Here, then, is the problem which I present to you, stark and dreadful and inescapable:

这里，我要向你提起一个直率的、令人不快而又无法回避的问题：

Shall we put an end to the human race1 or shall mankind renounce war?

我们该消灭人类，还是人类该抛弃战争？

People will not face this alternative because it is so difficult to abolish war.

人们不愿面对这个抉择，因为消灭战争太难了。

The abolition of war will demand distasteful limitations of national sovereignty.

消灭战争要求限制国家主权，这令人反感。

But what perhaps impedes understanding of the situation more than anything else is that the term 'mankind' feels vague and abstract.

然而人类这个专门名词给人们的感觉是模糊、抽象的，它可能比任何其他东西都更容易妨碍认识这种形势。

People scarcely realize in imagination that the danger is to themselves and their children and their grandchildren,

人们几乎没有用自己的想象力去认识这种危险不仅指向他们所模模糊糊理解的人类，

and not only to a dimly apprehended humanity'.

而且指向他们自己和他们的子子孙孙。

And so they hope that perhaps war may be allowed to continue provided modern weapons are prohibited.

于是他们相信只要禁止使用现代武器，也许可以允许战争继续下去。

I am afraid this hope is illusory.

恐怕这个愿望只是幻想。

Whatever agreements not to use hydrogen bombs had been reached in time of peace.

任何不使用氢弹的协定是在和平时期达成的.