A.N.Z.U.S. Pact

Press, 2 June 1984, Page 18

A.N.Z.U.S. Pact

Sir,—Magna Carta, English common law and the American Constitution are indeed splendid documents, but so are Communist constitutions. I agree that in civil and human rights Western nations are most progressive and free — provided they are politically and economically stable. Many Northern Irish do not feel free; Spain and Portugal under Right-wing dictatorships were neither progressive nor free. Half the world’s most brutal and oppressive governments are loyal to the United States and were violently installed with bloodshed and American help. Britain’s former Empire often fell short of progress and freedom for the coloured races. The Soviets call food, housing, education and medical care “human rights,” and constructive criticism of the party “detrimental” to “the interests of society or the State.” But that does not make them our enemies or evil, simply backward — and fearful of America.—Yours, etc., SUSAN TAYLOR. May 27, 1984.

Sir,—Contrary to what T. R. Loudon believes (June 1) there is no compulsion on Soviet citizens to work “willingly,” but work they must, as the people in the West

must; that is, if they are fortunate enough to be able to find work. Far from holding Russia back, communism, or more strictly, socialism, has brought the Soviet Union, in a mere 67 years to economic and military parity with the United States, which surpasses the Soviet Union only in the number of its millionaires and unemployed. It would be interesting to know what T. R. Loudon considers to be “morally degenerate” about communism and in what the West displays its supposed moral superiority.—Yours, etc., M. CREEL. June 1, 1984.

[Some letters on this topic were accidentally omitted on the day the subject was closed, and have been printed subsequently. The subject is now finally closed—Editor.]