Anti-nuclear bill

Press, 18 December 1985, Page 20

Anti-nuclear bill

Sir, — For years the Reagan Administration has claimed Washington is always willing to talk and listen to Moscow on nuclear disarmament, but I defy all proA.N.Z.U.S. correspondents to quote just one instance when the Americans have actually done anything

towards that end. In 1983 the Soviets offered to dismantle 572 missiles if America would hold their deployment of Pershing and cruise in Europe. The Americans’ arrogant reaction was a sardonic twofingered upswinging salute, thus causing the breakdown of the then current disarmament talks. Reagan frequently shoots the breeze on “the grave nuclear situation,” but instead of immediately accepting Gorbachev’s offer of a whopping 50 per cent , off .all nuclear weapons, he whimpered on', trying vainly to justify the callous Pentagon’s irrevocable intention to pursue S.D.I. into production. As a potential radioactive cinder orbiting a lifeless Earth, I vehemently object to America’s continous intensive proliferation and applaud David Lange’s two-fingered salute to Uncle Sam. — Yours, etc., ARTHUR MAY. December 16, 1985.