Nuclear danger

Press, 8 February 1985, Page 14

Nuclear danger

Sir,—A quote for K. J. Phillips (February 7) — “At the heart of the problem is the dilemma that if you wish to deter war by the fear that nuclear weapons will be used, you have to appear to be prepared to use them in certain circumstances. But if you do so and the enemy answers back, as he has the capability to and has clearly said he would, you are very much worse off than if you had not done so, if indeed you can be said to be there at all.” That came from Field Marshal Lord Carver, former Chief of the General Staff in Britain. America has quadrupled arms spending, Russia has halved its. These are C.I.A. published figures. Nuclear war from either side threatens all we cherish, all our past sacrifices and all our future hopes. — Yours, etc., D. J. GREGORY. February 7, 1985.

Sir,—The articles by Dr Cherry and Michael Davie are gratifying because they give the other side of the nuclear debate. Jonathan Mirsky’s article on China answers Isabella Brown’s denunciations. To C. W. Bromley, the Soviet would naturally approve New Zealand’s proposed action; so would the United States if Poland asserted its independence from Russia. The greatest enemy of any country, including New Zealand, is no longer another nation but nuclear war, and avoiding it should be diplomacy’s highest priority. A high Chinese official said last year that the holocaust could only be avoided if all the peoples of the world demanded that nuclear madness must cease. I am optimistic enough to believe this is already happening. Finally, your leader repeated the sneer — “self-proclaimed,” “socalled” peace movement — which lowers the tone of debate on an immense issue. How would the writer react if I described him as belonging to the “pro-war” party? — Yours, etc., VERNON WILKINSON. February 5, 1985.