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Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Digital Library Collections
This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections.
Collection: Blackwell, Morton: Files
Folder Title: Nuclear Freeze (10 of 16)
Box: 15
To see more digitized collections visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digital-library
To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library inventories visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/document-collection
Contact a reference archivist at: [email protected]
Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/citing
National Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/
CND
COMMUNISTS
NEUTRALISTS
DEFEATIST
COMMUNISTS
At least seven CND leaders are either card-carrying Communist
WHY THIS
Party members or sympathisers.
Leading Communists regularly use CND meetings to attack British
and American defence policies while praising Soviet Government
'peace' propaganda.
The Communist Party pamphlet The Case for Peace and Disarmament
+
refers to CND General Secretary Bruce Kent as paying tribute to the
Communist Party 'which he considered had vigorously worked to
help sustain the peace movement through recent years'.
Despite repeated denials of any link with the World Peace Council
(a Soviet Government funded propaganda organisation) one of
CND's official representatives for north London is the National
is the symbol of
Organiser of the World Peace Council's British section, (March
1982).
COMMUNISTS, NEUTRALISTS,
DEFEATISTS.
NEUTRALISTS
CND pretend that if Britain throws out our American allies from
their bases here and gives up its own nuclear weapons then this
+
island will be safe from a Soviet attack. THAT IS RUBBISH!
So long as Britain dares to remain an independent nation, with
adequate conventional forces and pledged to the Western
Alliance, then our airfields and ports will continue to be targeted
by the Russians.
CND know this. For them, throwing out the Americans is only the
is the symbol of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
first step; their next step, which they are scared to reveal openly,
The CND wants Britain to disarm unilaterally. That
will be to pull Britain out of NATO, the defence alliance which has
means that we give up our weapons and defences
kept us free and out of war for over thirty years.
without any opponent giving up theirs.
The destruction of NATO from the inside in this way is the top
priority for Soviet Communist leaders. That is why they encourage
CND.
DEFEATISTS
The scare propaganda about nuclear war churned out by CND is
extraordinarily similar to the scare tactics used by the Appeasers
during the 1930s. Those people too tried to persuade the public
that defending ourselves against the Nazis was both useless and a
provocation.
The great fear for that generation was the possibility of city
bombing and gas attacks by the Germans. Prominent Left-wing
scientists, academics, literary figures and politicians predicted
enormous casualties, and spoke about the futility of Britain
building up defences in the face of an aggressive Nazi Germany.
Those arguments by the defeatists of the 1930s led Hitler to
believe that he could walk over Europe with no opposition - and
so World War 2 began.
Today the CND encourage the Soviet Government to believe that
we would not stand up to defend the free and democratic society
in which we live. They risk provoking the same miscalculation, this
time among the Soviet leadership.
The defeatists of the 1930s have come back to life in the 1980s-
they call themselves The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
REJECT
COMMUNISM, NEUTRALISM, DEFEATISM
REJECT
UNILATERAL DISARMAMENT
SUPPORT
PEACE THROUGH SECURITY
Published by the Coalition for Peace Through Security
27-31 Whitehall, London SW1.
Printed by Orchard & Ind Ltd., 104 Northgate Street, Gloucester
7.1.
WAS
a Nuclear Free Zone
HIROSHIMA
WAS
a Nuclear Free Zone
On August 6th 1945 at 5 p.m. standard time, a single bomb was dropped by the 509th Composite
group on Hiroshima, Japan. As a direct result 90,000 people died instantly and another 23,000
died from radiation burns and cancer in the following two months. So horrible was the devasta-
tion that people are still dying today as a result of radiation received during the first atomic
explosion.
PEACE IN EUROPE
After 37 years of peace in Europe people are genuinely worried that a similar nuclear holocaust
may soon occur in Britain. These fears are being articulated by the CND and other similar groups
- all of them are calling for Britain to UNILATERLY disarm; to make Britain a 'Nuclear Free
Zone'. The question, however, must be asked; will this kind of disarmament prevent a nuclear
attack on Britain?
BREZHNEV LOVES BRITAIN?
There can be only one answer. A big NO. The Soviet Union has missiles targeted on British
cities, what stops Brezhnev from firing them? Is it his love for Mrs. Thatcher? Is it his admiration
for the students of Great Britain? Or is it his desire to preserve our unique constitutional
monarchy? NO. Just as the Soviet Union would crush its neighbours Afghanistan and Poland, SO
it would threaten our country with death and destruction if it were not for one thing.
OUR MISSILES
The missiles of the Western Alliance are targeted at Russian cities. The facts may be horrifying
but they are real. Nuclear weapons cannot be wished away, they cannot be disinvented. There
remains only one course of action, a balanced reduction on all sides; it is called MULTILATERAL
disarmament. CND would prefer to make Britain defenceless, just as Japan was. They say we
have nothing to fear from the Soviet Union.
IF YOU THINK THE SOVIET THREAT
IS A MYTH-
JUST ASK A POLE
Printed and published by the Federation of Conservative Students, 32 Smith Square, London SW1P 3HH
THE COALITION FOR PEACE THROUGH SECURITY
27/31 Whitehall, London SW1A 2BX
Tel: 01-839 3951 Telex: 22861 Metmak G
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PEACE ISSUE PRESS INFORMATION
ANOTHER EURO PEACE PERSON WITH A VIEW
STATEMENT BY
Mr. Edward Leigh, British Director of the Coalition For Peace Through
Security and Chairman of the British National Council For Civil Defense
(which has over 60 parliamentary sponsors).
"I am as committed to real peace and to disarmament as the delegates of the
Euro Peace Tour 82 but I believe that the only road to preserving both our
peace and freedom is through multilateral, mutual, and verifiable disarmament
not unilateraT or one sided by the west first. Here are some questions that
the press may want to ask the delegates.
* However effective peace movements are in the west there is no likelihood or
even remote possibility of them really being tolerated in the Soviet Union
any more than free trade unions.
* The British Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (a sponsor of the tour) is
committed to total unilateral disarmament by Britain and closure of U.S.
bases. This will weaken NATO and embolden the Warsaw Pact.
* The more successful the CND and their allies are, the more disinclined will
be the Soviets to negotiate arms reductions or dismantlement of SS20s already
in place knowing that the European governments will be forced by political
pressure. to refuse deployment of cruise and pershing missles.
* The Soviet Union has a 100% superiority in tactical nuclear weapons in
Europe and a large superiority in conventional weapons. Any measure of
unilateral disarmament may actually encourage the Soviet Union to wage a
limited war in Europe.
* Secretary General Luns of NATO said recently that the Soviet Union had
spent tens of millions of dollars on funding European Peace Groups
* The Morning Star, Britain's Communist newspaper gives preferential advertis-
ing rates to the British CND and openly boasts that 20% of its national
council are members of the Communist Party of Great Britain. And a number of
CND officials have been receiving free trips to Moscow, expenses paid by the
official Soviet Peace Groups which itself totally rejects unilateral disarma-
ment by the Soviet Union.
* Soviet diplomats have been expelled by Norway, Denmark, and Holland for
funding the so-called Peace Groups.
SUNDAY EXPRESS, SUNDAY, MARCH 21st, 1982
repeatedly stresses the treat-
ment given by the Russians.
We were treated separately
on all internal flights, and our
17
luggage was taken from hotel
room to hotel room without
our ever having to claim it.
'PEACE' VISITORS
In Tashkent we were
greeted on the tarmac by the
local Orthodox Archbishop
together with the representa-
tives of the Peace Committee
ARE BIG HIT
of Uzbekistan.
Imagine our surprise when
Lord Brockway was put in a
limousine, preceded by a
police car, the rest of us fol-
WITH RUSSIANS
lowing in a coach.
This cavalcade, which
became familiar on every
journey in Uzbekistan, pro-
THE RED carpet was laid out for a party of 19
ceeded with flashing blue
lights to cross all the red
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament sympathisers
trame lights in our path."
when they flew to Moscow as official guests of the
Russian TV and radio gave
Soviet Peace Committee.
the visit saturation coverage,
the report says.
For ten days the group
During the visit the group
were treated like foreign
by GERARD KEMP
met many eminent people in
dignitaries, starting from
Soviet society the only
the moment they by-
group we missed was the
passed customs on arrival.
Jewish community."
At times, there was a police
One criticism made in the
car heading their motor
cavalcade, flashing warnings
Bellever
report was of the difficulty
in meeting specialist bodies:
as they swept through traffic
The invitation from Moscow
"Specialist groups or indi-
lights on red.
was sent to The Northern
viduals concentrating on peace,
Each member of the party
Friends Peace Board."
work are harder to find than
had to pay only his return
Quaker group set up in 1913,
In Britain.
air fare of around £190 at a
And the 19 people on the
In Moscow, the report says,
special party rate.
trip were selected by the
Councillor Gerry Ross. from
Everything else was paid
board's full-time secretary,
Hackney made & long plea
for by the Russians, includ-
Mr Rowland Dale, who lives
for nuclear-free zones and
ing trips to the ballet a nd
in Gledhow Wood Grove,
twinning with London
visits to Leningrad, Tashkent,
Leeds.
and Samarkand.
He told me Everyone on
Turnaround
Now that the party is back
the trip was loosely CND.
in Britain thev have issued a
They were all unilateralists,
The visitors had two meet-
five-page report of the visit.
in favour of Britain getting
ings with the Soviet Peace
rid of all her nuclear weapons.
Committee, the second session
It is & remarkable docu-
I am a firm believer in this.
seeing the Russians refusing
ment.
Four people from the
to approve a lengthy docu-
It reveals that the CND
Soviet Peace Committee came
ment produced by the visi-
sympathisers - all of them
over to Britain last April
tors.
wanting Britain to scrap its
and they invited a group to
" A major turnaround
entire nuclear weaponry-
visit Russia this year."
ensued when, with brilliant
asked the Russians to make
Among the party, he said,
dexterity the one or two
a ten per cent cut in their
were :-
offending passages (one
nuclear strength.
Lord Brockway, co-chairman
relating to a unilateral cut of
The Russians refused.
of the World Disarmament
ten per cent by the U.S.S.R.
Although most of the party
Campaign and veteran CND
in its nuclear strength) were
are members of the CND,
supporter Fran Jenkin, from
removed, and every other
they did not travel under the
Exeter CND, Teacehrs for
item was simply ticked
CND banner.
Peace, and the Women's Peace
agreed'.
Liaison Committee: Lee
The resulting Joint Agree-
Chadwick. from Greater Man-
ment is a valuable paper of
chester CND: Dr Malcolm
which board members could
Dando. of Bradford Univer-
make great use."
sity's School of Peace Studies:
The other members of the
Dr John Gleisner, of the
19-strong party were Father
Medical Campaign against
Owen Hardwicke, National
Nuclear Weapons: Janet Gil-
Peace Council and Pax
braith, of Cambridge Teachers
Christi Bill Hetherington,
for Peace; Dorothv Bailey, of
Peace Pledge Union Helen
Mothers for Peace; and
Steven Iona Community.
Richard Keeble, editor of The
Catherine Perry. The Fellow
Teacher: member of the edi-
ship of Reconciliation John
torial board of Sanity, the
Thorne, medical student ;
CND magazine; and member
William Barton. retired secre-
of Journalists Against Nuclear
tary of the Quaker World
Extermination.
Committee Ron Huzzard,
Lord Brockway said It
Quaker Peace and Service
was a very important visit.
and Rosalie Huzzard, Labour
The Russians allowed us to
Action for Peace.
criticise, but they didn't
print our criticism in their
newsoapers,
They rejected our plea for
& ten per cent unilateral dis-
armament. They said they
had already taken unilateral
PAGE 10
Daily Mail, Wednesday, Novemb
How far Left are
taking over the CND
By ROBERT PORTER Industrial Correspondent
BRITAIN'S fast-growing Campaign for
Nuclear Disarmament is rapidly being taken
over by the far Left, despite its general
secretary's repeated claims that its leader-
ship is broadly based.
Monsignor Bruce Kent, the CND's general
secretary, insists that all political views are
represented in the movement.
But my Investigation shows the extreme Left are
taking over in no uncertain way and using the CND for
their own political ends. These are the facts
PROF MICHAEL PENTZ
SALLY DAVISON
MICK COSTELLO
A least seven CND leaders
are either card-carrying Com-
Davison, Scottish CND secre-
Star. but says he is outside
played a big part in the
movements which draw In
munists or sympathisers.
tary; Professor Michael
the party.
Labour Party Conference decl-
large numbers of non-political
Leading Communists have
Pentz, Open University Dean
The Communist Party of
sion to support unilateral dis-
people by playing on their
used CND platforms to attack
of Science. who has stood as
Great Britain, headed by its
armament Britain going it
legitimate anxieties.
U.S. militarism and the That
a CP candidate In local elec-
industrial organiser, Mr Mick
alone in getting rid of nuclear
tions Chris Horrie. CND
'A straightforward "Make
cher Government, while prais-
Costello, has led a campaign
weapons.
Britain Weaker" movement
Ing Soviet 'peace making
Press officer and member of
at trade union conferences
Government fears on the
the editorial board of Chal-
would get nowhere. But a
initiatives.
this year to win national
Left's takeover were expressed
lenge the paper of the Young
CND movement designed to
Trolskyists are moring
union and branch amliations
this week by Defence Minister
Communist League and Dan
do exactly the same thing
unccessfully to take over the
to the CND.
Geoffrey Pattie who said
CND Youth movement and
Smith, who has lectured at
'The skill of the Communists
commands support because
Top Communists believe the
use It RS a recruiting ground
Communist Party conventions
success of their campaign to
and far Left lies in their
many people are 50 worried
about the danger of war that
for their revolutionary policies
and written for the Morning
sell the CND to the unions
ability to foster and support
they refuse to think through
The extremist Socialist
the consequences of their
Workers' Party has used
actions,' said Mr Pattie.
public concern over Cruise
missiles to launch CND
The CND provides expres-
branches In East Anglla where
sion for one of the deepest
the weapons will be based and
fears facing mankind today,
to build up its own member-
nuclear obliteration.
ship
But there are political
CND officials with Com-
forces at work which see the
munist leanings include Sally
CND as the perfect medium
Davison, a CP member who
for channelling mass discon-
was national organiser until
tent over the bomb threat into
recently Dr John Cox vice-
other issues. such RS the des-
chairman and a CP member
truction of capitalism. And to
Duncan Rees, vice-chairman
achieve this they are infiltrat-
and a CP member Ian
ing at a steady rate of success.
Soviets tied to efforts
to derail NATO defense
By Jeremy Gaylard
coined in the WPC's "Stockholm
German communist parties.
FREE PRESS INTERNATIONAL
Appeal" of 1950, and since 1977 it
has "sponsored worldwide mass
Ties to Soviet
First in a three-part series
rallies and demonstrations in sup-
Action Reconciliation (ASF) and
BONN - The extent of Soviet
port of Moscow's desire to prevent
Action Service for Peace (AGDF),
support for the "peace movement"
the equipment of NATO forces with
the two Protestant groups that
of Western Europe, which is cred-
U.S. enhanced radiation (neutron)
undertook to sponsor the peace
ited with influencing public opin-
weapons," says the ICA study.
rally, also have connections to the
ion towards unilateral
"It is now vigorously cam-
Soviet Union, says Spranger
disarmament and neutrality, has
paigning on a platform of "peace,
For example, the director of
come to light recently.
disarmament and detente" in an
AGDF. Ulrich Frey, attended the
The "peace movement" has
effort to convince European public
World Congress of Peace Forces in
become the spearhead of a Soviet
opinion that U.S. military spending
Moscow and another AGDF of
design to render Western Europe
and development of weapons, and
cial, the Rev. Konrad Luebbert, is a
indefensible, driving a wedge into
NATO's alleged desire for military
board member of the Soviet-
the Atlantic Alliance and leaving
superiority are the major threat to
inspired World Peace Council. Beth
the United States exposed.
world peace."
are founding members of the
A recent study on Soviet "Active
The massive anti-nuclear dem-
KFAZ
Measures" by the State Depart
onstration here last Oct. 10, osten-
The two Protestant groups are
ment says that the December 1979
sibly organized by two Protestant
funded by church taxes that every
NATO modernization decision
church organizations, was planned
West German is required to pay
caused the Soviets to "immediately
by the German Communist Party a
unless he officially relinquishes
begin an ongoing, intensive cam-
year previously and financed by
membership of his church.
paign to develop an environment of
the Soviet nion, according to reli-
Spranger says that the East Ger-
public opinion opposed to the
able sources.
man government finances several
NATO decision."
And as soon as it was publicized
"peace" groups through the KFAZ
The study reports that a Soviet
that President Reagan would visit
with "millions of (deutsche) marks
ambassador tried to bribe the com-
Bonn this June 9-10 for a NATO
each month."
merce minister of a Western Euro-
summit meeting, the extreme left
The Bonn Peace Forum puts the
pean country with cheaper oil in
began frantic efforts to organize
sum at $2 million monthly, with $70
exchange for opposition to nuclear
another demonstration intended to
million of East German money
modernization.
eclipse the summit, which organiz-
going to the Krefeld Appeal, a
ers claim will draw 700,000 people.
peace petition calling for the with-
$3 billion on propaganda
The October demonstration,
drawal of West Germany from the
The U.S. International Commu-
which drew 250,000 people to Bonn,
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
nication Agency (ICA) reports that
was conceived at a conference of
(NATO).
the Soviet Union spends "at least
the Committee for Peace, Disarma
Another opposition member of
$3 billion a year on spreading pro-
ment and Cooperation (KFAZ), a
parliament, Count Hans Huyn,
communist and anti-Western pro-
front organization of the German
received confirmation from the
paganda through a worldwide
Communist Party (DKP) on Dec. 9,
Interior Ministry that the German
network that includes international
1980, according to Carl-Dieter
Peace Society has communists
front organizations controlled by
Spranger, an opposition member of
among its leadership, and main-
Moscow," of which "over $49 mil-
parliament.
tains close connections with the
lion goes to the World Peace Coun-
There were 20,000 members of
East German "Peace Council" and
cili
the DKP and 80 extreme leftist
the Soviet "Peace Committee."
WPC President Rames
organizations at the demonstra-
Huyn also points out that eight
Chandra, a member of the Indian
tion, under the guise of a moderate,
of the nine board members of the
Communist Party, has been quoted
Christian, alternative peace move-
KFAZ are members of the Soviet-
as saying that those peace groups
ment, says Spranger.
controlled World Peace Council.
that adopted an anti-Soviet stance
Reagan's claim that the dem-
The expulsion of two Soviet
"ceased to be genuine peace orga-
onstration was "bought and paid
diplomats from the Netherlands
nizations.
for by the Soviet Union with a clear
last year did not make headline
Expelled from Paris and Vienna
political purpose in mind" was
news, although one of them had
for subversive acts, the WPC now
borne out by Spranger, who says
drunkenly boasted at a bar that de
has its headquarters in Helsinki.
that the DKP is steered and
could rally 50,000 young people for
The phrase "ban the bomb" was
financed by the Soviet and East
a peace demonstration through 1
single telephone call
In the Netherlands, the Inter-
church Peace Council was fully
endorsed by the Dutch Reformed
Church when it called for the
renunciation of nuclear weapons
by the Dutch government.
In a country of 14 million peo-
ple, the council collected 1.2 mil-
lion signatures on "an anti-bomb
petition.
While the governments of West
Germany, Britain and Italy have
stated their willingness to deploy
U.S. Pershing II and cruise mis-
siles beginning in September 1983
should arms reductions talks fail,
the Dutch government has said it
will withhold its decision until
nearer that time.
Last month, members of the
West German "Greens" party,
which has a moderate, alternative
image, started a petition called
"Initiatives against War."
"Propaganda cannot deceive,"
the petition starts. "Psychological
preparation for war is taking place:
the Federal Republic [West Ger-
many] is steering towards war."
The International Institute for
Strategic Studies in London "fal-
sifies figures, makes untruthful
statements and carries out massive
propaganda for the Pentagon," it
claims. "This institute helps to veil
the fact that the U.S. leadership is
preparing for an atomic war in
Europe."
The statement accuses the
United States of carrying out "fake
negotiations" with the Soviets to
defuse the already decided deploy-
ment of new nuclear weapons in
Western Europe."
However, the "peace move
ment" itself has used falsified doc
uments for the sake of propaganda.
Shortly before the October
peace rally, a, leaflet on official
Bonn City stationery was distrib-
uted on the streets, calling on citi-
zens to oppose the NATO decision
and signed Your city Bonn."
New 'peace' group challenges
leftists' monopoly of movement
By Jeremy Gaylard
through the U.S. Congress and the
bership, is proof that the ground-
FREE PRESS INTERNATIONAL
European Parliament to take place
swell in this country is not in line
March 21.
with the much-publicized "peace
Second in a three-part series
"So far it seems the initiators
movement."
BONN - When the Bonn Peace
are satisfied with having the day
Forum was founded last year, most
named for Afghanistan, but are
A counter demonstration
people thought it was just one more
doing nothing further," Lerch said.
The CDU has announced that it
voice in the flourishing "peace
When the Peace Forum asked
will organize a large demonstra-
movement" calling for unilateral
the West German government what
tion June 5 in Bonn, shortly before
disarmament, withdrawal of West
it was planning for that day, they
the arrival of Reagan, as an
Germany from the North Atlantic
were told the government was wait-
attempt to counter the planned
Treaty Organization (NATO) and a
ing for suggestions from the Euro-
anti-nuclear rally of 700,000 from
ban on new U.S. nuclear weapons
pean Parliament.
the "peace movement."
on European soil.
But as long as no plans are
While the Protestant church in
But it soon became clear that
forthcoming, the day is likely to be
West Germany, which is stronger in
this group had something else in
a hollow reminder of the Soviet
the north of the country, has proven
mind.
invasion of Afghanistan, with even
a fertile breeding ground for leftist
"We want to dispel the public
less effect than the international
dissent, the Catholic south remains
impression that leftist groups cre-
day of solidarity with Poland Jan.
fervently opposed to unilateral dis-
ated the word 'peace,' said Rolf
30, said Lerch.
armament.
Lerch, spokesman for the Forum.
The Forum has received
In a pastoral letter before the
At a recent press conference in
requests for cooperation from
last federal election in; 980, the
the Peace Forum's new Bonn
groups in 50 West German cities
Catholic church called upon its
office, Lerch told journalists, "The
members to vote for the conser-
that plan to demonstrate for
amount of demagogy in the so-
Afghanistan March 21.
vative candidate, Franz-Josef
called peace movement is enough
The Peace Forum claims to be
Strauss, who gained 44.5 percent of
to turn one's stomach.
free of party political connections,
the vote.
"It is totally controlled by DK
but worked closely with the Young
In a recent statement on the
[German Communist Party mem-
Union, the youth group of the
current peace discussion, the Cem
bers," he added, "and they emotion-
Christian Democratic opposition
tral Committee of German Cath
alize the issue and stir up hatred
(CDU), in preparing a demonstra-
olics said: "The Soviet Union
against NATO and the United
tion against Soviet President Leo-
wishes to spread its ideology and
States."
nid Brezhnev when he came to
above all gain political dominance
Meetings of the "peace move-
Bonn last Nov. 22.
over the whole of Europe in order
ment," often held in church halls
That demonstration was
to harness all of Europe's economic
funded by church taxes, some-
attended by 50,000 young people
potential for the pursuit of its glo-
times go so far as to construct war
from 500 different groups, showing
bel designs.
scenarios, telling the audiences
that there are more young people
"To that end, it is launching
which German towns could be
who support NATO and the West-
appeals for peace while at the same
wiped out by which kind of nuclear
ern alliance than is generally
time provoking the fear of war, the
weapon, Lerch said.
thought.
statement continues. "It speculates
Violent demonstrations are
A demonstration of the "peace
on the will for peace of the West
being planned to coincide with the
movement" last Oct. 10 in Bonn
Eurpean peoples and, completely
NATO summit meeting of heads of
attracted a crowd of 250,000, but it
distorting the facts, seeks to create
state in Bonn in June, which
was planned a year in advance and
the impression that it is the ties
President Reagan is scheduled to
financed by the Soviet Union and
with the United States that con-
attend, and at the NATO autumn
East Germany, according to reli-
stitute the real threat to peace
maneuvers this year, he claimed.
able sources.
NATO commander Gen. Ber-
Alternative to the alternative
It included members of the
nard Rogers recently testified
"peace movement" from all over
before the Senate Armed Services
The Peace Forum, which started
Western Europe, giving the
Committee about the "peace move-
as an informal group of Bonn uni-
impression of an unproportional
ment" in Western Europe.
versity students last April, has
number of West German
Rogers said the movement was
grown into a nationwide "alterna-
pacificists and anti-American
made up of three segments of the
tive to the alternative" with offices
activists.
public: Soviet front organizations,
in 30 cities.
The impression made its mark
activists looking for a cause to sun-
The group has as its motto
in the United States, where a grow-
port and young people who have
"Peace through Human Rights,"
ing number of politicians are
never known war.
saying that there can be no peace
starting to suggest withdrawing
The third segment is the one to
without freedom.
U.S. troops from West Germany.
be most concerned about, he said.
The Forum is calling for inter-
But the rising popularity of
They believe that pacificism, neu-
national action on the day of sol-
groups like the Peace Forum and of
tralism or unilateralism may be the
idarity with Afghanistan, which
the CDU conservatives, who have
answer to avoiding war, but they
was proposed by a British member
shown gains in several recent local
fail to appreciate the need for a
of parliament and organized
elections as well as in party mem-
strong defense to deter war.
"The message we must get
across to this third segment," Rog-
ers said, "is that you must negoti-
ate from a position of strength."
A factor that is generally
misunderstood in the peace discus-
sion is the reunification of East and
West Germany, a goal that is writ-
ten into the West German constitu-
tion.
Particularly in France, where
fear of an overpowerful Eastern
neighbor still prevails since the
world wars, and also in the United
States, the idea of German reunifi-
cation is connected with the idea of
a neutral state which is susceptible
to Soviet domination.
The planned trans-Siberian gas
pipeline to West Germany is widely
seen as a step in this direction, with
increased German dependency on
the Soviet bloc.
But a majority of West Ger-
mans, while firmly believing in the
Western alliance, would still like to
see reunification.
Chancellor Helmut Schmidt,
talking to French journalists
recently, asked them if they would
not want to see their people
reunited if they were separated
against their will. It would be inhu-
man not to, he added.
East Germany takes steps
to stifle peace movement
By Jeremy Gaylard
cies of the Party."
voluntary duty in a border guard
FREE PRESS INTERNATIONAL
More than 90 percent of univer-
regiment. They are highly
sity and high school students
regarded if they become a
Last in a series
participate in pre-military training
"helper," or informant against
organized by the state-run Society
countrymen discovered planning
BONN - Recent demonstra-
for Sport and Skill. Cadets are
to escape to the West.
tions of young people in East Ger-
inspected from time to time by the
Since most mothers work, pre-
many advocating peace and
East German defense minister,
school children are taken from
nuclear disarmament have aroused
Heinz Hoffmann.
their homes and put into day-care
deep concern in a government that
Most East German children
groups, where they are given their
inculcates "patriotism" and mili-
belong to the Free German Youth
first lessons in socialism.
tary preparedness from childhood
(FDJ). a national youth group that
A children's television program
on.
is often compared to the "Hitler
called "Our Sandman." published
Although the ruling Socialist
Youth" movement of the Third
in a Western periodical, gives a
Unity Party (SED) reportedly
Reich.
sample of this instruction:
encouraged the peace movement in
Those who do not voluntarily
"Good evening, my dear little
Western Europe by providing vast
join the FDJ experience dis-
friends," said the announcer. "Who
sums of financial aid, when the
criminatory treatment at school,
do you think this beautiful bunch of
movement erupted close to home
very like those who admit they are
flowers is for? Yes, you guessed
government leaders felt compelied
Christians.
already. Of course it's for the com-
to take steps to discourage it.
Slogans such as "Forwards, for-
rades in our National People's
Strict control over the education
wards, never a step backwards"
Army
Be like them, responsi-
system in the German Democratic
urge the FDJ children to be "more
ble and willing to complete all tasks
Republic, from state-run kinder-
powerful, lively. ingenious and
diligently and conscientiously.
garten through the university level,
offensive" in their efforts for the
"Even now they are doing their
is aimed at turning out citizens
socialist state. These who show
honorable duty so that you can
loyal to the dialectical tenets of the
signs of laziness or disinterest are
sleep peacefully. They all wish you
government.
singled out and observed more
a good night," he concluded.
But despite all such efforts,
closely.
During the program, a patriotic
young people continue to escape to
During the reconstruction
song was sung: "Soldiers are
the West, and among those who
period after World War II, the FDJ
marching by in step, we pioneers
remain, criminality, alcoholism
movement helped to clear away
know them and go cheerfully
and divorce run high.
rubble, collect waste products for
alongside them, hey ho
Good
This latest display of dissent,
recycling and repair bombed
friends, good friends in the
aimed at the state that propagates
houses.
National People's Army, they pro-
"armed defense of our socialist
Today, the East German econ-
tect our homes on land, at sea and
homeiand," is further evidence of
omy is one of the most stable in the
in the air, hey ho."
the failure of communist ideology
Soviet bloc. yet children are still
Despite being the object of com-
to inspire the young.
recruited to work for the state.
munist ideology for more than 30
A stern reminder
Members of the FDJ are
years, teenagers are starting to
requested to do two to three weeks
rebel against this one-sided "force
Instructions from the SED Polit-
of hard physical work for six hours
feeding."
buro to East Germany's 53 colleges
a day at "people's labor camps"
Television reports of the recent
and universities recently empha-
during their school vacations "to
peace demonstrations showed
sized that "The training and educa-
improve their Socialist work-
young people reminiscent of the
tion of scholars and scientists at a
consciousness." Last summer,
Western hippies of the 1960s -
high professional level and in the
there were 230 such work camps.
with long hair, headbands and
spirit of the scientific world view
beads, giving the "peace sign."
of the working classes, Marxism-
Even children mobilized
Increased access to Western
Leninism, is the basic task of the
television news has made the East
educational institutions."
What the West would describe
German youth aware that peace on
Demand for some subjects at
as "child exploitation" - for exam-
the European continent is being
East German universities is six
ple, studénts being required to
threatened.
times higher than the number of
paint their own schools - is called
And since the presence of Soviet
places available. Those students
"a task of high social value in the
nuclear and chemical weapons on
who gain entrance were reminded
daily struggle for socialism" in
their soil is a reality. they have
by the Politburo statement that
East Germany.
every reason to be even more con-
they must "represent at any time
Even small children are given a
cerned than the youth of Western
and under all circumstances
form of ideological and military
Europe, where U.S. missiles are
Marxism-Leninism and the poli-
instruction and are expected to do
still to be deployed.
25
Free Comment
Exporting unilateral disarmament
In the spring, the British Campaign for Nuclear Dis-
armament (CND) will dispatch thirty key personnel to
the United States. Their itinerary will take in some 150
U.S. college campuses and 50 U.S. cities, in a $100,000
effort to capture control of an incipient U.S. "peace
movement." In the meantime, the first steps are being
taken in Western Europe to counter the misleading
propaganda of this mixture of naïve idealists and parti-
san fellow travelers.
One hopes that, while recognizing the danger that
these people pose, Americans will not make the terrible
mistake of regarding them as in any way representative
of Britain's attitude toward its most vital and steadfast
alliance partner. That would be the most damaging
delusion of all.
There is a strong, politically motivated element in the
British Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and its re-
cent European offshoot (END) led by the Marxist
historian, E.P. Thompson Cosmetic efforts have re-
cently been made to play down communist pre-
eminence in the higher reaches of CND. John Cox, a
communist who was its chairman no fewer than six
times during its years of obscurity, was ostentatiously
"defeated" recently when standing for a seventh ter
after being "criticized" for failing to mention his com-
munist affiliations in his election manifesto (as if any-
one in the movement could have failed to know about
them).
But the problem now goes further than formal mem-
bership of the Communist Party of Great Britain
(CPGB). Years of electoral ineffectiveness have grave-
ly reduced the attractiveness of the CPGB as a vehicle
for the attainment of power. Entryism-that is to say,
the taking over of hitherto respectable bodies to prop-
agate communism under a false flag-is now the order
of the day. Shunning the liability of a CPGB party card,
Marxists have infiltrated the British Labour Party to
26
such an extent that its mainstream moderates have
that Britain's American friends, sickened by the clamor
been driven to form a separate Social Democratic Par-
of the unrepresentative minority, may decide that the
ty. Only thus could voters have a noncommunist
protection of Europe is a thoroughly thankless task.
alternative, should they wish to reject the present Con-
This would be to play directly into the hands of the
servative government. In 1960-61 the issue of unilateral
enemies of the West. The "decoupling" of the United
nuclear disarmament deeply divided the Labour Party.
States from Europe has long been a Soviet priority.
Last year unilateralism was adopted by the party with
American observers of the European scene can hard-
little opposition. Yet there is very little evidence of any
ly be blamed, however, for wondering what some of
corresponding increase in grass-roots support for such
their NATO allies are playing at. For over thirty
a policy among Labour voters in general.
years—in a radical break with past isolationism-the
The truth is that superior organization by activists—
United States has based substantial military forces
not any growth of widespread support for one-sided
overseas in peacetime. A whole series of repressive and
disarmament-lies behind the impact of unilateralist
aggressive Soviet-bloc moves throughout this period
agitation. Basic to the belief of idealists in these move-
(some very recent) have amply vindicated the need for
ments is the fiction that wars arise out of "mutual
NATO, an alliance of which the U.S. contribution is the
mistrust" and "lack of understanding" rather than
indispensable core.
from the greed and ambition of despots and ideologues.
Nevertheless, despite the Soviets' abysmal track-
Basic to the belief of politicals in the movements is the
record in Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Afghanistan,
fiction that "peace" and "liberty" are to be identified
and despite their continuing rapid deployment of SS-20
with the downfall of bourgeois Western capitalism.
nuclear missiles which originally led the West Euro-
Neither of these fictions is subscribed to by a major-
peans to ask the Americans to update their theater
ity of the British people. Few Britons have illusions
nuclear forces, these days U.S. aid to her allies seems
about the consequences of dictatorships, whether of
to evoke nothing but abuse and condemnation.
the left or the right. Many can recall the futility of
Such appearances are misleading, however, and
attempts to appease the dictators of the 1930s from a
such calculated ingratitude is less inexplicable than it
position of weakness-a weakness in large part re-
seems. For it is the intention of some to undermine the
sponsible for the horrors of the Second World War.
Atlantic Alliance by arousing in the United States feel-
Few are deluded by irrelevant CND rhetoric about the
ings of such exasperation with her allies that she will
consequences of a nuclear war, when the real question
eventually decide to wash her hands of them. This is
is whether unilateral disarmament would make such a
not, of course, the wish of the European peoples them-
war less likely to occur rather than more. Nor are many
selves. Only last December, for example, a large-scale
taken in by the double standards of the unilateralists:
Gallup poll showed some 62 percent of Britons to be
Hugh Jenkins, a leftist member of the House of Lords,
willing to fight in defense of their country-and that
who urges the discarding of civil defense as useless in a
was prior to the instructive developments in Poland.
nuclear war and conveniently ignores the massive
Nor, very probably, is it the conscious aim of the major-
Soviet civil defense effort to protect Russian citizens;
ity of "peacenik" marchers simply to dismantle one
E.P. Thompson, who cited the growth of Solidarity in
bloc to the advantage of the other: a goodly proportion
Poland as evidence that Soviet hegemony was in retreat
of these people are innocents-at-large, incapable of dis-
there (Newsweek, December 1981), then wrote an arti-
tinguishing between the immorality of war and the need
cie in the London Times-when the union was sup-
for armed strength to prevent it, and genuinely of the
pressed a few days later-explaining "Why the West
opinion that only fear of Western nuclear weapons
Must Share the Blame Bruce Kent, a political priest
could possibly cause President Brezhnev to launch his
who called the Secretary-General of NATO a liar for
own.-EDWARD LEIGH AND JULIAN M. LEWIS
saying that Soviet funds were being channeled into
Western European unilateralist movements (and
threatened legal action against one of the authors of this
article for saying the same thing), only to be embar
rassed shortly afterwards by the expulsion from Dell-
mark of the Second Secretary at the Russian Embassy
for carrying out precisely this activity
The public at large is less gullible than the disarmers
would have us believe. But the public does not domi-
nate the media. It just votes at election time. That, at
least, gives good grounds to hope for the preservation
of European security: if present electoral indications
are reliable, the likelihood of a unilateralist government
coming to power seems small. The greater danger is
In 1949, Dimitri Z. Manuilski, a Soviet leader who served
briefly as President of the U.N. Security General Council,
told the Lenin school for senior party cadres: "a war without
mercy between communism and capitalism is inevitable. Today,
of course, we are not strong enough to attack. Our moment
will come in 20 to 30 years time. To win we will naturally
have to have the element of surprise on our side. So the
Western bourgeoisie will have to be put asleep. We will,
therefore, have to launch the most spectacular peace movements
the world has ever known. They will have to contain electrify-
ing proposals and extraordinary concessions. [Emphasis
mine] The capitalist countries, decadent and stupid, will
cooperate with joy in their own destruction. They will
jump at any chance of friendship and business. And when
their guard is down, we will crush them with our clenched
fist." So much for Soviet intentions.
Page Six
BRUCE KEN is a radical
leftwinger James Lamond
Profile of Bruce Kent,
MP became a vice-president.
politician as well as a
Bruce Kent echoed the
Roman Catholic priest -
in that order.
leader of the CND
WPC's line on the BBC
World Service on 15 May,
He runs the Campaign for
when he said NATO was
Nuclear Disarmament (CND)
HELLFIRE
"preparing
for
as its full-time general
annihilation". He had
secretary, having been the
already attacked Cruise
chairman up to November
1979. That June, he had
OR
missiles during a broadcast
from East Berlin on 17
marched to the Royal Navy's
December 1980.
base at Faslane and incited
Yet in "The Guardian" of
sailors not to use nuclear
HOLOCAUST?
10 December 1979 he had
weapons. Before that, he was
praised Brezhnev's bogus
also chairman of War on
offer to withdraw some
Want (an offshoot of left-
by JOHN BURKE
troops from Europe (just
wing Liberation) which was
before the invasion of
criticised by the Charity
Afghanistan). This was in a
Commissioners for putting
letter signed by Bruch Kent,
out Marxist propaganda.
bureaucracy. As a Monsignor,
Africa just before Namibia
Jack Jones, Alan Sapper, Alf
Bruce Kent's philosophy
he then became briefly a priv-
and El Salvador hit the head-
Lomas MEP, James Lamond
summarised in what he told
vate secretary to the then
lines.
MP and other so-called pro-
an obscure meeting of so-
Archbishop of Westminster.
Contributing to a Penguin
gressives.
called Religions for Peace in
Ironically, the late Cardinal
book last year. Bruce Kent
By contrast, in the
May 1980, as reported in the
Heenan loathed Communism
praised
the
godless
"Morning Star" of 8
"Church Times" and
- having seen Stalin's
revolutionary, Saul Alinsky,
November 1980 he lambasted
"Catholic Herald". "The
Russia. Then he visited
as well as Julius Nyerere
Reagan and the Christian
Churches are handicapped by
British troops in Korea by
whose
dictatorship
fundamentalists behind him.
profound anti-Communist
way of Hiroshima.
bankrupted Tanzania.
These happen to include
feeling and profound
Heenan makes no comment
Catholics lobbying against
nationalism at variance with
on the nuclear deterrent in his
Agitprop
abortion which (both in the
Christian teaching", said this
autobiography, but he did
USA and UK) outnumber all
pro-Marxist
monsignor
brand Labour leftwingers as
So he is no simple soul
wartime casualties this
whose name appears more
"Communist in all but
yearning for peace and quiet.
century. Bruce Kent ignores
often in the Communist
name". These are the very
Nor has Bruce Kent a parish,
this holocaust and calls pro-
press.
people with whom this one
for he is merely "also in
Lifers here "irrelevant",
time assistant is now
residence" beside St John's
while working in CND with
televised, shouting "Vote
Church at 39 Duncan
An evil
such campaigners for
Labour": Michael Foot, Tony
Terrace, Islington. But he
abortion as Jo Richardson
Benn, and their like.
broadcasts just like the pre-
This is doubletalk, for
MP and Renee Short MP.
Bruce Kent has cultivated
war peace-priest in America
Marx and Lenin stated that
moulders of opinion since the
called Father Coughlin, who
Bruce Kent is also a
Communism and Christianity
derided Allied defence until
sponsor (with other pro-
were incompatible. The
mid-sixties, when he bacame
Marxist CND Clergymen) of
a chaplain at the University
he was caught out copying
multiracial Catholic Church
Christian Action, whose
has been condemning
of London. At one stage, he
Goebbels word for word.
Bruce Kent called the new
journal knocks law and
Communism since 1846,
was also chaplain to the
order. Its issue of autumn
when a papal encyclical called
Guild of Catholic Journalists
President Reagan "simplistic"
1979
it "intrinsically evil". Bruce
- which may have helped
only days after "Pravda"
condoned
him become an adviser on
did!
homosexuality and scoffed at
Kent's espousal of revolution
Sodom and Gomorrah -
also defies the command of
religious broadcasting.-
His entire activity fits
which suffered something
Pope John Paul II that
exactly into the pattern of
like atomic annihilation for
Communist
priests should avoid politics
agitprop,
Soviet praise
their sins.
(as laid down in Canon 1.3w).
unmasked in the papal
Rev Joseph Christie, the
encyclical of 1937 known as
Gimmicks
in 1970 he wrote a shoddy
Jesuit, told London
Divini Redemptoris. Also
Never does Bruce Kent
pamphlet on peace, in which
entitled
"Atheistic
Broadcasting on 24 May that
repeat the lesson of the
he crossed swords even with
Communism" it warned:
Bruce Kent knew nothing of
scriptures that war is the
worldly matters and should
St Augustine and St Thomas
"nobody, who desires to save
wrath of God. Nor does he
Aquinas. For, while residing
Christian civilization from
be preaching the Gospel.
mention the work of the
Several other clergymen have
at 111 Gower Street, he got
extinction, should render it
Devil. Instead he hints at
involved with Pax Christi.
criticised him, while outraged
assistance in any enterprise
direct action to get "a very
Most Catholics distrust or
whatever".
layfolk have forced him out
different world", as in the
of meetings. Loyal members
ignore this Roman-sounding
Bruce Kent had to admit
March issue of "New
pacifist movement, which is
of Pro Fide may complain to
working with Communists on
Internationalist" published
Rome, because Cardinal
actually open to all. Pax
27 July after the Daily "Daily
by Oxfam and Christian Aid.
Christi demonstrated against
Hume is took weak to curb
Telegraph" disclosed that a
He also suggested here
NATO outside Wesminster
him.
quarter of CND's council
erecting dummy shelters as a
Abbey in May 1979 and it
were in the CPGB.
gimmick in churchyards.
was billed bang next to the
Significantly, he evaded an
Bruce Kent also omits,
Bureaucrat
Communist Party among
accusation that Communists
along with his clerical title
backers of CND's mass-
completely controlled the
and collar, the most
This
self-styled
meeting on 26th October
Campaign for Nuclear
apocalyptic factor of all for a
peacemaker has been
1980. "Izvestia" recently
Disarmament. Nor did he
genuine Catholic. That is
increasingly
influential
praised Pax Christi.
mention being on the council
Fatima² whose millions of
during a clerical career that
After being its chaplain in
of
European
Nuclear
pilgrims for peace for
has always been in the lime-
the mid-seventies, Bruce Kent
Disarmament (END), a
outnumber
CND's
light of central London.
went to St Aloysius, Church
supposedly
separate
demonstrators.
Born in 1929, he was no
almost opposite Euston
campaign, with Edward
The Vatican believes that
youth when he entered a
Station. Here, in October
Thompson and other
the Virgin Mary appeared
seminary and he already had
1978, he opened One World
Marxists.
there in 1917, when
an MA when ordained in
Bookshop, whose pseudo-
Bruce Kent denied getting
thousands of people testified
1958.
internationalism had been
money from the World Peace
to seeing something "brighter
As the Rev Bruce Kent, he
condemned as far back as
Council (WPC), which he
than the sun" long before the
was based at two Catholic
1920 by Pope Benedict XII.
admitted was a Soviet front.
atom was split. The
churches in Kensington until
Its shelves were full of revolu-
But he cabled congratulations
apparition told three
1964, by which time he was
tionary literature about
10 its meeting in Bulgaria in
Portuguese children that
also inside the diocesan
central America and southern
September 1980. When
Russia would rebel and might
wreck the world. Lucia, now
an old nun, said then that she
had seen Hell - which the
scriptures mention 17 times.
"We are not working on
the Bible, Das Kapital or
Magna Carta", said Mgr
Bruce Kent MA to the World
Disarmament Campaign in
April 1980.
I Catholic Truth Society publication.
2. Fatima: The Great Sign
Commentary
The Peace Movement & the Soviet Union
Vladimir Bukovsky
Peace will be preserved and strengthened if the
only 40,000 Communists. Anyone who had taken
people take the cause of peace into their own
the trouble to read the Communists' "fine print"
hands and defend it to the end.
with just a little care could have discovered that
JOSEPH STALIN, 1952
what their soon-to-be masters meant by "peace"
was not peace at all but rather the "transforma-
T
HE "struggle for peace" has always
tion of imperialist war into civil war."
béen a cornerstone of Soviet foreign
The Russian people were in any case so fed up
policy. Indeed, the Soviet Union itself rose out of
with the war by then that they did not care. Any-
the ashes of World War I under the banner of
thing seemed better, or at least not worse. After
"Peace to the People! Power to the Soviets!" Prob-
three years of civil war, however, in which some 20
ably from the very first, Bolshevik ideologists were
million people were slaughtered or died of starva-
aware of how powerful a weapon for them the
tion, cold, and typhoid (i.e., len times as many as
universal craving for peace would be-how gulli-
were killed at the front during the whole of
ble and irrational people could be whenever they
World War I), the war came to seem a trifle by
were offered the slightest temptation to believe
comparison, a sort of frontier skirmish somewhere
that peace was at hand.
in the Byelorussian swamps.
Only a year before the Bolsheviks raised their
And once again an irresistible craving for peace
banner, the most terrible prospect for any Russian
drove people to accept Soviet rule-as a lesser evil.
would have been to see an enemy burning down
Anything was now preferable to this monstrous
his villages and defiling his churches. Yet once
slaughter, starvation, and typhoid. They would
blinded by the slogan, "A just peace without an-
give anything for some kind of order.
nexations or tribute," he was to rush from the
The order imposed by the Communists was
front lines, along with hundreds of thousands of
nothing more than a permanent state of civil war,
his fellow soldiers, sweeping away the last rem-
both inside the country and around the world. Or
nants of the Russian national state. He did not
as Lenin put it, "As an ultimate objective peace
want to know that his desertion had done no more
simply means Communist world control." Thus,
than simply prolong the war for another year, not
while comrade Chicherin, at the Conference of
only condemning thousands more to death on the
Genoa in 1922, was appealing to the entire world
Western front, but ending in that very German
for total and immediate disarmament, crowds
occupation of the Ukraine and Russia he had so
of bewildered people in the Soviet Union were
much dreaded just a year ago. For the moment
marching to the cheerful song:
the only thing that mattered was peace-right now,
and at any price.
We'll fan the worldwide flame,
Hardly anyone taking part in the stampede
Churches and prisons we'll raze to
back home in 1917 knew the first thing about the
the ground.
ideology of Communism-except possibly for a
The Red Army is strongest of all
From Moscow to the British islands.
couple of simple slogans and this one incendiary
word: Peace. In a country of 70 million there were
Indeed, the churches were the first to be put to
the torch. As for the prisons, the Communists were
in no hurry to carry out their bold promise. Quite
VLADIMIR BUKOVSKY spent twelve years in Soviet prisons,
work camps, and psychiatric hospitals before being released
the contrary, the number of prisons grew with
to the West in 1976 as a result of a public outcry. He now
each year to accommodate tens of millions of
lives in Cambridge, England, where he is connected with
"class enemies" or "enemies of the people." And
Kings College. He is the author of an autobiographical
speaking of worldwide flame, one need only com-
book, To Build a Castle: My Life as a. Dissenter (Viking,
pare the map of the world of, say, 1921 with that
1979) and, most recently, of Cette lancinante douleur de la
Liberté: Lettres d'un résistant russe aux Occidentaux ("This
of 1981 to see that the song's promise was not en-
Stabbing Pain of Freedom: Letters of a Russian Resister to
tirely empty.
Westerners"), which was published in Paris last year.
Once they recognized the power of "peace" as a
25
26/COMMENTARY MAY 1982
weapon, the Communists have never let go of it.
and Soviet peoples are enemies of the German
In this respect, it must be admitted, Soviet politics
people and are branded as accomplices of British
have invariably been most "peaceful." We must at
imperialism."
the same time bear in mind that according to
The British Daily Worker adopted a similar
Communist dogma, wars are the "inevitable con-
line and greeted the new alliance as a victory for
sequence of the clash of imperialist interests under
peace, as did the American Daily Worker. On
capitalism," and therefore they will continue to be
September 19, 1939, when the war was raging in
inevitable as long as capitalism exists. The only
Poland, it published a declaration of the National
way to save humanity from the evil of wars, then,
Committee of the American Communist party pro-
is to "liberate" it from the "chains of capitalism."
claiming the war declared by France and Britain
Accordingly, there is a very precise distinction to
on Nazi Germany to be an imperialist (that is,
be made between "just wars" and "unjust wars."
"unjust") one, which should be opposed by the
"Just wars" are those fought "in the interests of
workers. This appeal was immediately supported by
the proletariat." It is perfectly simple and perfect-
fellow-travelers like Theodore Dreiser, and Com-
ly clear: just wars are absolutely justifiable be-
munist trade unions set out to sabotage produc-
cause they lead to the creation of a world in which
tion in munitions factories, lest any aid reach
there will be no wars, forevermore. Proletarians
Britain or France. Right up to the eve of the Nazi
are all brothers, are they not? So, once the world
invasion of Russia, Communist propaganda did
is rid of capitalists, imperialists, and various other
everything possible to dissuade the United States
class enemies, why should those who are left fight
from helping the European democracies in their
one another?
war against Nazi Germany. These pages in the
By this same impeccable logic, the interests of
history of the glorious "struggle for peace" by the
the proletariat are best known to the advance-
progressive social forces are not much spoken of
guard of the proletariat, that is, the Communist
any more, particularly where the young might
party, and should be defined by Lenin, Stalin,
hear.
Khrushchev, and Brezhnev, since they are in turn
But nowhere was this "struggle for peace" as
the advance-guard of the Communist party.
influential as in France, where the Communist
As soon as we have pinned down this formula
party and its fellow-travelers were openly defeatist
and deciphered its terminology, the course of his-
before, and remained so during-and some time
tory becomes absolutely clear. For instance, Soviet
after-the Nazi invasion of France. The French
accupation of the Baltic states and Bessarabia,
Communist party, which was quite considerable
or the war with Finland in 1939-40, were of
in strength, worked so energetically to undermine
course perfectly just, as was the partition of
the French war effort as to suggest a fifth column.
Poland, achieved in cooperation with Nazi Ger-
Within a month of France's declaration of war
many in 1939. On the other hand, the Nazi attack
the party's leader, Maurice Thorez, fled to Moscow
on the Soviet Union in 1941 was blatantly unjust.
to direct the resistance to French preparations
By the same token, any attack by the Arabs on
against Germany. In November 1940 Thorez and
Israel is just, at least insofar as it is successful. If
his associate Jacques Duclos exulted openly over
Israeli resistance to attack is successful, however,
the fall of France, Thorez declaring that "the
then all peace-loving peoples must protest.
struggle of the French people has the same aim as
the struggle of German imperialism."
I
T GOES without saying that world pub-
The Franco-German alliance alluded to by
lic opinion must accept the distinction
Thorez expressed itself in concrete terms. German
I have outlined above and direct every effort in
propaganda leaflets dropped'over the Maginot line
the struggle for peace toward establishing it. For-
pointed 'out that "Germany, after her victory over
tunately, there are a great many "progressive" peo-
Poland and since her pact with Russia, disposes of
ple in the world, people for whom any direction
inexhaustible resources in men and material,"
taken by Moscow is progressive because by defini-
while all the Communist deputies petitioned Presi-
tion it is taken in the service of socialism. Thus,
dent Herriot to make peace in response to Hitler's
before the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact of 1939 was
appeal. After Communist publications had been
signed, the energies of all progressive people were
suspended by decree in France, the party continued
mobilized against fascism, whether in Spain, Italy,
to publish its propaganda on German presses. Its
or Germany. As soon as the pact was signed, the
leaflets urged troops, dockers, and others engaged
notion of what was progressive and what was not
in essential war work to resist and to sabotage the
changed drastically.*
country's effort. In March 1940, a party leaflet
On February 2, 1940, for example, the German
claimed that the Allied failure to launch an offen-
Communist leader, Walter Ulbricht, later to be-
come head of the East German state, was per-
mitted by the Nazi government to publish an
Much of the material that follows here on the early
days of World War II is taken from the book by Nikolai
article in Die Welt in which he said: "Those who
Tolstoy, Stalin's Secret War (1981), where the appropriate
intrigue against the friendship of the German
references can be found.
THE PEACE MOVEMENT & THE SOVIET UNION/27
sive was due to the effectiveness of the party's de-
plained otherwise, short of the reactionary sugges-
featist propaganda. And there can be no doubt
tion that NATO generals were not in the least
that this effective spreading of defeatism, coupled
aggressive?
with a serious campaign of sabotage in munitions
In any case, members of the older generation
factories, played a major role in the catastrophic
can still remember the marches, the rallies, and
French defeat of June 1940.
the petitions of the 1950's (particularly the famous
At the very time that General de Gaulle, in
Stockholm Appeal and the meetings of the inde
London, was issuing his appeal for resistance, the
fatigable World Peace Council). It is hardly a
French Communist paper l'Humanité said: "Gen-
secret now that the whole campaign was organized,
eral de Gaulle and other agents of British capital
conducted, and financed from Moscow, through
would like to compel Frenchmen to fight for the
the so-called Peace Fund and the Soviet-dominated
City.
World Peace Council-where a safe majority was
Later Khrushchev was to recall that "Stalin
secured by such figures as Ilya Ehrenburg, A.N.
once told me that Hitler had sent a request for a
Tikhonov, etc. This was the period when comrade
favor through secret channels. Hitler wanted
Stalin presented his memorable recipe for peace
Stalin, as the man with the most authority and
that is the epigraph to this article. Stalin's formu-
prestige in the Communist world, to persuade the
lation was enthusiastically taken up by millions,
French Communists not to lead the resistance
some of them Communists, some loyal fellow-trav-
against the German occupation of France." Evi-
elers, a number of them muddleheaded intellec-
dently Hitler's request was not denied.
tuals, or hypocrites seeking popularity, or clerics
Even in Yugoslavia, where the Communist
hungry for publicity-not to mention profession-
movement had directed all its efforts to vilifying
al campaigners, incorrigible fools, youths eager
the British and French, Tito's first appeal for a
to rebel against anything, and outright Soviet
struggle against the German invaders did not come
agents. Surprisingly, this odd mixture constitutes
until June 22, 1941. It was not the German con-
a fairly sizable population in any Western
quest of Yugoslavia that aroused his ire, but the
society, and in no time at all the new peace cam-
German invasion of the Soviet Union. Even in far-
paign had reached grandiose proportions. It be-
off Buenos Aires, a British diplomat had noticed
came fashionable to join it and rather risky to
that Nazi diplomats were "collaborating with local
decline.
Communists in a very dangerous attempt to win
The purpose of all this peace pandemonium
over the masses with the cry of 'away with British
was well calculated in the Kremlin. First, the
capitalism and commercial exploitation."
threat of nuclear war (of which the Soviets peri-
As soon as Nazi Germany turned against its
odically created a reminder by fomenting an inter-
great Eastern ally, the "struggle for peace" was
national crisis) combined with the scope of the
instantly terminated. Indeed, the sudden outburst
peace movement should both frighten the bour-
of patriotism among the "progressive social forces"
geoisie and make it more tractable. Second, the
was remarkable. No strikes, no condemnation of
recent Soviet subjugation of Central European
Western imperialism-as if the latter had never
countries should be accepted with more serenity
existed. For the remainder of World War II the
by Western public opinion and quickly forgotten.
Allies were to enjoy a happy time of industrial
Third, the movement should help to stir up anti-
peace and a relaxation of the class struggle. The
American sentiment among the Europeans, along
war, of course, was now a "just" one.
with a mistrust of their own governments, thus
moving the political spectrum to the Left. Fourth,
O
DDLY, the passion for peace was resur-
it should make military expenditures and the
rected shortly after the war was
placement of strategic nuclear weapons so un-
over, while the Soviet Union was swallowing a
popular, so politically embarrassing, that in the
dozen countries in Central Europe and threaten-
end the process of strengthening Western defenses
ing to engulf the rest of the continent. At that
would be considerably slowed, giving the Soviets
time, some "imperialist warmongers" were sound-
crucial time to catch up. Fifth, since the odd mix-
ing the alarm over Soviet conduct and even sug-
ture of fools and knaves described above is usually
gesting the creation of a "very aggressive" NATO
drawn from the most socially active element in the
alliance. The "reactionary forces" in the world
population, its activism should be given the right
were starting a "cold war." Beyond this, the Soviet
direction.
Union was troublesomely lagging behind the U.S.
The results were to exceed all expectations.
in the development of nuclear weapons. For some
Soviet money had clearly been well spent. The
curious reason, however, the "imperialist military-
perception of the Soviet Union as an ally of the
industrial complex"-all those Dr. Strangeloves—
West (rather than of Nazi Germany) was still fresh
failed to drop the atom bomb on Moscow while
in peoples' minds, which undoubtedly contributed
they still enjoyed a monopoly on it. This should
to the success of the "struggle for peace."
undoubtedly be ascribed to the success of a great
Subsequently, the death of Stalin, the shock CRC
movement of peace-lovers. How could it be ex-
ated by the official disclosure of his crimes, the
28/COMMENTARY MAY 1982
Khrushchev "thaw" in international relations, and,
and to "modify" the policies of its government. Un-
above all, the fact that the Soviets had caught up
fortunately, Germany is a key factor in East-West
with the West in nuclear weapons, were to make
relations because in order to avoid a major split in
the peace movement temporarily redundant; it
the Western alliance the other members have to
ceased to exist just as suddenly as it had once
adjust their positions in accordance with Ger-
appeared! Meanwhile, the inefficiency of the Soviet
many's. So it was that Soviet influence came to be
economy once again brought it to the point of
exerted through the back door, and the West was
collapse. The Soviet Union badly needed Western
politically paralyzed.
goods, technology, and credits. Without these,
In addition, far from making the Soviets more
there would have to be very substantial economic
dependent-as the proponents of détente had as-
reform, dangerous to continued party control over
sured us-increased trade, and particularly huge
the entire economic life of the Soviet Union. At
Western credits, have made the West more and
the same time, it was from the strategic point of
more dependent on the Soviet Union. The dimen-
view important for the Soviets to legitimize their
sions of this disaster became clear only recently,
territorial holdings in Eastern Europe and to
when the discussion of economic sanctions against
seçure for themselves the freedom to move further.
the Polish military rulers and their Soviet masters
Something new was called for. Out of the depths
revealed the inability of the Western countries to
of the Kremlin, the doctrine of détente was born.
reduce once-established economic relations with
the Eastern bloc without harming themselves even
T
HOUGH the peace movement was put in
more. In fact, by now the Soviets are in a position
cold storage, the issue of peace was
to threaten the West with economic sanctions. Un-
nevertheless central to this new Kremlin policy as
doubtedly, they will take advantage of it very soon.
well. The West had grown so exhausted by the con-
In the meantime, far from relaxing internally,
stant tension of the previous decades that the temp-
the Soviet regime had stepped up its repressive
tation to relax, when offered by the Kremlin, was
policies, totally ignoring the weak Western protests
simply irresistible. And after a decade of a ruthless
against Soviet violations of the human-rights agree-
"struggle for peace," no Western government could
ments. The weakness of these protests had in turn
get away with rejecting a proposal to limit the
served only as further incitement for the Soviets to
arms race-however well some of them understood
proceed in their course of repression without re-
that it would be senseless to try to reach an agree-
straint. Clearly, the ideological war waged by the
ment with the Soviets while the essentially aggres-
Soviets through all those earlier years had only in-
sive nature of Communist power remained in
creased in intensity during the era of détente. Nor
force. Probably some such recognition explains why
did they try to camouflage this warfare. On the
the Western governments insisted on linking par-
contrary, Leonid Brezhnev stated openly in his
ticipation in the Helsinki agreements to the observ-
speech to the 25th Party Congress, on February 24,
ance of human-rights agreements inside the Com-
1977:
it is clear as can be that détente and
munist bloc. Their idea was to force the internal
peaceful coexistence relate to interstate relations.
relaxation of the Soviet regime and so make it more
Détente in no way rescinds, or can rescind, the laws
open and less aggressive. In exchange the West pro-
of the class struggle.'
vided almost everything Brezhnev demanded in his
Furthermore, as it transpired, instead of reducing
"Peace Program" of the 24th Party Congress in
their military expenditures and arms build-up, as
1971. "The inviolability of the postwar frontiers in
the Western nations had during those years, the
Europe"-that is, the legitimation of the Soviet
Soviet Union, taking advantage of Western relaxa-
territorial annexations between 1939 and 1948-as
tion, had significantly increased its arsenal. So much
well as a substantial increase in economic, scientific,
so that if in the 1960's it could be said that a cer-
and cultural cooperation were solemnly granted by
tain parity between East and West had been
the Western countries in Helsinki in 1975. Earlier
achieved, by now the Soviets have reached a point
a separate treaty had perpetuated the artificial di-
of clear advantage over the West. We also now
vision of Germany without even a reference to the
know that the benefits to the Soviet Union of trade
Berlin Wall.
with the West were invariably put to military use.
The Western democracies had displayed such
For example, the Kama River truck factory built
readiness to accommodate their Soviet partners that
by Americans in the 1970's has recently begun
their behavior was perceived as weakness. Probably
manufacturing the military trucks that were ob-
the most disgusting features of détente could be
served in action during the Soviet invasion of
seen in Germany where the "free flow of people
Afghanistan.
and ideas" had very quickly degenerated into trad-
ing people like cattle, the right to visit one's rela-
B
Y THE end of the 1970's the West was
tives in the East becoming a kind of reward condi-
becoming increasingly aware of these
tional on the "good behavior" of the West German
dangerous developments. The usefulness of dé-
government. By playing on this sensitive issue the
tente, long challenged by some, was now being
Soviets were able to blackmail the whole country
questioned by many. And then came the final
THE PEACE MOVEMENT & THE SOVIET UNION/29
blow-on Christmas 1979. Just at the moment
pranks, and stunts. In fact, it was not a very diffi-
when most people in the West were preoccupied
cult thing to predict, for the Soviet state is not a
with such things as Christmas cards and presents,
particularly intelligent creature. If you think of it
something like 100,000 Soviet soldiers moved in to
rather as a huge, brainless, antediluvian reptile
occupy neighboring Afghanistan, an officially "non-
with a more or less fixed set of reflexes, you can-
aligned" country with a population of about 17
not go far wrong. "Well, here we are, back to the
million. The world was shocked and the USSR
1950's again," I thought to myself.
was immediately placed in isolation. Even the
What was much more amusing to observe was
Communist parties of many countries condemned
the ease with which presumably mature and re-
the Soviet action as a piece of blatant aggression.
sponsible people had by the thousands fallen into
The invasion of Afghanistan, followed by the ar-
the Soviet booby-trap It is as if history were re-
bitrary banishment to internal exile of Nobel
peating itself before our eyes, offering us a chance
laureate Andrei Sakharov, followed still later by
to see how the Russian state collapsed in 1917, or
the threatening of Poland (leading, finally, to the
how France collapsed within one month in 1940
imposition of martial law), virtually terminated
It is also quite amusing, if one has a taste for
the era of détente.
such amusement, to be reminded of how people
This termination has cost the Soviets dear. In
are practically incapable of deriving any useful
fact, they have lost almost everything they had
knowledge from even the recent lessons of history.
gradually managed to gain while the West was
Once again, the universal craving for peace right
enjoying its bout of unilateral relaxation. Ratifi-
now, this very moment, and at any price, has rem-
cation of the SALT II agreement was suspended
dered people utterly illogical and irrational, and
indefinitely. The Americans were awakened from
left them simply unable to think calmly. Their
their prolonged lethargy to discover with horror
current arguments, if one may call them that, are
how weak, ineffective, and unproductive their
so childish, senseless, selfish, that an involuntary
country had become. In this new psychological at-
smile comes immediately to one's lips. Even at
mosphere, the victory of Ronald Reagan was inevit-
best what one hears is a parroting of the kind of
able, promising an end to American defense cut-
old moldy Soviet slogans and clichés that even
backs, the deployment of a new, previously shelved,
schoolchildren in the Soviet Union would laugh
generation of weapons like the B-1 bomber, the
at$
cruise missile, the MX, and the neutron bomb.
It seemed equally inevitable that the military
BEGIN WITH, why is it that everyone
budgets of all the other Western countries would
T
has suddenly begun to be so apprehen-
be increased, while the trade, technology, and
sive about nuclear war again? What has happened
credit arrangements with the Soviets would be re-
to make it more real than it was, say, two or three
duced, or at least be made more difficult to obtain.
years ago? The entire history of East-West rela-
Thus, if this trend were to continue, the Soviets
tions shows that the only way to force the Soviets
would lose their position of military superiority-
to respect agreements is to deal from a position of
especially in view of the fact that their economy is
strength. So are we to understand that because the
so much less efficient than that of "rotten capital-
Soviets might cease to be militarily superior to us,
ism." Add to this the new wave of international
nuclear war is once again a reality? Should we,
hostility noticeable especially in the Muslim world
then, take this proposition to its logical conclusion
(the United Nations General Assembly voted
and say that the only guarantee of peace is Soviet
against the Soviets on Afghanistan, for the first
military superiority?
time since the Korean war), a continuing crisis in
Meanwhile, countless TV programs have sud-
Poland, a hopeless war in Afghanistan, and a
denly sprung up that unfold before us images of
growing unrest among the population at home
the great treasures of our civilization-paintings,
caused by food shortages, and the picture grew so
sculptures, pyramids, antiquities, etc.-and at the
gloomy as to be just short of disaster. Clearly the
end of each the narrator reminds us, his voice
Soviet rulers had to undertake something dramatic
trembling with noble passion, how terrible it
to avoid a total catastrophe.
would be if all these treasures were to be destroyed
I myself, to tell the truth, was not very much
along with the great civilization that produced
surprised when suddenly, within a year, a mighty
them. And on other channels, we are treated to
peace movement came into being in Western
documentary after documentary about nuclear ex-
Europe. Especially since, by some strange coin-
plosions and the consequences of radiation. After
cidence, this movement showed itself first of all
such relentless programming, naturally public-
precisely in those European countries where the
opinion polls show a sudden increase in the num-
old missiles were to be replaced by newer Per-
ber of those who believe that nuclear war is im-
shings and cruise missiles. I make no claim to spe
minent.
cial prescience; it is just that after 34 years of life
Then there is the catchy new idea that "Our
in my beloved Communist motherland, I have
deterrent does not deter anymore." Why? Has a
some sense of its government's bag of tricks,
nuclear war begun already? Have the Soviets at-
30/COMMENTARY MAY 1982
tacked any NATO country? Or is it simply because
people in Great Britain, Germany, Holland, Bel-
those who like to say the deterrent no longer deters
gium, France, and Italy, supposedly of sound mind
have seen their full quota of televised nuclear
and with no evidence of the influence of LSD,
explosions?
march about claiming that the threat of war comes
It is so easy to start a panic. The question Is:
from
their own governments and the govern-
who is served by this panic? The Soviet-controlled
ment of the U.S.I A psychoanalyst might char-
World Peace Council declared in 1980 (and the
acterize this behavior as the Freudian replacement
whole European peace movement repeats it as if
of a real object of fear with an imaginary one.
under a hypnotic spell): "The people of the world
Except that even a psychoanalyst might conclude
are alarmed. Never before has there been so grea
that pro-Soviet propaganda had something to do
a danger of a world nuclear holocaust. The nu-
with the delusion in this particular case.
clear arms build-up, the accumulation of deadly
The facts are too obvious to discuss here. One
arsenals, has reached a critical point. Further of
may like or dislike President Reagan or Chancellor
calation in the arms build-up could create a most
Schmidt, but unlike comrade Brezhnev, they were
dangerous situation, facing humanity with the
elected by the majority of their respective popula-
threat of annihilatiom"
tions and are fully accountable in their actions to
Never before. But was not the world in as much
the parliaments and to the people. They simply
danger a year earlier? The leaders of the Euro-
cannot declare a war on their own. Besides, it is
pean peace movement themselves claim that the
quite enough to look around to see the real source
nuclear potential accumulated on both sides is suf-
of aggression. Was it American or Soviet troops
ficient for them to destroy one another ten times.
who occupied half of Germany and built a wall
Is there any technical reason why "twenty times"
in Berlin? Is it not the Soviets who still occupy
is more dangerous than, say, "five times"? Or is it
Hungary, Czechoslovakia, the Baltic states, not to
that, like a nuclear charge itself, the accumulation
mention Afghanistan, very much against the wishes
must reach a "critical mass" in order to explode?
of the people in these countries? Was it East or
Somehow, in the midst of all this nuclear hys-
West German troops who took part in the occu-
teria it seems to be totally forgotten that bombs
pation of Czechoslovakia and who are prepared
themselves are quite harmless, unless somebody
to invade Poland?
wishes to drop them. So why are we suddenly
Everything in the West is done quite openly—
alarmed by the stockpile of hardware and not by
one might say, far too openly. But what do we
the Soviet military move toward the Persian Gulf?
know about the decisions made by 14 old fools in
Again, quite suddenly, voices begin to cry out
the Politburo whom nobody ever elected to make
in a huge chorus, "Nuclear weapons are immor-
these decisions and whom nobody can call to ac-
all" Wait a minute. Did these weapons just be-
count? No press is allowed to criticize them, no
come immoral? Are conventional weapons moral?
demonstrations to protest against their dictate.
Why should this idea come all at once into
Anyone refusing to obey their secret orders would
the minds of so many people? Take as another
instantly disappear forever. There is in fact very
example the question of the new missiles to be de-
little difference between the Soviet system and
ployed in Europe. Why is it more dangerous to
that of Nazi Germany. Is there anyone who sup-
replace the old missiles with the new ones than
poses that he should have trusted Hitler more
to leave the old ones where they are? Are not the
than the democracies?
old ones equipped with nuclear warheads as well?
To be sure, the new missiles are more accurate. So
what? We can thank God that they are on our
AFTER thes experience of speaking several
with members of the current
side. They may make life more difficult for the
European peace movement, however, I know only
Kremlin adventurers, but why should millions of
too well how futile is the recourse to rational argu-
people in the West perceive that as a tragedy
ment. They announce unabashedly that there is
and danger?
no Soviet military superiority. It is all, they say,
Deep in their hearts most of these terrified peo-
CIA propaganda; the only reliable source of infor-
ple have a very simple answer to all these "whys."
mation as far as they are concerned seems to be the
They know that the only real source of danger is
KGB. They refer one to the findings of a certain
the Soviet Union and that anything which might
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute,
make the Soviets angry is dangerous for that very
leaving one to guess at the kind of methods em-
reason. But fear is a paralyzing and deranging
ployed by this institute for assessing the Soviel
force. So deranging as to lead some people to ad-
arsenal. Since the Institute has no satellites at its
vocate the abolition of the police because the
disposal, its "researchers" are undoubtedly left in
criminals are becoming too aggressive.
a painful dilemma: whether to obtain their infor-
Indeed, the most amazing aspect of the present
mation from the blue sky, or from the Sputniks.
antiwar hysteria-aside from the fact that it has
Nobody in the European peace movement, it
arisen at a time so remarkably favorable for Mos-
seems, has ever wondered about the reliability of
cow-is the direction of the campaign. Millions of
this obscure establishment.
THE PEACE MOVEMENT & THE SOVIET UNION/31
But this is just a trifle. More seriously, our
movement. It is even more pro-Soviet than that of
peace-lovers-repeating word for word an old
the local Communist parties, who after all at least
Pravda cliché-maintain that the "crazy American
have to camouflage themselves with a cover of
generals" are so trigger-happy as to push the but-
independence from Moscow. Nothing is more ob-
ton just for the fun of it. I have never been able to
vious, for example, than that the present increase
understand why generals must invariably be crazy
in international tension was brought about by the
-American generals, of course, not the Soviet
Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. There is hardly
kind, who seem to have some innate immunity
a country, a political party (including some Com-
from craziness-and if they are crazy, why they did
munist parties), or an international organization
not push the damn button long ago. In any case, it
that did not condemn the Soviet aggression uns
is hard to imagine that the generals, who at least
equivocally. The only public movement in West
have some technical education, are less equipped
ern Europe that never condemned the invasion,
to understand nuclear problems than the primary-
paradoxically, is the one that calls itself the
school teachers who are so heavily represented in
'peace movement." No such condemnation has
the peace movement.
ever been pronounced at a peace-movement rally
Some of the "peace-makers" sincerely believe that
in Western Europe, or passed as a resolution, or
as soon as the West disarms itself, the Soviets will
published in one of the movement's major publica
follow suit, and with an almost literally incredible
tions, or circulated as a mass petition. Perhaps you
naiveté they urge us to "try" this suicidal experi-
will imagine that the peace groups condemned the
ment. Others, far more sophisticated, know perfect-
invasion in their hearts? On the contrary, the evi-
ly well that their Soviet comrades need to gain
dence is far more convincing that they simply
time so as to enjoy a more advantageous posture in
justify this international crime.
future negotiations with the Americans. What they
urge is that the West start negotiations first and
improve the Western position later. Still others are
N
oT long ago I myself was publicly
charged by the leaders of the British
more candidly selfish and object. only to the de-
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) with
ployment of nuclear weapons near their own vil-
having distorted their position on Afghanistan.
lage, so to speak-as if being protected is more
Therefore I find it particularly useful to quote
dangerous than not being protected. Or better still,
from an official CND booklet, Why We Need Ac-
as if any single village, city, or country could
tion, Not Words, by Betty England: "The inter-
maintain neutrality during a nuclear war. "Let the
vention in Afghanistan may well have been caused
Americans fight the Russians," they say, implying
partly by the Soviet Union's fear of its growing
that the entire problem of the modern world grows
encirclement. The fear cannot be called unreason-
out of some stupid far-off quarrel between "Ameri-
able after Sir Neil Cameron's statement in Pek-
cans and Russians," who are apparently in some
ing (p. 12). In other words, the poor Russians
kind of conspiracy to destroy the poor Europeans.
whom Sir Neil, Marshal of the Royal Air Force, so
Surely if comrade Brezhnev promised to respect the
frightened with a speech critical of them, must
"nuclear-free zones" in case of war, people could
have good reason for what they do. By this logic,
heave a sigh of relief and go to sleep untroubled.
we ought to be imposing strict censorship on anti
If Brezhnev says so, there will be no nuclear-armed
Soviet speeches lest we be faced with Soviet occupa-
submarines off your shores. After all, has comrade
tion of the entire world. But the implications are
Brezhnev ever broken his word? Of course not. He
even more important. The idea buried in Miss
is an honest man. He is so honest he can even
England's passage is that the only way to keep the
guarantee you in what direction the contaminated
peace is gradually to accept the Soviet system and
clouds will move and locate for you the radio-
Soviet demands.
active fallout. "Why should the Russians attack
Even more outspoken than the CND is the
us, if we are disarmed?" Why indeed? Ask the
World Peace Council. Its booklet, Program of Ac-
Afghan peasants, they would probably know the
tion 1981, contains a direct instruction to support
answer:
the present puppet government of Afghanistan (p.
There is no sense in rehearsing all the various
25). This program was unanimously adopted in
"peace arguments," so contradictory and even in-
1980 by a gathering in Sofia, Bulgaria of represen-
compatible that one wonders how those who make
tatives of most of the peace groups (about this
them manage to get along together in the same
gathering, more later). After this it comes as no
movement. Only one thing these various strands
surprise that at the recent International Peace
have in common: panic, and a readiness to capitu-
Conference in Denmark it was decided to convene
late to the Soviet threat even before such capitula-
the next meeting in Kabul, the capital of Afghan-
tion is demanded. Better red than dead. That is
istan, within six months.
why current Soviet propaganda has so quickly be-
It is obvious that a Soviet invasion of Poland
come so remarkably successful.
would bring us closer to world war, or, to be more
Indeed, it is difficult to imagine a more openly
precise, would make any real relaxation of inter-
pro-Soviet line than that of the European peace
national tension quite impossible for ten or fifteen
32/COMMENTARY MAY 1982
years. And once again, the only public movement
taken by CND after many heated debates and very
that has never condemned the continuous Soviet
much against the wishes of the CND leadership,
threat to Poland 1and is still uncertain about its
many of whom are also members of the British
reaction to the Soviet-dictated imposition of mar-
Communist party.
tial law) is the peace movement. The leaders of
Oddly enough, there are many in the European
the biggest British peace group, CND, went even
peace movement who have worked (some still do)
further, publicly praising themselves for not "over-
with Amnesty International in support of prison-
reacting" to the events in Poland (B. Kent, letter
ers of conscience in the Communist countries. Un-
to the London Times, December 9, 1981) only a
fortunately, this by itself does not seem to prevent
few days before the imposition of martial law, and
one from making dangerous political mistakes, nor,
displaying their "impartiality" by equating the
to judge from the results, does it guarantee any
Polish crisis with that in East Timor. Perhaps the
moderating influence on the movement's leader-
leaders of the movement seeking to promote peace
ship. Be that as it may, the fact is that the Euro-
in Europe should be reminded that in 1975 the 35
pean peace movement (including its large consti-
countries of Europe, together with Canada and
tuent organizations) has never said a word in sup-
the U.S., solemnly recognized an inseparable link
port of the thousands of people in the USSR who
between security in Europe and respect for human
are imprisoned for opposing aggressive Soviet
rights in the participating countries. Should we
policies, for refusing to serve in the army on er-
assume that the CND leadership refuses to accept
rands of aggression, or to shoot civilians in Af-
the Helsinki agreement, or are we to conclude
ghanistan. During all the time that hundreds of
that it is indifferent to the question of European
thousands of "peace-lovers" were noisily express-
security?
ing their one-sided feelings on the streets of Lon-
At least about Poland not all in the movement
don, Bonn, Amsterdam, and Brussels, not one
can be accused of indifference. I have, for instance,
word was said about Sakharov, still in exile and
never heard of a case in which a representative of
on a hunger strike-Sakharov, who has done more
the Chilean or Argentinean government was in-
than anyone in the world to halt nuclear testing.
vited to expound his government's views before
These peaceful souls would happily throw stones
any international peace conference. But for some
at General Haig, but they would welcome Marshal
strange reason, an exception was recently made
Brezhnev with servile smiles.
for a representative of the Polish junta, who was
This is not to deny that there are plenty of well-
invited by the World Peace Council to address the
intentioned, and genuinely concerned and fright-
International Peace Conference in Denmark. His
ened people in the movement's ranks. I am certain
vicious lies about Solidarity and personal slanders
that the overwhelming majority of them are. Just
against Lech Walesa (see the Guardian, January
as it did in the 1950's, the movement today prob-
11, 1982) were greeted with hearty applause by the
ably consists of the same odd mixture of Commu-
peace-lovers (BBC report).
nists, fellow-travelers, muddleheaded intellectuals,
hypocrites seeking popularity, professional polit-
I
T IS simple common sense to try to re-
ical speculators, frightened bourgeois, and youths
strain both sides of any would-be con-
eager to rebel just for the sake of rebelling. There
flict if one wishes to preserve peace. But the Euro-
are also the inevitable Catholic priests with a
pean peace movement is so remarkably unilateral
"mission" and other religious people who believe
that it seems barely conscious of "the other side."
that God has chosen them to make peace on earth
It cries shame on the Americans for as yet non-
right now. But there is also not the slightest doubt
existent weapons like the neutron bomb, or the
that this motley crowd is manipulated by a handful
not-yet-deployed cruise and Pershing missiles, but
of scoundrels instructed directly from Moscow.
speaks only in whispers, if that, of the hundreds of
In fact, just as this essay was going to press, John
Soviet SS-20's already aimed at Europe.
Vinocur reported in the New York Times (April
Since, again, I have provoked an angry reaction
6, 1982) "the first public substantiation from in-
from the CND leaders for pointing out this par-
side the antinuclear movement
that the West
ticular instance of extreme unilateralism (Lon-
German Communist party, at the direction of the
don Times, December 9, 1981), I looked through
Soviet Union, has attempted to coopt public senti-
the major CND publications once more. The
ment against nuclear weapons." The environment-
booklet by Betty England quoted above does not
alist party known as the Greens "charged that the
contain a single mention of the SS-20's, though it
West German Communist party, which is aligned
is virtually saturated with the names of American
with Moscow, dominated and manipulated a meet-
missiles. Nor does a widely distributed report on
ing [in Bonn] Sunday [April 4] in which repre-
the CND annual conference of 1981 (the latest
sentatives of 37 groups, describing themselves as
to my knowledge), nor the official CND leaffet,
elements of the antimissile movement, planned a
Nuclear War and You, dropped into my mailbox
major demonstration against President Reagan
by some caring hand. Only recently I have learned
when he visits Bonn
June 10." The Greens,
that a decision to mention the SS-20 was finally
who participated in the meeting, acknowledge
THE PEACE MOVEMENT & THE SOVIET UNION/33
that they themselves have cooperated with the
sentative meeting of the world's peace forces
Communists "on certain local issues," but what
convened in the last years by the World Peace
happened in Bonn was "scandalous" even to them.
Council. (Izvestia, September 23, 1980)
"The Communists dominated the meeting com-
The same day Pravda referred to "the biggest
pletely. It took place under seemingly democratic
gathering in history of the fighters for peace."
rules, but that was a joke. We could barely get a
Indeed, the most peaceful and independent coun-
word in." The meeting-at which were repre-
try of the world, Bulgaria, played host during
sented such groups as the German Student Feder-
those September days to 2,260 peace-lovers from
ation, the Evangelical Student Committee, the
137 countries, claiming to represent 330 political
Federation of German Youth Groups, and the
parties, 100 international and over 3,000 national
German Peace Society-rejected resolutions con
non-governmental organizations. To be sure, this
demning Soviet interference in Poland and Soviet
was no ordinary meeting of the international
intervention in Afghanistan, and the delegates re-
Communist movement. The political spectrum of
fused to express support for Solidarity. "They
those represented was exceptionally wide: 200
adopted, however, by a large majority, a motion
members of different national parliaments, 200
condemning United States actions in Central
trade-union leaders, 129 leading Social Democrats
America, the Middle East, southern Africa, and
(33 of them members of their respective national
other regions."
executive bodies), 150 writers and poets, 33 repre-
Earlier, as I was in the process of writing this
sentatives of different liberation movements (in-
essay, news came that one of the Danish leaders of
cluding the Association in Defense of Civil Rights
the movement, Arne Petersen, was arrested along
from Northern Ireland), women's organizations
with his wife for channeling Soviet money into the
(like the National Assembly of British Women),
funds of the peace movement. His master, the
youth organizations, the World Council of
Second Secretary of the Soviet embassy in Copen-
Churches and other religious organizations, 18 rep-
hagen, was expelled from the country. Now and
resentatives of different UN specialized committees
then we hear about subsidized trips taken by peace
and commissions, representatives of the Organiza-
activists to the best Soviet resorts where they are
tion of African Unity and of OPEC, ex-military
wined and dined royally-and, of course, shown
people, some of them generals, and representatives
kindergartens, schools, and hospitals (no munitions
of 83 Communist parties (Pravda, September 23,
factories).
24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, November 5, 1980; Izvestia,
The majority of the European peace movement
September 23, 24, 27, 28, 1980).
is undoubtedly not aware of these facts. Probably
It had all started about a year earlier, as we are
they will ignore the charges of the Greens, just as
informed by a talkative Bulgarian, the chairman
they missed the reports of Mr. Petersen's activities,
of the Organizational Bureau, responsible for the
which involved placing paid advertisements (out
"practical preparation" for this show (Pravda, Sep-
of Soviet donations) for the Danish peace move-
tember 23, 1980). They had expected, you see,
ment in the Danish papers, ads signed by a num-
only 1,500 delegates, but 2,200 came. No wonder
ber of prominent Danish intellectuals (who for
the chairman wished to talk about his success.
sure knew nothing about it). And even our angry
Yet a year earlier-in 1979-none of the condi-
CND leaders "know nothing of the subsidized
tions now cited to explain the current miraculous
trips to Soviet resorts" (London Times, December
resurrection of the peace movement existed. There
9, 1981). Well, sometimes it is very comfortable-
was no so-called "new strategy of the Pentagon,"
even for professional intellectuals-not to know
the famous presidential directive 59; there. was
things.
no new escalation of the arms race; there was
no neutron bomb. The Vienna summit meeting
F
OR those, however, who do wish to
had just been successfully concluded with the sign-
know, let us track down the origin of
ing of SALT II. September 1979 was a time of
the current revival of the "struggle for peace."
universal happiness, the sky was cloudless. Only
Anyone who has read thus far will not be sur-
one significant thing happened in September 1979:
prised to hear that the earliest traces of this revival
a sudden wave of mass arrests in the Soviet Union
are to be found in Soviet publications, quite clear
and, as we have learned now, a decision to reacti-
for those who know how to read them:
vate the peace movement. Who could have pre-
dicted in September 1979 that within a year the
The first bright colors of autumn have already
cold war would be back-who else but those in-
touched the emerald green parks of Sofia. The
golden leaves of maples and aspens are trem-
volved in "practical preparations" for the invasion
bling on the breeze. And everywhere the tender-
of Afghanistan? Given the nature of the Soviet
blue streamers bearing the insignia of the World
planned economy, with its fabulously inflexible,
Peace Council. Sofia is expecting an important
slow, and inefficient workings, the Soviets must
event: the World Parliament of the Peoples for
prepare everything well in advance. Why should
Peace will be working here from 23 to 27 of
they have allocated such a large sum of money to
September. It is the biggest and the most repre-
hold a Bulgarian peace show in the middle of
34/COMMENTARY MAY 1982
happy times, if not in anticipation of grave polit-
comrade Ponomarev, suggested a whole program
ical trouble ahead?
of action intended to bring America's aggressive
Furthermore, we learn from comrade Zhivkov,
circles into compliance. He appealed for unity
the Bulgarian Communist leader who opened the
among all those concerned with preservation of
meeting with a long speech, about an appropriate
peace, irrespective of their political views. "The
decision taken by the Political Consultative Com-
time has come for action, not words," he said.
mittee of the Warsaw Bloc countries in May 1980
(Wait a minute, have we not met this sentiment
(Pravda, September 24, 1980), as well as an appro-
somewhere already? Surely not in the CND official
priate resolution of the Plenary Session of the Cen-
booklet?)
tral Committee in June 1980 (Pravda, September
The show proceeded smoothly, exhibiting the
29, 1980). Comrade Zhivkov was simply revealing
whole gallery of monsters, from the greatest peace
the way decisions and resolutions first travel
lover of our time, Yasir Arafat, to a "representa"
through the Communist bureaucratic machinery
tive" of Afghanistan.
on their way to rubberstamping by a "representa-
How did all these 2,260 representatives of Social
tive" body-in this case, the Sofia "Parliament" in
Democrats, trade unions, youth, women, and reli-
September.
gious organizations react? Did they rush out in dis-
gust? Did they demand the withdrawal of the
I
NDEED, the whole show was depressingly
Soviet troops from Afghanistan in order to remove
familiar to anyone acquainted with the
the main obstacle to détente? Did they express con-
methods the Kremlin producers applied to the
cern about the massive Soviet arms build-up and
same scenario in the time of Stalin. Even the dra-
the deployment of SS-20's? By no means. This self-
matis personae were the same. There was the same
appointed World Parliament issued an Appeal in
World Peace Council with its immortal President
which the main ideas of comrade Ponomarev's
Ramesh Chandra; there was the same chief con-
speech were repeated. Thus, the "Parliament" is
ductor, Boris Ponomarev, former official of the
opposed "to the vast machine and arms build-up
Comintern (now responsible in the Politburo for
of the most aggressive forces of imperialism which
contacts with fraternal Communist parties as well
seek to take the world toward a nuclear abyss; to
as for intelligence). Even the slogan adopted for
the falsehoods and lies of the propaganda in favor
the occasion, "The people have the power to pre-
of the arms build-up, which are disseminated
serve peace-their basic right," was remarkably
through imperialist-controlled mass media."
similar to the unforgettable words of comrade
Translated from party jargon, this constitutes a
Stalin in 1952.
clear directive to work against the armament pro-
Only this time the personal message that com-
grams of the Western countries (first of all, of
rade Ponomarev brought to those convened was
course, the U.S.-the "most aggressive forces of
from comrade Brezhnev, not comrade Stalin. The
imperialism"), and to reject any "lies" of the mass
latter, of course, would never have tolerated even
media about the Soviet arms build-up.
the mention of the term "rights"-basic or any
Beyond this, the "parliamentarians" set "the
other-in his slogans. Well, the times have
new tasks and duties for action of the peoples
changed after all. Still, those damned "human
of all continents" and worked out the Charter of
rights" had gotten out of hand. Hence, better to
the Peoples for Peace which was adopted unani-
find something like "basic rights."
mously (1) together with the Peoples' Program for
The first to speak, as I said, was comrade Zhiv-
Peace for the 1980's. The year 1981 was chosen to
kov, and he spilled the beans about the Soviets'
be "the springboard of the 80's, a year of a deci-
real. concern (Pravda, September 24, 1980). The
sive offensive of the peace forces to achieve a break-
aggressive circles in America, he said, refuse to ac-
through in curbing the arms build-up."
cept the present balance of forces in the world.
Most of the program was carried out, the mass
They don't wish to submit to their historical
demonstrations of October 1981 in the European
predestined defeat. They have become so arrogant
capitals having been planned within a framework
as to reject all of the recent Soviet peace proposals.
of what is called in the Soviet program "UN Dis-
They have decided to replace détente with a policy
armament Week (October 24-31)." How on earth
based on a "position of strength." They don't
could the Soviets have known in 1980 about events
observe agreements on cooperation; they interrupt
that would take place at the end of 1981, unless
political and economic contacts; they interfere
they were running the whole show?
with cultural and scientific exchange; they dis-
My pointing out this strange coincidence, which
solve sporting and tourist connections (in other
I did in an article in the London Times (December
words, the grain embargo, the Olympic boycott,
4, 1981), was bound to provoke heated denials; and
the scientific boycott, etc., responses to the inva-
did so. The Soviets in Literaturnaya Gazetta (De-
sion of Afghanistan and the persecution of scien-
cember 23, 1981), as well as the CND leaders in the
tists in the USSR).
London Times (December 9, 1981), made much of
This theme was taken up by most of the speak-
the fact that UN Disarmament Week had original-
ers with only minor variations. The main speaker,
ly been designated as an annual observance by the
THE PEACE MOVEMENT & THE SOVIET UNION/35
UN General Assembly as early as June 1978. Now,
petitions, etc., all around the world. It constantly
the UN flag may seem to many to be a perfect
emphasizes the urgent need for "further intensifi-
cover. One must ask, however, why virtually noth-
cation of actions against the deployment of the
ing happened during that all-important week in
new U.S. weapons of mass annihilation in West-
1978 or 1979-even the Sofia meeting was sched-
ern Europe" and plans for "strengthening and
uled in September, not October, of 1980-until
broadening of national movements into a world-
details for its observance were specified by the
wide network of peace organizations."
Soviet-inspired program? Moreover, if one looks
It is not possible here to discuss all the details
through the Final Document of the Assembly Ses-
of this remarkable document. It simply introduces
sion on Disarmament (May 23-July 1, 1978), issued
each and every aspect of Soviet foreign policy
by the UN, one can find hundreds of designated
wrapped around with the phraseology of peace.
weeks, months, years, and decades, all totally ig-
Not surprisingly, therefore, it includes Afghanis-
nored by our peace-lovers, whereas the suggestion
tan under the guise of a "week of solidarity, with
singled out by the Soviets was the one, the only
special emphasis on support for a political settle-
one, to gather thousands in the streets. For exam-
ment as proposed by the Afghan government.' For
ple, was anyone aware that the decade 1969 to
Ethiopia it proposes "a week of solidarity with the
1979 was solemnly declared by the United Nations
Ethiopian revolution" and "support for the strug
to be "The Decade of Disarmament If there
gle of the Ethiopian people against imperialist
were any huge rallies or vigorous campaigns duf-
and reactionary conspiracies and plans in the
ing these ten years, they seem to have escaped
Horn of Africa." For Kampuchea there should
notice.
be an "international campaign of solidarity with
the government and people of Kampuchea led by
B
UT let us return to this remarkable pro
the National United Front for National Salvation
gram, unanimously adopted by the
and an international campaign for recognition of
international community of peace-lovers. (It is
the People's Revolutionary Council of Kampuchea
published by the World Peace Council in Hel-
and the seating of its representatives in the UN;
sinki, as already noted, and is available in English
exposure of the conspiracies of the Peking hege-
under the title, Program of Action 1981.)
monists' who are working in collusion with the
This program includes such items as the "elim-
U.S. imperialists against Kampuchea." For Israel:
ination of all artificial barriers to world trade," an
"Support for the peace forces in Israel in their
amazingly frank recognition of the Soviet need
struggle for the complete withdrawal of Israel
for Western goods and technology and its desire
from the occupied territories and for the realiza
to be granted the status of most favored nation.
tion of the inalienable national rights of the Pales
But what this has to do with the problem of peace
tinian people." Whereas for the Middle East in
and why all peace-loving people should fight for
general: a "campaign of solidarity with the Arab
it tooth and nail is hardly made clear.
peoples in their struggle to liquidate the political
As could be expected, the program contains a
and military consequences of the Camp David and
clear definition of "just" and "unjust" wars: "The
Washington accords; solidarity actions with Libya
policy of destabilization of progressive regimes in
against the threats of aggression by the Egyptian
developing countries actually constitutes an aggres-
regime and U.S. imperialism. As for the U.S.,
sion, waged by psychological, economic, political,
even in so totally pro-Soviet a document as this
and other means, including armed intervention."
the instruction to campaign for the "release of
However, similar acts against "racist and fascist"
political prisoners in the United States of Amor-
regimes are quite justified because the mere exis-
ica" reads like a bad joke. Clearly, the love of
tence of non-progressive regimes "is abhorrent to
peace dulls the sense of humor. The only countries
the conscience of humankind." Accordingly, the
where violations of human rights are recognized by
sale of arms to these "abhorrent" countries should
the unanimous vote of 2,260 delegates from 137
be banned, but nothing need restrain the peace-
countries are: Bolivia, Chile, El Salvador, Guate
loving from selling arms to "progressive" regimes
mala, Haiti, Israel, Paraguay, Uruguay, Indonesia,
and to "liberation movements."
South Korea, Northern Ireland, and the U.S. Has
And, of course, there are directives to the mass
the world not undergone a remarkable improve-
media, which "must serve the cause of peace and
ment?
not the military-industrial complex by confusing
After the successful adoption of this program,
public opinion with lies and disinformation." (In
what followed was simple. Returning from Sofia,
other words, the media should not report on the
the enthusiastic delegates threw themselves into
Soviet arms build-up.) A similar directive is issued
a hectic round of implementing the program,
to those "who bear responsibility for educating a
pressing for appropriate resolutions, actions, and
new generation."
commitments in each of their respective organiza-
The program further specifies precisely which
tions (Pravda, November 5, 1980). An additional
events and campaigns to undertake, and designates
impetus was given to the campaign by an endorse-
weeks for the collection of signatures on various
ment from the World Council of Churches at their
36/COMMENTARY MAY 1982
meeting in Dresden (East Germany) on August 28,
distinguish what is true from what is not. This
1981, thus committing a huge number of adherents
attitude, which I can only describe as a combina-
of the various Christian denominations to follow-
tion of ignorance and arrogance, makes them an
ing the Soviet line. And in no time hundreds of
easy target for any pseudo-theory (or outright
thousands in the West came honestly to believe
Soviet propaganda) that happens to be fashion-
that they were out to save world peace.
able at any given moment. Besides, baffled by end-
less and contradictory arguments among the "spe-
W
ELL, is there any further need to ex-
cialists" about the nature of the Soviet system, the
plain why the Soviet Union is so
leaders of the peace movement believe they have
interested in the peace movement There is a
found a "new approach" which makes the entire
term in party jargon coined by Lenin himself: "a
problem irrelevant.
useful idiot." Now, in spite all their blunders,
A few months ago in England, I attended a pub-
senseless adventures, economic disasters, the Polish
lic debate on the problem of unilateral disarm-
crisis and the stubborn resistance of the Afghan
ament. The leader of a big peace group opened
peasants, Reagan's rearmament plan and UN reso-
his speech by saying that from his standpoint, it
lutions, the Soviet rulers have scored a spectacular
is irrelevant who is the aggressor and who the vic-
victory: they have recruited millions of useful
tim. He said: "It is like when two boys have a
idiots to implement their bankrupt foreign policy.
fight in the churchyard. It is impossible to find
They are no longer isolated and there is still a big
out who started the fight, nor is there any need
question as to whether the Americans will be al-
to do so. What we should do is to stop them."
lowed to place missiles in Europe.
This metaphor reflects very well the prevailing
True enough, the American economy is vastly
attitude among peace-movement members. They
more productive and efficient than the Soviet, but
believe they have gotten around a baffling prob-
the Americans don't have a weapon like the "strug-
lem, whereas they have in fact inadvertently
gle for peace." True again, this peace movement
adopted the concept of the "normal opponent."
will be expensive for the Soviet people (the meet-
From the "churchyard" standpoint, the present
ing in Bulgaria alone must have cost them mik
conflict seems very ordinary: two bullies have be-
lions, to say nothing of subsidizing all peace ad
come so embittered by their prolonged quarrel-
tivists on those jaunts to the best Soviet resorts;
in which anyway the essence of the disagreement
the cost of running this worldwide campaign must
has been lost or forgotten-that they are quite
be simply astronomical). Still, it is cheaper than
prepared to kill each other and everybody else
another round of the arms race, let alone the
around. They are temporarily insane, mad, but are
cost of maintaining a priceless military superiority.
basically normal human beings. Pride and fury
And the result will be long-lasting.
will not permit them to come to their senses, un-
Mind you, we are into only the second year of a
less we, the sane people around them, are prepared
planned ten-year "struggle for peace." Within a
to intervene. Let us make them talk to one an-
few years, the whole earth will be trembling under
other, let us pin down their hands, let us distract
the marching feet of the useful idiots, for their
them from their quarrel. We cannot, to be sure,
resources are inexhaustible.
pin down the hands of one of them. Then, in the
I remember in the 50's, when the previous peace
best Christian tradition, let us make the other re-
campaign was still in full swing, there was a popu-
pent, in all good Christian humility. Let us disarm
lar joke which people in the Soviet Union whis-
him to convince his adversary of his peaceful in-
pered to each other: "A Jew came to his rabbi and
tentions. Let us turn the other cheek. Sooner or
asked: 'Rabbi, you are a very wise man. Tell me,
later the other will come to feel ashamed.
is there going to be a war?' 'There will be no war,'
This view sums up exactly what I mean by a
replied the rabbi, 'but there will be such a strug-
combination of ignorance and arrogance. Indeed,
gle for peace that no stone will be left standing."
if we look upon the world from the "churchyard"
standpoint, there probably is no need to find out
II
who is the aggressor and who the victim. There is
no need for police or armed forces. All we can see
O
NE of the most serious mistakes of the
is a row of graves with the dead lying orderly in
Western peace movement and of its
them and a couple of children quarreling with
ideologists is the obdurate refusal to understand
each other. Unfortunately, outside the church
the nature of the Soviet regime, and the concomi-
walls there is a bigger and far more dangerous
tant effort to lift the question of peace out of the
world with gangsters, murderers, rapists, and other
context of the broader problem of East-West rela-
perverse characters.
tions. After several decades of listening to what
Needless to say, this churchyard model simply
they believe to be "anti-Communist propaganda,"
does not merit serious consideration. Unfortunate-
they have simply got "fed-up with it." They ascribe
ly, it is a widespread belief (and not only within
everything they hear about the East to a "cold-
the peace movement) that the Soviet government,
war-type brainwashing," and make no attempt to
like any other government, is preoccupied with
THE PEACE MOVEMENT & THE SOVIET UNION/37
the well-being of its people, and will therefore be
day apiece. So, Soviet policy is no classical case
eager to reduce military expenditures. This notion
of colonialism.
comes so naturally to our peace-makers that they
Then there is another theory, far more perni-
just do not notice they have taken on a view of
cious because much more widely accepted and be-
the Soviet system which is both very old and un-
cause to reject it one needs a real knowledge of
questionably wrong. If they only took the trouble
Soviet life. I mean the theory acording to which
to study a little Soviet history, they would know
Soviet aggressiveness is the result of the fear
immediately how misleading this seemingly nat-
of hostile encirclement. The proponents of this
ural view is. Not only are the Soviet rulers indif-
theory argue that Russian history, particularly the
ferent to the living condition of their populace,
history of repeated invasions of Russian territory
they deliberately keep it low; on the other hand,
within the last century, has made the Russian peo-
disarmament (irrespective of the problem of well-
ple almost paranoid about an external threat.
being) would lead very rapidly to the collapse of
This theory sounds very scientific because many
the Soviet empire.
facts may be cited to back it up. Still, it is no more
Normally we try to understand an opponent by
than a shrewd combination of obvious lies, wrong
taking his place, getting into his shoes, so to speak.
interpretations, and very perfunctory knowledge.
That is why most people try to explain Soviet be-
It is mainly based on an overestimation of the im-
havior in terms of "normal human motives," that
portance of history for any given nation and on
is, by motives familiar to them. And that is exactly
an oversimplification of the Soviet system.
why they constantly pile one mistake upon an-
To begin with, there is an obvious lie in this
other. For it is extremely difficult for a "normal"
theory-that is, a deliberate confusion between the
human being to put himself inside the skin of a
people and the government in the USSR. Those
mentally ill one. It is almost as in nature itself:
who know the Soviet system only moderately well
when we test natural phenomena under extreme
may still need to be reminded that the people
conditions, we suddenly find some unpredictable
have no privilege of representation in the govern-
anomaly that is baffling to us. Logic itself be-
ment-that is, have no free elections. Thus, the
comes abnormal in certain extreme cases. If we
government does not reflect the feelings of the
add up two numbers, say, or multiply or divide
population. So if we are to believe that the popu-
them, we invariably obtain a new number. But if
lation is frightened by the long history of inva-
we use zero or infinity our whole rule suddenly
sions, the government has no reason to share these
goes wrong.
fears. The Soviet government, with its vast and
omnipresent intelligence system, is extremely well-
B
UT let us take an example relevant to
informed about every move and every smallest in-
the present discussion. Let us take
tention of the West (anyway not very difficult to
the key question: why is the Soviet Union so ag-
achieve in view of the remarkable openness of
gressive, so eager to expand? We see how many
Western societies). By 1978-79, when their arms
schools of thought there are among those studying
build-up was at a high pitch, whom were they sup-
the problem (and we see, too, how all of them are
posed to be so afraid of? Their great friend, the
wrong).
French President Giscard? Or their even better
There are some people who believe that the
friend in West Germany, Willy Brandt? Britain,
present Soviet expansionism is just a continuation
with its puny armed forces (and ongoing discus-
of the Russian pre-revolutionary colonial policy.
sion on unilateral disarmament), or perhaps
In other words, it is a bad legacy. Indeed, this
Nixon and Carter, who between them shelved all
notion about Soviet expansionism was the domi-
the major armament programs? Japan, which has
nant one for a very long time-and still is in some
no army at all?
quarters. In line with it, there have been repeated
Clearly the Soviet government had no reason to
attempts to offer the Soviets a division of the
be frightened. In fact, the theory of Soviet para-
world into spheres of influence. We owe to it the
noia does not imply a frightened government, but
Yalta agreement, the Potsdam agreement, and as-
rather a frightened nation. In a "normal" coun-
sorted other disasters. Each time the Soviets have
try this might drive the government to become ag-
accepted the division into spheres of influence,
gressive. But in the Soviet Union the people mean
and each time they have violated it. Is this because
nothing and have no way of pressuring their gov-
they need more mineral resources, more territory,
ernment to do anything. They would not be al-
a wider market for their goods? No. Their own
lowed to voice any fears. So, who is so frightened
territory is undeveloped, their own mineral re-
in the Soviet Union? Besides, as far as the rulers
sources are in the earth, they do not have enough
are concerned, their own experience of war,
goods for their own internal market. There are
World War II, could not frighten them for a very
no useful mineral deposits in Cuba or Afghanis-
simple reason: they won the war. Can you show
tan. There is no Russian national interest in
me any victorious general who is so afraid of war
Angola or Vietnam. In fact, these new "colonies"
as to become paranoid? The psychology of Soviet
cost the Soviet people many millions of dollars a
rulers is in any case totally different.
38/COMMENTARY MAY 1982
One need only look at a map of the world to
to the Soviet leaders. Or, more precisely, it is too
see how ridiculous this theory is. Can we honestly
big a simplification. This theory, too-fortunately
believe that the poor Communists in the Kremlin
for us-does not fit a number of the facts. Para-
are so frightened that they must protect themselves
doxically, none of the present Communist leaders
by sending their troops to Cuba and Cuban troops
believes any longer in Communist doctrine. Fortu-
to Angola? By sending military equipment and ad-
nately, because no real fanatic would ever tolerate
visers to Ethiopia and Vietnam and then by send-
the destruction of the object of his obsession.
ing Vietnamese troops to Kampuchea? Take an-
He would rather witness the destruction of the
other look at that map: it is not at all obvious
entire world.
that the USSR is encircled by hostile powers.
The Soviet rulers are a totally cynical lot, much
Rather the other way around: it is the Western
more preoccupied with their own privileges and
world that is encircled by the hostile hordes of the
pleasures than with Marxist ideas. They probably
Communists. Well, if their paranoia can be satis-
hate Communist dogma more than any Western
fied only by surrendering the whole world to their
capitalist. Moreover, the majority of the Soviet
control, what difference can it make to us whether
people are as cynical as their leaders. There are
they act out of fear or out of endemic aggressive-
many more sincere Communists to be found in the
ness?
West than in the USSR.
Finally, and most importantly for an under-
But this fact has also created false hopes among
standing of this pernicious theory, is the fact that
Western politicians and the public. The same
it was invented by the Kremlin propaganda ex-
false hopes encouraged by the theory of encircle-
perts. It was very successfully exploited in the
ment-that it will be possible to treat the Soviets
years of détente, when Western governments, act-
as normal partners at last, that it will be possible
ing under its influence, deliberately permitted the
to negotiate, to cooperate, and to relax. Both
Soviets to achieve military superiority. They would
theories lead equally to the same mistaken policy.
probably deny it now, but I remember very well
So what is the truth about the damned Soviet
the discussions of that period. The argument of
system?
the ideologists of détente was that once the Soviets
Certainly, there was a period when the Soviet
caught up, they would relax; this would in turn
leaders were Communist fanatics, ready to sacrifice
lead to the internal as well as external relaxation
the whole world to their faith. There was a period,
of the Communist regime, i.e., to liberalization.
too, when at least some part of the population was
The results of this brilliant experiment we can
prepared to greet this new idea with considerable
see now.
enthusiasm. The people of my country, I suppose,
The Soviet population, too, has been subjected,
could be excused for their delusion, because Com-
day after day for sixty-five years, to an intense
munism was indeed a new idea and one that might
propaganda campaign about this putative "hostile
be thought by the inexperienced to appeal to the
encirclement." The Communist rulers unscrupu-
best qualities in human nature. Is it after all not
lously exploit the tragedy of the Soviet people in
a worthy purpose, to secure unalloyed happiness
World War II for the purpose of justifying both
for all future generations, to liberate and unite the
their oppressive regime and their monstrous mili-
whole of mankind? Naturally, such a thing will
tary spending. They try their best to instill into
not be easy, but it is worth a great deal of sacrifice
the people a pathological fear of the "capitalist
to achieve. Just as naturally there will be many
world." Fortunately, the people are sane enough
selfish people to oppose it and we should learn to
to laugh at the very idea. Thus, contrary to this
be ruthless with them. Only millions of individual
theory, there is no paranoid population demand-
wills fusęd into a single invincible "we," united
ing to be protected in the Soviet Union, despite
by the iron fist of a Leader, can achieve so difficult
the best efforts of a perfectly sober and cruel gov-
an end.
ernment.
This period of ecstasy, however, was very short-
No, it is not the fear of invasion or a World
lived. One by one, the various elements of the
War II hangover that has driven the Soviet rulers
Soviet population cooled down, sobered up, and
to wage an undeclared war against the whole
then could not believe in their own former en-
world for half a century now. It is their commit-
thusiasm. The besieged minority reacted to this
ment-repeated quite openly every five years at
desertion of the public by becoming even more
each Party Congress since the beginning of this
ruthless and single-minded: "We will make them
century-to support the "forces of progress and
happy against their will; their children will be
socialism," to support "liberation movements,"
grateful to us." I will not describe the mass
everywhere on the globe.
slaughter that resulted from this great determina-
tion. It has been described many times. A terror-
RE we then to assume that the Soviet
A
ized majority obeyed with sham enthusiasm, be-
leadership consists of fanatics aiming
cause it was a crime to look gloomy. But under-
at global control? Even such a model, crazy as it
neath there was a silent, passive resistance. The
might sound, still imputes too much "normality"
minority of "believers" over time became simply a
THE PEACE MOVEMENT & THE SOVIET UNION/39
ruling clique which had lost its ideals in the con-
interlocked, creating a sort of vicious circle. The
stant fight for survival, in corruption, and in its
more the regime becomes rotten inside, the more
abuses of power and its privileges. The ensuing
pains are taken by its leaders to present a formid-
political situation can best be described as a latent
able façade to the outside world. They need inter-
civil war in which a kind of balance has been
national tension as a thief needs the darkness of
maintained by political terror.
the night. In the political climate of latent civil
In this way the Soviet Union reached a condi-
war, given the enormous and senseless sacrifices of
tion in which absolute power was exercised by ab-
the last fifty years, the constant economic difficul-
solutely cynical people over absolutely cynical peo-
ties, and the lack of basic rights-not to mention,
ple, each side vociferously assuring the other that
again, the extraordinary privileges enjoyed by the
they were all still sincerely building an ideal
ruling clique-the only hope for stability lies in
future society. But the ideology exists now almost
the need to cope with an external threat: "hostile
as in a work of science fiction: it has separated
encirclement" and the subversive activity of "world
itself from its substratum and has petrified in the
imperialism." In this artificially created state of
structure of the society. It has become an institu-
war, the worker's demand for a better deal, or a
tion in which nobody (not even the top executive)
captive nation's demand for its independence, can
is allowed verbally to deviate from the dead dog-
then be treated as an act of subversion, "playing
ma. The will of millions is still being taken
into the hands of the enemy."
from them and welded into the iron fist of
Nor is it enough to create a devil in order to
abstraction.
maintain one's religious zeal. This imaginary
There is practically no free human being inside
enemy must be defeated over and over again or
the entire country. The state-the only employer
there will be the risk that he will seduce you.
-will not allow anyone to be financially inde-
American "imperialism" must be defeated at any
pendent-as indeed no independence of any kind
cost, and the liberation of proletarians in the
will be tolerated. Everybody must be carrying out
capitalist countries must be promoted by all
a useful task, performing a needed function. Sev-
means. The failure to support a "friendly gövern-
eral nationwide networks of security and secret
ment," to establish Communist rule in a new
police spy first on each other and then together
country, will immediately be perceived as a weak-
on everybody else. Such a system has created a new
ening of Soviet power, and therefore an encour-
type of a man, who thinks one thing, publicly ex-
agement to the sullen and embittered population
presses another, and does a third.
at home. Any failure of the Soviet international
The enormous inertia of this system is not sur-
adventure may thus trigger a chain reaction lead-
prising. There is no internal "class enemy" any
ing to the ultimate collapse of the Soviet rulers.
more; there is no need to terrorize so many mil-
This is why they cannot allow a popular uprising
lions. Still, there are huge concentration camps,
in Hungary, a "Prague Spring" in Czechoslovakia,
because they have become an integral part of the
an anti-Communist "Holy War" in Afghanistan,
country's economic, political, and spiritual life.
or an independent alternative center of power in
Nobody believes now in the ultimate victory of
Poland. Immediate repercussions would be felt in
Communism in the world, but the policy of exter-
all the other countries of the Socialist camp as well
nal subversion and the promotion of "socialist
as in the Ukraine, the Baltic states, Central Asia,
forces" everywhere has become an integral part of
and other occupied territories. The scenario of ag-
the state machinery. The system rules the people.
gression is depressingly uniform. First, the Soviets
undermine a democratic state, helping the friendly
B
EYOND inertia, there is something else,
"progressive forces" come to power. Next, they
something even more decisive: the in-
have to save their bankrupt "progrestive" friends,
stinct of self-preservation of the ruling clique.
when the resistance of the population threatens to
Once you are riding a tiger, it is difficult to jump
overthrow them.
off. Any attempt at internal liberalization might
Are they frightened to the point of aggressive-
prove fatal. If the central power were to weaken,
ness? Yes, but not by your piles of hardware, not
the sheer amount of hatred accumulated within
by your clumsy attempts at defense. They are
the population for these sixty-five years of the
frightened by their own people, because they know
socialist experiment would be so dangerous, the
the end is inevitable. That is why they must score
results of any reform so unpredictable-and, above
victory after victory over the "hostile encircle-
all, the power, the fabulous privileges, the very
ment." Behind every victory is a very simple mes-
physical survival of the ruling clique would be-
sage addressed to their own enslaved population:
come so tenuous-that one would be mad to ex-
"Look, we are still very strong and nobody dares
pect the Soviet leaders to play with liberal ideas.
to challenge our might."
Only the imminent threat of total collapse might
If they are afraid of you, it is because they are
force them to introduce internal reforms.
afraid of your freedom and your prosperity. They
The two sides of the Soviet regime-internal op-
cannot tolerate a democratic state close to their
pression and external aggression-are inseparably
borders (and then, close to the borders of their
40/COMMENTARY MAY 1982
buffer-states), because a bad example of thriving
revolt of various tribes in Pakistan, instigated by
democracy so close at hand might prove to be too
Moscow? Or a Communist takeover in Iran?
provocative.
There are plenty of "natural" troubles in the
world, brought on by local conditions. But the in-
K
NOWING all this, let us ask ourselves a
fluence of Moscow immediately turns them into
question: what would happen if the
major strategic problems. It would be senseless to
West were to disarm unilaterally? Could the
try to solve all such problems by military means
Soviets follow suit? Certainly not. It would mean
all over the globe. Simple logic suggests that we
the rapid disintegration of their empire and a gen-
must deal first of all with the source of the world's
eral collapse of their power. Does this mean they
major trouble-i.e., the Soviet system. We must
will simply roll over the now defenseless Western
find an effective way to help the Soviet population
countries? Again, the answer is: no. They don't
in its struggle for change. After all, they are our
need your territory, which would be difficult to
biggest ally.
hold anyway. Above all, where would they acquire
Unfortunately, this has so far never been appre-
goods, technology, credits, grain, etc., if they were
ciated by the West, which has instead been contin-
to impose on you their inefficient economic sys-
uously strengthening the Soviet system by credits,
tem? They need you in the way China needs Hong
trade, technology. Why should the Soviets bother
Kong. But from that very moment you will gradu-
to introduce any internal reforms if their inefficient
ally begin to lose your freedom, being exposed to
economy is periodically saved by the West? The
constant and unrestrained Soviet blackmail.
West is still rich enough to help them out, and
You may like or dislike your trade unions, but
Siberia is also rich enough in turn to sell natural
would you like them to have to consider a possi-
gas, gold, diamonds.
bility of foreign invasion every time they wanted
to declare a strike-as Solidarity had to do in
Poland for eighteen months? You may like or dis-
W
E MAY shake with indignation when-
ever we hear about the Soviet inva-
like your mass media, but would you like to see
sion of yet another country. We hate these little
the self-censorship of your press in order to avoid
obedient soldiers, ever ready to do whatever they
an angry reaction by a powerful neighbor-as in
are told. Are they robots? But what do we propose
Finland? You may like or dislike your system of
that they should do? Do we honestly expect them
representation, but at least you are free to elect
to rebel and face a firing squad, while the entire
those whom you choose without considering the
world continues to provide their executioners with
desires of a foreign power. Nobody threatens to
goods, credits, and modern technology? Don't we
come into your country and impose a government
demand of them much more than we demand of
of its choosing-as in Afghanistan. The nature of
ourselves? Somewhere, somehow, this vicious circle
the Soviet system is such that it can never be satis-
must be broken, if we are to survive as human
fied until you are similar to them and are totally
beings. Why not start where it is easier?
under their control.
There are 90,000 of these "robots" trapped in
So, we come to a very important conclusion: the
Afghanistan at this very moment. They cannot
issue now is not "peace versus war," but rather
rebel because they will be shot down. Even so,
"freedom versus slavery." Peace and freedom ap-
there are occasional rebellions (and executions).
pear to be inseparable, and the old formula "Bet-
They cannot desert, because they will either be
ter red than dead" is simply fatuous. Those who
killed in the process or, if they are lucky and
live by it will be both red and dead. Whether we
manage to reach Pakistan, the Pakistani authori-
like it or not, there will be no peace in our world,
ties will' return them to the Soviet command (that
no relaxation of international tension, no fruitful
is, again, to the firing squad). Does any govern-
cooperation between East and West, until the
ment try to help them? No. Instead, several Euro-
Soviet internal system changes drastically.
pean governments have decided to buy Soviet nat-
Has this simple and self-evident truth ever been
ural gas, perhaps the very same gas that is being
understood by Western decision-makers? I doubt
pumped out of Afghanistan by, the Soviet occupa-
it. In a way, I can share some of the concern of
tion authorities as compensation for "liberating"
the peace movement. Because for the West to react
Afghanistan.
stereotypically by increasing military spending and
There is a lot of noise about Poland right now
stockpiling new hardware every time the Soviet in-
A lot of noise, and a lot of smoke screens. But
stability-aggression complex manifests itself is sim-
does any government sacrifice anything? After issu-
ply to miss the target. At any rate, it is not
ing thunderous condemnations, the European gov
enough. It is not going to change the Soviet sys-
ernments decided not to apply economic sanctions
tem. It is not going to prevent Soviet expansion,
against the Eastern bloc, because sanctions would
especially in the Third World. Soviet ideological
"harm us, probably, more than them." Why
warfare is far shrewder than a big nuclear bludg-
should you establish the kind of relations that only
eon. Would we, for instance, consider a nuclear
make you more vulnerable than the enemy? Why
bombardment if tomorrow there were to be a
do you continue to sign new agreements of the
THE PEACE MOVEMENT & THE SOVIET UNION/41
same type (natural gas, for example)? The Ameri-
crowds on the streets of the European capitals.
can banks recently decided to cover the huge Pol-
Thanks to them, we descend slowly into the Age
ish deficit because the "bankruptcy of Poland
of Darkness.
would undermine the world financial system
What would happen, I wonder, if tomorrow the
III
Soviet-bloc countries were to refuse to pay their
debts and to suspend all trade?
This is what the struggle for peace and freedom
boils down to: the people in the East should sach-
T
HIS article is not addressed to the bank-
ers, or to the governments. I do not ex-
fice their lives, but you should not sacrifice your
pect any help from them. In spite of all the harsh
profits. Small wonder that the Polish army does
words used in it, I wish it to be read by sincere
not rebel.
people who are seriously concerned with the prob-
In fact, the imposition of economic sanctions on
lems of peace and freedom. They will probably
the Polish military junta and on their Soviet mas-
dislike many of the things I have said here. I hope,
ters is not just a possible step; it is the actual
however, that they will understand its main point:
obligation of the Western countries under the
that peace has never been preserved by a hysterical
terms of the Helsinki agreement. A direct link
desire to survive at any price. Nor has it ever
among security, economic cooperation, and the ob-
been promoted by catchy phrases and cheap slo-
servance of human rights is the very essence of this
gans. There are 400 million people in the East
agreement. If that is forgotten now, of what point
whose freedom was stolen from them and whose
is all the noise lately heard from Madrid?
existence is miserable. It so happens that peace +
To tell the truth, I do not believe that any of
impossible while they remain enslaved, and only
it has been forgotten. Neither do I believe that the
with them (not with their executioners) should
Western banks, industrialists, and governments are
you work to secure real peace in our world.
so "stupid" as to tie themselves to the Eastern
Your recent mass demonstrations were disas*
chariot wheels by mistake. It is their deliberate
trous, because in them you identified yourselves,
policy, overtly articulated in the time of détente,
willingly or unwillingly, with the rulers of the
and covertly now. Moreover, it is their philosophy.
Eastern countries. To make broad alliances with
They love stability, these bankers and business-
any public (or governmental) forces just for the
men. And they are much against any resistance
sake of power is a tremendous mistake. This mas-
movement in the Communist countries, very much
take must be corrected if we are to live in peace
against any prospect of liberation for the enslaved
and freedom. We should know who are our
nations of -the East. They are the greatest peace-
friends and who are our enemies. The fate of
lovers of all, far more powerful than all those
Solidarity should open our eyes.
Commentary
VOLUME 73
NUMBER FIVE
MAY 1982
Editor: Norman Podhoretz
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EXTRACTS from an Article by Vladimir Bukovsky, 'The Times', 4th December 1981:
BETTER RED THAN DEAD IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH
I was not very surprised when suddenly, within a year of the Soviet
invasion of Afghanistan, a mighty peace movement came into being in Western
Europe. Having lived 34 years in my beloved communist motherland, I can
easily predict many of their decisions, tricks, pranks and stunts. In fact,
it is not very difficult to do, for the Soviet state is not a very intelligent
creature, rather a huge brainless ante diluvian reptile with a fixed set of
reflexes at its disposal.
What was more amusing to observe was the apparent easiness with which
mature and responsible people had fallen into the Soviet booby-trap in their
thousands. It is as if history was repeating itself in front of us, giving us
a chance to see how the Russian state collapsed in 1917, or how France
collapsed in 1940.
Once again, the universal craving for peace at any price has rendered
people illogical, irrational, unable to think calmly.
To begin with, why is it that everybody started suddenly to be so
apprehensive of nuclear war? What happened to make it more real than a year
ago? Just because the Soviet rulers were caught cheating the West, and the
new American Administration decided to change the pattern of their
negotiations with the Soviets, the war is more real? But clearly, the whole
history of East-West relations shows that the only way to force the Soviets
to respect agreements is to be in a position of strength.
So should we say that war is more real now than a year age just because
the Soviets have got themselves into a difficult position and may lose their
military superiority?
The Soviet-controlled World Peace Council writes in its booklet of
1980: "The people of the world are alarmed. Never before has there been
so great a danger of a world nuclear holocaust."
But why was it not so dangerous a year or two ago? Why has it become
so dangerous only now? Why are we suddenly alarmed by the stockpile of
hardware and not by the Soviet military move toward the Persian Gulf?
or take the example of the new missiles in Europe. Why is it more
dangerous to replace the old missiles with new ones than to leave the old
ones where they are? Were not the old ones equipped with nuclear charges as
well? Indeed, the new ones are more accurate. Thank God they are on our
side. It may make life more difficult for the Kremlin adventurers. But
why should millions of people in the West see it as a tragedy and a danger?
In the depth of their hearts, the majority of these frightened people
have a simple answer to all these "whys". They know that the only source of
danger is the Soviet Union and anything which makes it angry is dangerous.
But the fear is so paralysing as to make them totally irrational - as
illogical as advocating the abolition of police forces just because criminals
have become too aggressive.
Indeed, the most amazing aspect of the present anti-war hysteria is
not only the timing of its start, so remarkably favourable for Moscow, but
the direction of the campaign. Millions of people in Great Britain, Germany,
Holland, Denmark, Belgium, France and Italy, being supposedly of sane mind,
claim that the threat of war comes from
their own governments and the
Government of the USA! Psychoanalysts would call it a Freudian replacement
of a real object OÍ fear with an imaginary one.
It is quite easy to see the real source of aggression. Was it
American or the Soviet troops who occupied half of Germany and erected a
wall in Berlin? Is it not the Soviets who occupy Hungary, Czechoslovakia,
Bulgaria, the Baltic States and Afghanistan against the wish of the people
in these countries? Are they East or West German troops which concentrate
on the Polish border at this very moment?
After speaking several times with the proponents of the current
peace movement, I know that no logic would impress them.
Some of these "peace makers" sincerely believe that as soon as the
West disarms itself, the Soviets will follow suit. And with incredible
naivity they ask us to try this suicidal experiment.
