THE GREAT DETERRENT

New Zealand Listener, Volume 36, Issue 926, 10 May 1957, Page 11

THE GREAT DETERRENT

Sir,-It is the hydrogen bomb, rather than the hydrogen bomb tests, that menaces mankind; but while Russia has these things the Western peoples must also have them, or they could be bullied like sheep. When each side has a weapon that could destroy the other it may be that neither will dare to use that weapon, but since quarrels and war can still occur, and have occurred in Korea, Egypt and Hungary, all great nations, to be safe. must be fully armed for war that will be fought either with or without nuclear weapons, Mr Duncan Sandys now tells us that Britain’s economic position is such that without use of the hyrogen bomb Britain could conduct only a small war, so must rely on her hydrogen bombs to prevent a great one. How is that curious formula to work? If Britain uses the hydrogen bomb against Russia, Russia will use it against Britain, so Britain is to depend

for her defence on a weapon that Russia knows perfectly well she can’t use without being destroyed. We are complacently told to expect the use of small atomic weapons. How is their smallness to be maintained? Any nation at war will strive, constantly and furiously, to develop weapons that will be stronger than those of its opponent. To expect the case to be different with atomic weapons would be mere lunacy. If nuclear weapons are used at all they will be used to the full. But man is a planning animal and Statesmen are not destructive . maniacs. Surely the world’s statesmen, assisted by her scientists, could work out a plan that, either with a common government, or with the common use of existing governments, would cestroy these mon-

sters.

J.

JOHNSTONE

(Manurewa).