Peace movements

Press, 19 April 1984, Page 20

Peace movements

Sir,—Although Ramsay MacDonald lost office in 1935 some historians still blame him and

other disarmament advocates for encouraging Hitler’s aggression in Europe in 1939-45. Now historians are virtually unanimous that Franco’s Fascist victory in Spain in 1939 convinced Hitler that he could conquer Europe. The Socialist Republican Government in Spain received some help from the Socialist Government of France, until the Conservative British Cabinet actively discouraged it. Only Russia and the International Brigades truly supported the legal Spanish administration. Massive German, and Italian support for Franco, especially after the AngloFrench Munich betrayal of Czechoslovakia in 1938, guaranteed Spain’s fall to Fascism as the recent 8.8. C. television documentary confirmed. J. Hill (April 18) repeats Cicero’s ancient dictum: “Those who wish for peace, must prepare for war.” This myth has been demolished by the 2000-odd wars since.—Yours, etc. M. T. MOORE. April 18, 1984. Sir,—T. J. Sprott’s article was so studded with dubious assertions, assumptions and illogicalities that a reply in 150 words was impossible. However, J. Hill has also claimed “all historians agree” to support his view of the causes of World War II and therefore of the next one. Historians do not—but in any case, pre-Hitler conditions no longer apply. The human race has survived many wars, but the invention of nuclear weapons has introduced a totally new dimension—the capacity to destroy ourselves and our natural habitat. Enough stockpiles have been built to do this several times over. Therefore, all of us, in all nations, have to devise new ways of managing the planet we share, and we can not afford the slightest risk that the missiles may go off. To halt or limit the arms race and freeze the stockpiles must come first.—Yours, etc., ELSIE LOCKE. April 18, 1984.