his statements about American missiles. In "Toworde the Abyss(Prof. Michael Pente, Dean of Science OU) says that in 1974 Defence Secretary Schlesinger announced: "a new policy" based on "counter lorce" in order to persuade Congress to spend more money on delivery systems. but he also quotes Lord Mountbatten as believing that soon "limited nuclear war scenarios" would lead to all out exchanges of nuclear force.
Even tactical nuclear weapons would release "massive radiation," and he asks "are US strategists actually planning a first strike?" He writes under the JD Bernal Peace Library. but his pamphlet seems scholarly and honest: Mr Breheny should also read Lord Louis Mountbatten's statement against "Nuclear Arms & War" made itt Strasbourg. preseeting the .Louis Wease Isoundetion Peace ['nee on 11th May, 1979,
In this he says: -as ii military man I can see no use for any nuclear weapon Which would not end in escalation." He aiso says: "I regret the opposition to reaching any agreement which will bring about restraint in the production and deployment of nuclear weapons is .becoming so powerful in the United States " It has
quality been reported, in at least mic paper, I have heard it from all informed Catholic. that the t S contemplated the use of nuclear weapons in Vietnam, when there were no silos. And I cannot forget the woman who cried "Nuke them" during the height of the hostage crisis.
Whatever the intentions behind "counterforce" its effect is to make the "unthinkable" thinkable and to increase the danger of a pre-emptive first strike.
As to the Church's teaching and I write on the least of St Peter, whose thinking "developed." and St Paul, who at one point "withstood him to his face," I quote front "The Holy See and Disarmament" a statement made to the UN in 1975 by she Holy See,
"In the name of natural morality and the ideal of the Gospel ... ABC weapons but also co risen ti ona I modern weapons. because of their
• capacity for scientific destruction ... (one) against man and against God." Whatever may he true of the Russians and some think they are a very frightened people, stuns ii is up to us, who have the unmerited puce to be Christians. to SC5 0 ith the voice of the Man who returned "good for evil" and laid down His life. "even unto death, even unto death upon the MSS:"
Rita Dennis Hastings, Sussex.