Nuclear weapons

Press, 3 June 1982, Page 16

Nuclear weapons

Sir,—Ken McAllister and Eve Holland (May 31) are of that naive group which believes that declaring a nuclearfree zone, or wearing an antinuclear badge, will deflect or even prevent the firing of a nuclear missile. It is positions of weakness and appeasement that lead to wars. Weakening America or any of our friends is the quickest way to invite attack, be it nuclear or conventional. If our two correspondents would work for bilateral disarmament arid persuade Russia to cut back they would be more credible. The League of Nations, and. later United Nations have proved the futility of “rules” to stop wars. Nations and individuals break “rules” when it suits.—Yours, etc. JOHN BATEMAN. Ahaura, Westland, June 1, 1982. Sir,—Contrary to H. F. Newman's claim (May 31) to be “well aware of the Soviet Union's obligations under Yalta,” a formal declaration was not sufficient; according to the obligation undertaken by Marshal Stalin to Roosevelt and Churchill at Yalta, which stipulated that the Soviet Union, “in two or three months after the war in Europe has terminated, shall enter the war against Japan on the side of the allies." President Truman very well knew that. With indecent haste he ordered the dropping of the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6. The Soviet Army entered the war on August 8. The second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9. H. F. Newman thinks that the bombs “were used to end the fighting and save further casualties.” Is it then to be inferred that the inhabitants of the two Japanese cities, men. ■■ women and children, who perished in the bombings, were not casualties?—Yours. etc.. . " M. CREEL. June 1, 1982. .:? ■-*■».