Nuclear weapons

Press, 19 July 1983, Page 20

Nuclear weapons

Sir, — “The Press” reports that the Heathcote County Council voted against a proposal to declare itself a nuclear-weapon free zone at its July 14 meeting. This is, perhaps, not too surprising given the reactionary attitudes of some councillors, but I was surprised to read the comment by the chairman of the finance committee, Cr T. P. Wills, that he was against the nuclear-free proposal because of his “military background.” Speaking as an exmilitary man myself (26 years service) I can assure him that exservicemen colleagues share my own view that the nuclear-free movement must be supported if our world is to survive. I hope that this will be a major issue in our 1984 General Election campaign, as it transcends all economic and social matters in its importance. — Yours, etc., R. L. PLUCK. July 15, 1983.

Sir, — Your article (July 15), “Hot time for Europe’s missiles,” illustrates the twin lunacies of alliances based on nuclear weapons. 1. That in installing nuclear weapons in the country of an ally the threat of force has to be used against the people of that country, simply because some of them do not want to be defended in that way. 2. That if nuclear weapons are ever used in the defence of a country in which they are installed, then it is quite likely that the inhabitants of that country will die, either quickly and mercifully or slowly and painfully. Thus, such allies are in the form of a suicide pact between the consenting country and the installer of the weapons. It is comforting to know that, as the American/Russian missiles home in on you, that you died in a just cause. — Yours, etc., D. J. GREGORY. July 16, 1983.