Some are more openly selfish and object only to the placement of
nuclear weapons near their own village (town county or the whole country)
as if being protected is more dangerous than not to be. Or, better still,
as if one village, town or country can maintain nuclear neutrality in the
time of a modern war Surely, they argue, if comrade Brezhnev has promised
to respect the "nuclear-free zone" in case of war, we may sigh with relief
and sleep peacefully. Has comrade Brezhnev ever broken his word? Of
course not. He is a most honest man, is he not? He can even guarantee
the direction of the nuclear-contaminated clouds and the location of the
radio-active fall-out.
"Why should the Russians attack us, if we are disarmed?" Why
indeed? Ask Afghani peasants. They probably know.
VLADIMIR BUKOVSKY
Times Newspapers Limited, 1981
TO
(11630)
it
SANITY +
People and
radiation
THE
MAGAZINE
OF
CND
don't mix
1982 No. 1
Feb/March
40p
nant cataracts cumours keloid
burns
death ulcers SCOTTISH CND GAINS MAIORITY PAGE
INTERVIEW
Bruce Kent pins down
ADVERTISEMENT
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MISSILES
CND
COLL
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THE BOMB
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THE BOMB, a film produced by the ACTT union for CND,
C
would be an excellent complement to the WAR GAME or
other films at a CND film meeting. TOGETHER WE CAN
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FILMS
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NAME OF CND GROUP/OTHER ORGANISATION
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TEL:
Return to FILM OFFER, CND 11 Godwin Street, London, N4. Hire charge £10
plus p&p (not necessary in advance).
Sanity 1982
February/March
Page 1
SANITY
February-March
THE MAGAZINE OF CND
Issue No. 1 1982
Out with the old, in with the new
F CHRISTMAS is at least a time when we see a lot of
victims, are not even invited, are meant to keep us
friends and relations and catch up on their news, so
quiet. "Shut up kids, the two Daddies can settle this
the arrival of the National Peace Council annual
by playing the game called 'Zero Option". This
report for 1981 is a time for remembering, also that
secrecy we cannot allow.
the peace field is a very wide one. CND is by now
The military take over in Poland is somehow meant,
certainly the largest of the peace groups, but it would
in the minds of Western militarists, to shut us up. It
be very big-headed to forget the many others
shouldn't. Did we ever expect that the militarists of
slogging away at demolishing the great wall of
East or West were going to give up their power
militarism which crosses our lives.
As a New Year resolution therefore, three cheers for
positions without a harsh reaction? Poland and
Turkey, side by side, are parallel examples, but
the Campaign Against the Arms Trade which has over
Turkey is on 'our' side, so the media says little or
the years woken up many to the nastiness of that
particular export industry. It is a Campaign which
nothing about the horrors going on there or about the
generous military and economic aid going from the
both radicalized unions into thinking about
West to that particular military regime.
redeployment, started the churches reflecting on the
morality of making profit on the means of killing, and
There must be no running out of puff. 1982 is full of
brought the voluntary overseas aid organizations
opportunities. Even the MOD knows quite well that
much closer to us.
Trident is never going to go through and is trying to
CAAT of course is not the only other active member
give a face lift to Polaris. Arguments for Cruise from
of the peace family - the list is too long to count, but
David Owen and David Steel are so see-through in
welcome anyway to two new and growing infants -
character as to be quite immodest. 1982 also gives us
the Peace Tax Campaign and the Peace Advertising
the United Nations Second Special Session on
Campaign which have both found their own points of
disarmament and peace movements from all over the
leverage and are both in different ways bringing
world are already planning to converge on New York.
home to ordinary people the madness of the arms
It gives us the Greenham Common and Molesworth
race.
camps and a national demonstration on June 6 of
In Europe we have built a massive movement - by
quite a new character. It gives us Hard Rock, the
no means all of it pacifist - outraged about the
Home Office civil defence exercise which, if our
waste, the wickedness and the sheer stupidity of the
groups are on the ball, will be a disaster in every
arms race and determined to end it. This movement
sense of the word for all except those working for
must not be allowed to run out of puff. The END
peace. In short, 1982 is not a year of short cuts -
vision of a nuclear Europe is a very powerful one.
there are none on the road to building a mass
1982 brings new problems. Those closed door talks
movement, convincing, powerful, and informed -
in Geneva to which Europeans, who happen to be first
but nevertheless a year of great opportunity.
Contents
Cover:
HIBAKUSHA - the Japanese word for victims of
nuclear attack and accidents. DESIGNED BY
CONRAD ATKINSON. See page 14.
PHOTO: ED BARBER
PHOTO: CRAIG M. JEFFREY
PHOTO: LABOUR PARTY LIBRARY
PEOPLE.
CAMPAIGNING.
POLITICS.
Sanity talks to
Will anti-nuclear
Labour's John
CND chairperson
campaigners near
Silkin says that,
Joan Ruddock
the
given a chance,
and
proposed Trident
he will stop
Youth CND
base at Coulport
Trident and
activist
KEEP
be able to
send back
Annajoy David.
PAGE 22/23.
TRIDENT
Cruise missiles.
overcome
fears of
PAGE 24/25.
OUT OF
unemployment?
PAGE 10/11.
SCOTLAND
PHOTO: SANITY
PHOTO: MoD
PHOTO: ED BARBER
MUSIC.
ARMS RACE.
PEACE CAMPS.
Dave Wakeling of
Question: What
Alison Whyte
rock-group
will cost more
has been
The Beat and
than Trident
talking to the
a remarkable
and increase
members of the
classical
Britain's nuclear
Molesworth
concert in
arsenal by a
Peace
Birmingham.
staggering
Camp.
PAGE 12/13.
amount?
PAGE 15/16/17.
Paul Rogers
answers on
PAGE 18.
SANITY: THE MAGAZINE OF CND. Sanity is published by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, 11 Goodwin Street, London N4 3Ha. Tel: 01 (all departments). Editors: Chris
Horrie, Alison Whyte. Advertising Manager: Joan Horrocks. Distribution and Administration: Tony Allan, Adrian Howe, Linda Pollack. Editorial Board: Phil Bolsover (chair), Andrew Kelley,
Meg Beresford, Richard Keeble, Norma Turner, John Cox, Dianna Shelley. Printed by QB Newspaper and Magazine Printers Ltd, Sheepen Place, Colchester, Essex. Trade Distribution: Full-
Time Distribution, Albion Yard, Building K, 17a Balfe Street, London N1. Registered as a newspaper at the GPO. CHEAP RATES FOR BULK SALES: 10-99 copies, 25p per copy. Over 99
copies, 20p per copy, postage inclusive. Unsolicited articles will only be returned if a SAE is enclosed. The contents of Sanity are not necessarily the opinions or policy of the Campaign for
Nuclear Disarmament unless expressly stated.
Page 2
February/March
Sanity 1982
Letters
Write to: Sanity, 11 Goodwin Street, London N4 3HO
Urgent! — Support our film appeal
Dear Editor,
people of all incomes to
We are happy to an-
make an immediate and
nounce that Peter Watkins
generous contribution to
has agreed to produce and
the cost. Contributions will
direct a new film about the
help to avoid the greatest
nuclear arms race. It will
menace of all time - the
deal with an ordinary
extinction of humankind.
British family on the day
Cheques should be made
that World War Three be-
out to The Peace Film Fund
gan.
and sent now to Lord Jen-
Peter Watkins produced
kins, House of Lords, Lon-
The War Game, banned by
don SW1.
the BBC, for whom it was
Frank Allaun, Viv Bing-
made 16 years ago. In the
ham, Moss Evans, Tony
last year, it has been show-
Hart, Bruce Kent, Sir
ing to packed houses in
Martin Ryle FRS, The Revd
halls, schools, churches and
Lord Soper, Susannah
factories throughout the
York.
country.
London.
The new film will last
about 50 minutes. The cost
FIRE STORM IN ROCHES-
is estimated at between
TER. A still from Peter
£75,000 and £100,000.
Watkin's masterpiece
We are confident that
The War Game, (right)
this film will be shown not
banned by the BBC. Now
only throughout our coun-
Watkins plans a new film
PHOTO: BBC/BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE
try but in many lands
and a financial appeal
abroad, as well as on cer-
has been launched by
tain television networks.
Parliamentary and Peace
We are now appealing to
movement leaders.
MILLIONS STILL
adopted a unilateralist posi-
underground should they
Russian armies waiting to
or not there are sound al-
tion and liason must be
wish, as there is a secret
move in and take us over
ternative defence strategies
THINK BOMB
maintained with their exist-
and private underground
the minute we cease to
against conventional
ing CND Liberal group.
spur line and station
have a nuclear deterrent. It
weapons, the more likely
KEEPS PEACE
A major point of com-
beneath the Palace
is no good expecting the
we are to win the argu-
mon concern between
gardens. Duncan Jones,
majority of the British
ment.
Dear Sanity,
CND and the SDP must be
London SE3
people with such views to
Roger Blackman,
The conversion of Andrew
the Cruise and Trident pro-
Dear Editor.,
become pacifists, or even to
Harrow,
Wilson (Sanity Dec/Jan) is
grammes, and the Social
How many anti-nuclear
be swayed by the moral
Middx
welcome, but his attempt to
Democrats, who believe
demonstrators who gath-
arguments. Therefore I be-
Dear Editor,
downgrade the strategic
strongly in the European
lieve that the concentration
I was interested to read in
ered in Hyde Park on 24th
case for nuclear disarma-
ideal, will be looking
October 1981, realised that
of effort should go into
your issue of December 81
ment is dangerous.
closely at the decision of
underneath them, beyond
showing that NATO strate-
of the howitzer with
However powerful the 'mo-
the Dutch government to
the underground car park,
gies relying on nuclear de-
"nuclear capability" being
ral argument', it can have
defer the acceptance of
lie facilities covered by a
fence are fatally flawed,
shown off by the Royal Ar-
no effect whatsoever on the
Cruise. Also, of course,
Government D-notice (ie
and that retaliating to con-
tillery during a recruiting
millions who believe that
there is much new thinking
highly confidential in-
ventional attack with
display in the West Mid-
we have nuclear weapons
within the SDP regarding
formation, not for public
nuclear weapons is not a
lands a few months ago.
as the best way of prevent-
strengthening conventional
knowlege). Buckingham
militarily acceptable op-
The Army gave it the name
ing war.
European defence, at a
Palace is a stone's throw
tion. Perhaps you could ask
"Holocaust" and painted it
Richard Seaford,
time when our American
from Hyde Park. In the
Andrew Wilson to explain
on the side to show that
Exeter CND,
friends have chosen the
event of WW Three, the
why he does not think con-
they are being "realistic",
Devon.
way of Neutron, Trident
no doubt.
Royal Family will descend
ventional defence could be
and Cruise.
into their nuclear bunkers.
made to work, taking into
As you imply this
Richard Graham-Evans,
George Miller,
account the latest de-
weapon with its threatening
SDP CND
1 South Avenue, Hurstpier-
velopments in automatic
name is foul and offensive
Battersea CND'
Dear Sanity,
point,
EDITORS NOTE: These
guidance and heat-sensing
and detestable. Having said
Sussex BN6 9QB
Further to Jack Ellis's arti-
rumours are discussed in
systems. I am no expert,
that, one must go on to say
cle and Bob Fyson's letter
FEARS FOR
Peter Laurie's interesting
but P.F. Walker, in an arti-
that it is regrettably what
in the last issue of Sanity, I
book BENEATH THE
cle in the August 1981 issue
one expects as long as we
propose that the time has
ROYAL SAFETY
CITY STREETS (Granada
of Scientific American,
have a government and
come for CND members
1980). Certainly the Victo-
states that 300,000 anti-
ministry of "defence"
which believe in the devil-
who are also members of
UNFOUNDED
ria tube line planned in the
tank missiles could be de-
the Social Democratic
cold-war early sixties,
ployed for the cost of 900
ish policy of "deterrence"
Dear Editor,
Party to form a Social De-
modern (M-1) US tanks
so-called.
swerves inexplicably to run
I was amused by Phil Bol-
mocrat CND group.
directly under Buck House
(2.1 billion dollars). If this
The basis of this policy of
sover's article about Civil
and several other state
is true, it would surely be
"deterrence" is to threaten
This would be a safe-
Defence in the last issue of
buildings. Mysterious
relatively easy to make
other nations with destruc-
guard to both interests and
Sanity. He mentioned the
access points to the tunnels
Western Europe secure
tion and suffering, and also
would have three main
Home Office comment that
are also discussed in the
against a land-based inva-
to make warfare as cruel,
functions; firstly, to main-
the Royal family would be
book.
sion; and presumably
barbaric and destructive as
tain a dialogue between the
staying at home when the
ALTERNATIVE
similar options are avail-
possible. All nations which
SDP and CND, also involv-
bombs start flying.
able for air and sea de-
embark on similar policies
ing 'joint-thinking' with
I thought that readers
DEFENCE
fence?
of "deterrence" are guilty
SDP multilateral specialists
might be interested in a
I am sure it is possible to
of moral corruption and
and such groups as the
couple of anecdotes I heard
Dear Sanity,
persuade most people that
can be condemned in any
World Disarmament Cam-
when I was involved in the
With regard to alternative
the Russians are after all
court of international
paign. Secondly, from
property business.
defence in Bill Howard's
human, and are no more
justice for preparing geno-
within CND that the
I understand that the
article (last issue), it seems
likely to fire nuclear
cide.
'single-minded approach' is
Carriage Road inside Hyde
to me to be absolutely cru-
Let us regard this
weapons first than we are.
maintained and the CND
Park adjoining the palace
cial that CND should make
The greater difficulty is to
weapon named "Holo-
doesn't adopt 'political'
has planning restrictions on
a major effort to tackle this
caust" as a reminder that
counter the widely held be-
positions regarding defence
it so that it can be used as
issue, if we are ever to have
lief that without nuclear
the policy of "deterrence"is
tactics, strategic alliances
an air-strip by light planes
the support of millions of
weapons, Russian tanks
immoral and that any such
etc., that would undermine
should the Royals need to
people on the centre and
would start to roll and be
policy has a vested interest
it's integral strength and
do an emergency bunk.
right of the political spec-
in making warfare as cruel
unstoppable. The more in-
unity. Thirdly our Liberal
I also believe that they
trum who have grown up
and horrific as possible.
formed opinions we can
partners have already
can do a midnight flit by
P. Dransfield,
with the picture of massed
gather together on whether
Huddersfield
Sanity 1982
February/March
Page 3
Letters: The War Game, Christians, Royal Bunker, Poland
QUESTION THEY
destructive of all forms of
have changed in over two
support in the party and the
CND are the same thing to
life. It leaves the world
hundred years!
population. Pressure will
me.
IGNORE
uninhabitable. Nuclear
Gregory Evans,
probably lead to a more
Stella Munroe,
weapons highlight the com-
Bath,
liberal regime or to an
Durham.
Dear Editor,
plete idiocy and futility of
Avon
overthrow of the Govern-
During the debate on
war and aggression them-
ment.
nuclear strategy and de-
selves. It is this realisation
BACKING FOR
What was good for CND
Announcement
fence, 'The two-edged
and this question that these
was good for Solidarity in
sword; a question of secur-
men seem to want to totally
POLAND
Poland and vice-versa.
THE WOMEN at the
ity, (Radio 4, 8pm, 6th Jan-
avoid and/or ignore.
Perhaps Solidarity is no
Dear Sanity,
Greenham Common
uary) it became apparent to
Emma Ayling,
more. We who are allowed
Woodford Green,
With the crackdown in Po-
Peace Camp invite
me that no one in the
to should express more
Essex
land the press has another
people to join in their
course of the discussion
loudly and more often our
opportunity to show that
festivities on March
wanted or dared to come to
support for freedom in the
the Russians are every bit
21, (Mothering
terms with the horrific and
NOTHING EVER
East and its connection
as callous, undemocratic
Sunday and the
destructive power of
with peace.
nuclear weapons, or
and Imperialist as they
summer solstice).
CHANGES
Peter Spurrier,
have always said they were.
During the day there
weapons of any kind. What
Horsham,
Therefore we must not
will be activities at
are they for then? simply to
Dear Sanity
Surrey.
evade the Polish crisis but
each of the bases's 6
assert the ideologies of po-
After the excellent BBC
incorporate it into our cam-
gates.
liticians?
documentary on Thomas
How many people, I
paign.
Dear Sanity,
Paine that was screened I
The way the Kremlin
The smashing of Solidarity
1. Women's Gate
wonder, feel their everyday
decided to re-read THE
sees it, the world is domi-
lives smiling, sharing
is not only a disaster for the
RIGHTS OF MAN. In
happy times with others, as
nated by Western big busi-
Polish people but a set-
2. Religious Gate
Tom Paine's own preface to
simply part of a throw-away
ness which exploits the
back for the disarmament
3. Artist's Gate
the English edition I found
people and causes untold
campaign in Western
political instrument to as-
the following passage. It
misery, and the Soviet bloc
Europe. How sad that we
4. Green (ecology)
sert the might of one gov-
was written around the year
Gate.
ernment over another?
is the only real defence
didn't establish a closer
1791:
These men were talking
against this otherwise
connection with Solidarity
"That there are men in all
5. New Age Gate
overwhelming force. So the
before it was forced un-
with unemotional logic as if
countries who get their liv-
they would be unaffected
Russian rulers, wrongly, try
derground. There were ru-
6. Music gate
ing by war, and by keeping
by nuclear war of any kind.
to preserve their system at
mours that the CND
up the quarrel of Nations,
Nuclear war raises many
all costs, making sure that
symbol was seen on
In the evening the
is as shocking as it is true;
more questions more
people are ideologically
Solidarity's student
women will blockade
but when those who are
than just tactical, numerical
pure and dealing with any
marches in particular.
each gate.
concerned in the govern-
deviation from their truth
But I believe that
Contact: RAF
of political problems. It is
ment of a country make it
one of the most efficient
toughly. If our countries
Solidarity will continue
Greenham Common,
their study to SOW discord,
take a unilateralist stand,
even in an underground
nr. Newbury,
weapons in both political
and cultivate prejudices be-
show more concern for the
way. We must do much
Berkshire. Tel: 0635
and military terms. It em-
tween nations, it becomes
Third World and are less of
more if we are to link up
27541.
ploys people it will ultima-
the more unpardonable.
a threat to Moscow, the
with them for a new
tely kill, and it is totally
How little some things
hardliners will lose their
Europe. Solidarity and
POSTAL POINTS
NEW STATESMAN
I sympathise with George Morgan's sense of exasperation at
the attitude of so-called 'born-again' Christians' supporting
Reagan's nuclear policies in America (last issue) but I can't share
his conclusion - that we don't need the support of Christians.
When Christians have truly been 'born again' they gladly
endeavour to follow Christ's teachings about loving one's
enemies (Matthew 5, verse 44).- REV ROGER POLLARD,
Special offer
Skipton.
The women's Day of Action for Peace, May 24th 1982 is a
great idea (Sanity Dec/Jan). May I suggest that men be involved
to readers of SANITY
too? Not in charge of the events as usual, but behind the scenes
as tea-makers, child-minders and washers-up. MICHAEL
JACOBS, Huddersfield.
A video about the Women's Peace Camp at Greenham
The New Statesman shares a common interest with readers of SANITY on the
Common (Sanity, last issue) is now available from Box 33, 108
vital issue of nuclear disarmament. Starting with E. P. Thompson's seminal
Bookshop, 108 Salisbury Road, Cardiff CF2 4AE. It is black and
white VHS, fifteen minutes long and costs £5 to hire. Just
article 'An Alternative to Doomsday' (NS 21 December 1979), the New
thought we'd let you know. - BEN TOTH, Cardiff.
Statesman has been and remains at the forefront of the revival of the British
Come off it George Morgan (letters, last issue) not all Born
movement against nuclear weapons. Readers of SANITY will discover a fund
Again Christians support Reagans Policies. I myself am a Born
of invaluable information in the New Statesman on the nuclear issue and on
Again Christian and certainly would not support Reagan using
other important social and economic matters.
Britain as a base for his Cruise missiles. - CHRISTIAN CND
SUPPORTER, Southampton'.
We invite you to try the New Statesman for a three-month trial period for less
I was annoyed to see the sly dig at Christian CND supporters
than two-thirds our normal subscription rate.
that you allowed to be published on the letters page of Sanity -
however amusing to some. Thousands of Christians are
working to CND and preaching the Gospel of Peace. That letter
didn't help. - MARY HALEY, London SE16.
3 MONTHS FOR ONLY £4.25
There are quite a few of us in the Church working to restore
Christ's true message of peace and social justice in such groups
as Christian CND and local Justice and Peace groups. In
If you wish to accept this offer please send your cheque for £4.25, together
Nottingham Diocese, for example, the Catholic Justice and
with your name and address, to the Subscription Department, New
Peace Commission decided, after special conference, to support
Statesman. FREEPOST, 10 Great Turnstile, London WC1V 7XD. No stamp
CND's policy of unilateral nuclear disarmament. - ALEKS
needed. This offer is valid for the UK only.
SZCERBIAK, Nottingham Diocesian Justice and Peace
Commission.
Concerning Nukespeak and all that, I have always thought it
piquant that, among an earlier generation of US nuclear
missiles, one was called the 'Honest John'. - R.J.M.
NEW STATESMAN
TOLHURST, Chelmsford.
