Disarmament

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29017, 5 October 1959, Page 14

Disarmament

Sir, —Mr Khrushchev's proposals for disarmament appear to have met with considerable scepticism by those of your correspondents with religious leanings. The fact that Mr Khrushchev is an atheist is not very alarming to anyone who has followed the progress of Christianity through the centuries. The path of Christianity, through the ages, has been strewn with incredibly brutal acts, carnage, torture, and pillage by Christian leaders. Professing Christians to this day kill their enemies and bomb women and children with a marked disregard for a certain commandment, I don’t wish to be regarded is an apologist for Mr Khrushchev, but if he is genuine it would be ironic should he in his atheism attain one of the highest goals of theoretical Christianity, that is, "peace on earth—and goodwill to all men.” Yours, etc., R.N.W. October 1, 1959. Sir, — I am sure most people, like me, realise the need for disarmament. but let's not get hysterical and emotional so as to lose all perspective. The difficulties against the success of total disarmament are many and great. We must haVe the indisputable good faith of all countries, and we must have a fool-proof system of controls, otherwise disarmament would be sheer madness and suicide. Ambitious dictators would not hesitate to snatch the opportunity of easy victory. Let us have disarmament but not at all costs. “Facts’” facts are irrelevant to the question of disarmament, but let him be assured that we do condemn the Tsarist atrocities. We are not so foolish as to think that murder by one is not murder by another. But that the Tsars were ruthless tyrants does not excuse the Communists. Let "Facts” remember that.— Yours, etc., A.M. October 2, 1959. Sir,—ln reply to "I Am Consistent,” any persons like to claim the name of Christian, but they

don’t want anyone to know. It is a secret. In the scriptures there were always those who did not do what they should. —Yours, etc., CONSISTENT. October 1, 1959.