, but
the only thing that can be foreseen is that there will be
a profound change in traditional concepts.

We cannot exclude the possibility that a race of
extraterrestrial people more advanced technologically and
economically may take upon itself the right to occupy
another celestrial body. How, then, would this occupation
come about?

1. The idea of exploitation by one celestrial
state would be rejected, they may think it would be advisable
to grant it to all others capable of reaching another
celestrial body. But this would be to maintain a situation
of privilege for these states.

2. The division of a celestrial body into zones
and the distribution of them among other celestrial states.
This would present the problem of distribution. Moreover,
other celestrial states would be deprived of the possibility
of owning an area, or if they were granted one it would
involve complicated operations.

3. Indivisible co-sovereignty, giving each celestrial
state the right to make whatever use is most convenient to
its interests, independently of the others. This would
create a situation of anarchy, #@ the strongest one would
win out in the end.

4. A moral entity? The most feasible solution it

-3-

seems would be this one, submit an agreement providing for the
peaceful absorption of a celestrial race(S) in such a manner
that our culture would remain intact with guarantees that
their presence not be revealed.

Actually, we do not believe it necessary to go that
far. It would merely be a matter of internationalizing
celestrial peoples, and creating an international treaty
instrument preventing exploitation of all nations belonging
to the United Nations.

*****

[SNIP!]

Respectfully,

/s/

Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer

Director of Advanced Studies
Princeton, New Jersey

/s/

Professor Albert Einstein
Princeton, New Jersey

here

Clear Channel debuts QUICK 106 in Portland

Snorting Vodka is absolutely happening

J Robert Oppenheimer & Albert Einstein: