Anti-nuclear bill

Press, 2 December 1985, Page 16

Anti-nuclear bill

Sir,—The passing of anti-nuclear legislation was a Labour election promise, as the American Government knows full well. Thus for the Reagan Administration to react with such uncompromising hostility is inexcusable. So we now see Mr Lange leaning over backwards in order to placate the Americans, but apparently getting kicked in the teeth for his conciliatory gestures. What price A.N.Z.U.S. now, anyway? American officials choose to read obligations about nuclear warship visits into the treaty, although they know that such requirements were not mentioned anywhere in it, so there can be no legal justification for their position, and one would have to be a Jerry Falwell to see

any moral justification. It is therefore vital that those of us who believe in our Government’s oftenstated nuclear policy show .oiir support for its anti-nuclear bill.— Yours, etc.,

W. R. SYKES. December 1, 1985.

Sir,—Would Messrs Garvey and other critics of the Government’s nuclear ships ban policy care to explain why the Government’s popularity has been steadily rising and that of National, which wants to return to A.N.Z.U.S., is going .down equally steadily? Surely it can’t be the economy which is enhancing the Government’s standing in the polls.—Yours, etc., VERNON WILKINSON. November 30, 1985.