Page 4
February/March
Sanity 1982
News
The
PHOTO: SANITY
Bunker five face
fines
Charles — the non-nuclear Prince
BY ALISON WHYTE
ON DECEMBER 16th
received a tip-off or that
THE PRINCIPALITY
BY JOHN MILNER
CND campaigners
1981 five peace movement
the fence was wired up to
of Wales could soon be-
will obviously be de-
activists from Manchester
the police station. They
come the first country in
that Clwyd would adopt
lighted if Clwyd votes it-
entered the grounds of a
were arrested on the spot
Europe to renounce
non-nuclear status.
self nuclear-free, but one
private American hospital
and taken to Cheadle
nuclear weapons. Wales,
The CND-backed
person, at least, will be
in Cheadle Hulme, Man-
Hulme Police Station
of course, has по par-
nuclear-free zone cam-
chester. Their mission - to
where they were detained
keeping quiet on the
paint the slogan THEY
overnight and released on
liament but every county
paign in Wales is a
subject. That person is
WILL BE SAFE. YOU
bail the following day.
council has declared it-
breakthrough in more
the Prince of Wales.
WILL BE DEAD' and a
They appeared in court
self a 'nuclear-free zone'
ways than one. Whereas
When Sanity asked
CND symbol on a bunker
on January 21st. Liz
except Clwyd, which will
in England and Scotland
Buckingham Palace if
for government officials
McCallum pleaded not
debate a resolution on
most nuclear-free coun-
the Prince had any
and war planning officers.
guilty and will appear on
the topic on February
cils are labour, two of
thoughts on the prospect
Sheila Standard collected
April 6th. The other four
23rd. A spokesperson
the largest Welsh county
of becoming the head of
the wire clippers with which
pleaded guilty and were
each fined £100 plus a total
for CND Cymru said
councils, Powis and
they cut through the sur-
a nuclear-free Principal-
rounding fence and Mike
of £188 damages. The ac-
that campaigners were
Dyfed, have no political
ity, the answer was a
Killian and George
tion was supported by
'reasonably confident'
party in overall control.
firm "no comment".
Georgiou painted the slo-
Greater Manchester CND.
gan on the wall. Also pre-
Chris Crow believes that
RIGHT: RAF GREENHAM
sent were journalist Liz
the venture had certain re-
COMMON, Berkshire.
McCallum and Chris
sults. "We got a lot of pub-
Work is well underway,
Crowe who was to drive the
licity and it has really
preparing the base to re-
getaway car.
started people thinking
cieve Cruise missiles in
Six minutes after the
about what these bunkers
PLEASE
about 18 months time.
operation was underway,
are there for and who
TOP: a message from
about twenty-five
they're supposed to
Peace Camp protesters.
policemen arrived on the
protect."
BOTTOM: New double
USE
scene with dogs. The five
And the slogan is still
security fence with dog-
believe that the police had
there.
run.
PARKING
Peace camp women face eviction threat
THE TOWN COUNCIL of Newbury,
for the eviction threat. "We have no
WORK IGHTS
near Reading in Berkshire have asked a
intention of leaving until we are carried
group of women who have established a
away, and what is needed here now is a
'Peace Camp' outside an RAF base to
large presence all the time so that there
leave.
are enough women here to give us a
The Camp was established last year
feeling of solidarity and strength", she
PLEASE BASE BASE PLEASE
as a continuous protest against Govern-
said.
PHOTQ: DW
ment plans to site Cruise missiles at the
The women have asked that only
base, RAF Greenham Common, in
women actually stay at the camp al-
about eighteen months time. If the
though men are welcome to participate
women do not leave then they face an
in
activities.
eviction threat.
On mothering Sunday, March 21st
The council claim that ratepayers are
there will be a festival to celebrate Life
demanding that the camp be wound up
at the Camp. All are welcome.
but a spokesperson for the campers
Molesworth Peace Camp - see
claimed that this wasn't the only reason page 15.
Devon Tories make history
HISTORY WAS MADE in
OPPOSITION to any
leading to multilateral
Dartmouth, Devon on
Government or Party
disarmament.
January 9 when the first
which is in favour of re-
CO-OPERATION with
Conservative Party orga-
searching, manufactur-
CND and similar peace
nisation voted to affiliate
ing, deployment or use of
groups.
to CND. Dartmouth and
any weapon of mass des-
OTHER YOUNG TORIES
District Young Tories will
truction, nuclear chemi-
to join CND.
also donate money to
cal or biological.
DONATIONS to CND.
boost CND's depleted fin-
THE WIDEST possible
ances.
VOTES for any candi-
discussion of the nuclear
date for Town, District,
issue at all levels in the
The YC branch passed
County, Constituency or
Young Conservatives,
a six-point resolution
European elections who
from National Executive
calling for:
is in favour of unilateral,
to Branch level.
PHOTO: DW
Sanity 1982
February/March
Page 5
Christmas? It was humbug in Waltham
POLICE IN North East
London faced a barrage
By Peter Lang
"charity, cause or
fund."
of criticism at Christmas
"It was a blatant
when they banned a
were advised that
CND group from going
Scotland Yard had to
political decision," said
Waltham Forest CND
carol singing with a
first consider the
member, Wendy
collecting box. Members
request.
of the Waltham Forest
After ten days of
Wright. "I don't see
how the police could get
PHOTO: STEWART RUSSELL
group accused the police
internal debate and
away from it. It is
of exercising political
consultations with legal
bias when an application
advisers North East
especially clear in the
to hold a street
London's Acting
light of the
Commander, Chief
government's campaign
collection was refused.
to counteract CND.
The application was
Superintendent Ken
made by the group so
Wright, announced the
But the episode
they could spend six
application would not be
wasn't wasted as far as
PETITION WITH A DIFFERENCE: Birmingham
nights in the area singing
granted with no
the group was
CND campaigners came up with a novel idea
carols and disarmament
reasons given.
concerned: members
which has boosted the number of signatures
songs at the traditional
But the Waltham
felt that coverage given
they get when they are petitioning. They simply
time of peace and
Forest group also took
to the issue in the press
ask people to sign on the dotted wing of a
goodwill. When they
legal advice and were
brought considerable
model Cruise missile. The missile can then be
applied under the new
referred to the
adverse publicity to the
presented to an embarrassed government or
Metropolitan Police
regulations which said
government's campaign
military official.
district regulations they
the money must go to a against
CND.
Keeping it in the Family
is a mammoth venture
TORNADO FOR HONINGTON
for this relatively small
group but they feel that
IN DECEMBER 1981 the Government carried out a
TAKING a full part in
women must act now to
little noticed act of unilateral nuclear disarmament.
evening CND meetings
By Glynis Williams
defend their children's
The RAF's aged Vulcan bombers were permanently
is often difficult for
Greenham Common
future. The lobby is
grounded and, until the summer of this year, Britain
parents with young
they have organised a
being held at the House
will be without an airborne nuclear 'deterrent'. Trem-
children. But a group of
lobby of Parliament by
of Commons on May
ble in your boots.
women campaigners
women and children.
18th from 2.30 pm
The Vulcan squadrons No 9 and No 617 will be
have overcome the
The group is busy fund-
onwards. Facilities will
moved to RAF Honington in Suffolk and RAF
problem by setting up a
raising, and on February
be provided for the
Marsham in Norfolk later this year and will be
new disarmament
20th they are holding a
children and details of
equipped with the controversial new multi-billion
network.
Benefit Gig at Caxton
the lobby are being
pound Tornado bomber. Squadron 617's motto is
Followingthe
House, St. John's Way,
circulated to all local
"After me: the Deluge."
women's peace camp at
London N19. The lobby
CND groups.
Tornado feature - see page 18.
Phil Evans In Sanity
MR PRESIDENT, SINCE
THE SUCCESS OF THE
FIRST- A BOMB WHICH
NEUTRON BOMB OUR
KILLS INDIANS BUT
SECOND -A BOMB
WHICH ELIMINATES
BOYS HAVE COME UP
LEAVES COWBOYS INTACT!
CHIP SHOPS- BUT
WITH SOME NEW
LEAVES MACDONALDS
WEAPONS!
UNHARMED!
THIRD- A BOMB THAT
WIPES OUT YOUNG
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF
PEOPLE BUT LEAVES
IT so FAR, MR PRESIDENT
FULL PRODUCTION!
OLD PEOPLE STILL IN
SIR?
YES SIR!
CONTROL!
Page 6
February/March
Sanity 1982
NEWS IN BRIEF
Butter-fingers at Faslane
NUCLEAR LEAK
BY ADELAIDE
lection of other warheads
line. It's really a buzz to be
IT'S A GOOD job that the Russians
aboard the ship. The conse-
tripping out and know that
didn't try a sneak nuclear attack
LESLIE
quence of such an accident
you are cruising the Arctic
on January 14th. Because if they
ALL IS not rosy at Holy
could quite easily be a large
with Polaris missiles that
had civil defence bunkercrats in
Loch, an American nuclear
radiological cloud ex-
could wipe out half of Rus-
Leicestershire would have been
base less than 30 miles from
tending from the base for a
sia - man that's a good
caught on the hop. Emergency re-
the heart of Glasgow. Dur-
distance of up to 28 miles
trip.'
pairs were being carried out on the
ing November news began
and a maximum width of
Documents obtained by
roof of Loughborough's fall-out
to filter out of a potentially
2.5 miles. With the wind
the New Statesman, which
shelter the main civil defence
disasterous accident. A Po-
behind it, such a cloud
deal with a Discharge
centre for the East Midlands. The
seidon missile, carrying ten
would reach Glasgow.
Board Hearing in 1976,
heavy snowfalls had cracked the
nuclear warheads, was be-
Just as frightening and as
reveal how one sailor with a
roof and the bunker was partly
ing winched on to the
dangerous are reports of
history of indebtedness,
flooded with freezing water.
submarine USS Holland
drug abuse among the sea-
unauthorised absences and
from the mother ship Los
men. Sailors say that life on
irresponsibility was a
UPWOOD TAKE-OVER
Alamos, when the winch
board ship is so boring that
'nuclear weapons security
RAF UPWOOD, near Huntingdon,
broke free and the missile
they pass most of their time
guard', with access to
was given over to the American
dropped 17 feet before
smoking dope. As it would
specially controlled papers.
airforce in January. It's all part of
automatic brakes halted it
be too easily detectable on
After being found with a
a considerable American build-up
and it swung wildly into the
a submarine, the submarin-
supply of cannabis in his
in the area. Fifteen hundred extra
Holland's side.
ers 'do' uppers. One
locker he was demoted al-
US personnel will live at the base,
The risk was detonation
submariner is quoted in the
though not discharged or
staffing the nearby proposed
of the thermo-chemical ex-
New Statesman (Nov 27) as
sent back to the States.
Cruise missile base at Molesworth
plosives in the trigger-
saying, 'I do uppers most of
Some more good reasons
and the TR1 spy-plane which will
system which would have
the time, but as a special
to remove American bases
be based at Alconbury. There are
also ignited the rocker's
treat, like when I'm on
and American weapons off
already about 35,000 American
propellant fuel and the col-
watch, I'll do a little mesca-
our soil.
service personnel in Britain.
NO MORE URANIUM
Teachers group
THE NUCLEAR-FREE zone
HOW MANY PEOPLE do you
movement is spreading right
wish you could take through
round the world. On October 13th
school again with the benefit
the city of Sydney, Australia, de-
of studies slanted towards
clared itself nuclear free with a
peace? You watch the Box
four-point plan which includes the
and see a defence boffin
de-militarisation of Sydney Har-
doing the most amazing cal-
culations about how to blow
bour and opposition to uranium
up the world for "demo-
mining within the city boundaries.
cracy" and you think, "mad
Sydney joins Woolongong as an
idiot, where did he go to
Australian nuclear-free zone.
school?" Meanwhile on the
Woolongong is one of the centres
other side of the world
of the uranium mining industry.
another person is using
science to fight disease and
WHITEHALL GOLD
to develop life-saving techni-
PHOTO M LIPMAN
A NOTORIOUS anti-CND cam-
cal know-how. The first per-
paigning group, The British Atlan-
son is making the second
tic Committee, is in receipt of
person's job very much
large sums of money from the
harder. How did they arrive
A TORCH-LIT procession in Leeds city centre by Leeds
Government and that's official.
at such different ways of
life? Education of course is
CND to mark the second anniversary of the NATO
In reply to a question in the House
the key.
decision to deploy Cruise missiles in Britain. The
of Lords on December 17th the
At last people are trying to
Leeds demonstration was just one of hundreds that
Parliamentary Under Secretary of
institute peace studies as
State for the Foreign Office, Lord
took place all over Britain to mark the anniversary.
agreed at the last United
Trefgarne, admitted that the com-
Nations Special Session on
mittee had received £30,000 from
Disarmament Teachers for
the Government for 1981-2.
Peace is a group within CND
which is totally opposed to
SCOTTISH CAMPAIGNERS
that the generating over-capa-
nuclear weapons and which
against nuclear energy have la-
city of the South of Scotland
NERVE GAS SLAMMED
aims to draw attention to the
belled a proposed new nuclear
Electricity Board now stands at
NEARLY 200 people turned out on
role that education can play
power station as a 'plutonium
over 80%. The proposed
New Year's Eve to protest outside
in working for a peaceful
factory' to be used to provide
power from Torness will give
the USAF base at Lakenheath,
world.
material for a massive expan-
the Board more than twice as
East Anglia, following an an-
The goup's latest newslet-
sion of Britain's nuclear arse-
much electricity as is ever
nouncement that US nerve gas
ter has news about Teachers
nal.
needed, even on the coldest
would probably be brought to the
for Peace groups including
On Friday January 29, Lo-
day of the year."
base in the near future. The
one in Avon County which
thian Regional Councillors Mrs
SCRAM believes that one of
has two full-time "peace"
Madeleine Monies and Paul
the most important reasons for
demonstration took place within
teachers. All Nuclear Free
Nolan pulled the wraps from a
the development of Torness is
24 hours of the announcement.
Zone local education
notice-board in front of the
to provide a secure supply of
Roger Spiller, East Anglian CND
authorities should follow
Torness power-station site.
weapons-grade plutonium for
co-ordinator, handed in a letter of
this example. There are
The sign is the only indication
the nuclear weapons pro-
protest to a senior RAF officer
ideas on getting peace and
of what is happening on the
gramme. If the Government
after the base's American com-
nuclear disarmament
building site behind the bound-
buys the proposed Trident
mander refused to meet a CND
discussed in schools - as-
ary fence and gives reasons
nuclear missile system nearly
delegation.
semblies, packs on the UN,
why the public should oppose
1,000 extra nuclear warheads
and an idea about peace ex-
the building of the power sta-
will be needed.
£74 MILLION SHELTER PLAN
hibitions "Study War No
tion. The councillors dubbed
Nuclear power's role in mak-
More". Teachers for Peace
the site 'Torness plutonium
ing nuclear weapons is
THE GOVERNMENT IS to spend
are preparing "Dovepax"
factory'.
shrouded in official secrecy.
£74 million to build nuclear bomb-
resource material of copies
The organisation behind the
But SCRAM estimate that
proof aircraft hangers at Marham,
of original documents (out in
christening of the Torness site
Britain's nuclear power sta-
Wattisham, Coningsby, Leuchers,
May). The draft copy of The
is the Scottish Campaign to
tions have produced 40 tonnes
Lossiemouth and Stornoway as
Teacher for Peace Handbook
Resist the Atomic Menace
of plutonium - and half of
preparation for nuclear war.
will be out in March. Sub-
(SCRAM) and a spokesperson
that has 'disappeared' into
There will be no public announce-
scription to the newsletter is
for the organisation told Sanity
bombs.
£2 per year. Available from
that "this action is timely in
ments about when the work is to
Teachers for Peace, c/o CND,
the light of the Invergordon
Britain's plutonium exports.
start.
11 Goodwin St, London N4.
smelter closure considering
Howard Clark, p27.
Sanity 1982
February/March
Page 7
Gently does it
DETERMINATION that
"It was not a noisy
their children should not
demonstration," explained
have to grow up with the
one of the organisers, Mary
threat of nuclear war has
Gill, "but a calm and gentle
prompted a group of Ox-
event so that people, and
ford mums to set up their
that means most of us, who
own disarmament cam-
had never taken part in a
paign group.
march before felt comfort-
Oxford Mothers for
able and could come with
Nuclear Disarmament
their babies and toddlers."
staged their first major
T
event - a march through
"Many people just
the town (photo: right) in
joined the walk as we
September last year and
passed through the centre
of the town.
plan another one for July
3rd.
Mary Gill hopes that
Ten mothers got together
other groups of mothers
EA
to organise the march by
will organise walks on July
using contacts gained from
3rd SO that, all in all, it adds
playgroups and schools,
up to a national event. She
friendships and a small ad
M
N
and the other organisers
in the local newspaper.
say that they would be
Support for the September
more than happy to answer
march was very encourag-
any questions on how to
ing with nearly ,000
organise this type of walk.
parents and kids taking
Her address is 29 Gardiner
PHOTO: OMND
part.
Street, Oxford OX37AW.
'All nuclear' Army may be on its way
A BREAKTHROUGH
which can fit into larger
in nuclear weapons
field-howitzers.
miniaturisation tech-
The Administration
nology at the American
gave the go-ahead for
Lawrence Livermore
production for the new
Laboratory may mean
shell last March, but so
that in future all field
far there has been little
guns and tanks will be
progress. The Ameri-
fitted with nuclear in-
cans have had enough
stead of conventional
problems persuading
01
shells.
Europe to take the neu-
MAD SCIENTISTS, INC.
Scientists at the lab
tron weapons already
have designed a type of
under production, let
neutron warhead
alone a new miniature
roughly six inches in
version which would be
diameter and three feet
U.S.
seen as lowering the
long - so small that it
nuclear threshold still
would easily fit standard
further.
artillary 155mm guns.
If the shell were to be
There are already two
produced it would
types of neutron war-
clearly have to be based
head under production
in Europe. With a range
in the USA. One fits
of only eighteen miles
into the nose-cone of the
there would be little
short range Lance
point in basing it in
missile, the other an
America. But even the
eight-inch diameter shell
new smaller neutron
shell would still be more
"NOW we can destroy the world without
destructive than the Hi-
Statistics never lie
destroying the world!" The San Francisco
roshima bomb, releasing
Chronicle's view of the 'Mad Scientist' at the
added deadly radiation.
nearby Lawrence Livermore nuclear weapons
AN IMPORTANT new about the nuclear arms
research laboratories. Technology gone mad?
booklet has just been pub-
race.
lished by the Radical Statis-
How is it possible that,
tics Nuclear Disarmament
given the same statistics,
Group explaining the way
two nations or groups of
Air-launched Cruise go-ahead
in which statistics are used,
people can come to dif-
and misused, in discussions
ferent conclusions? How
SIXTEEN AMERICAN
Boeing factory in
Ground-Launched
can you be sure like is being
STRATOFORCE
Seattle, in the North
Cruise missiles
LISTING SERVICE
compard with like? If you
nuclear bombers are
west USA.
(GLCMs) to be based
Starting with the next issue
want to find out then The
to be fitted with air-
B-52 bombers are
at Greenham Com-
we plan to have a small-ads
Numbers Game, available
launched Cruise
not permanently
mon and Molesworth,
type listing of all events
from BSSRS, 9 Poland
missiles by the end of
based at USAF bases
ALCMs could be flown
planned by local CND groups
Street, London W1 will set
1983. The bombers
in Britain but they
in and out of British
to present a complete
national guide to all disarma-
you back £1.50 + 35p pack-
will carry twelve
have been known to
bases at will, possibly
ment activity. Please send in-
aging. Most importantly
Cruise missiles each,
use East Anglian
in their thousands.
formation about your events
this booklet shows you how
the first of up to 3,000
bases such as Alcon-
Two new types of
to LISTINGS, SANITY, 11
GOODWIN STREET, LONDON
to use statistics and how to
Air-Launched Cruise
bury during exercises
bomber are planned to
N4. IMPORTANT: Please give
avoid being confused. A
Missiles to be fitted on
and Boscombe Down
carry the ALCM and
the minimum necessary in-
good start has been made
bombers by the
is officialy designated
they will come into
formation and send listings
entries separately from other
by effective presentation of
Americans.
as a B-52 standby
operation between
items such as group newslet-
figures in this book - there
Production of the
base.
1986 and 1990. In the
ters, news reports etc. THE
are many excellent tables,
ALCMs is well under
This means that in
meantime B.52s will
EDITOR,
diagrams and charts.
way at a specially built addition to the be adapted.
Page 8
February/March
Sanity 1982
HARD
THE NEXT big home defence
honest, five. But this is only
naturally exhaust all possible
exercise Operation Hard
the glossy end of a massive PR
efforts at encouragment and
Rock - comes up in October.
job that started with the Civil
persuasion before contemplat-
It follows two years of intense
Defence Review of 1980. Then
ing recourse to our statutory
preparation and quiet propa-
in August 1981 the Home
powers; but the Government
ROCK
ganda work by the Govern-
Office took the astonishing
is determined that United
ment, designed to persuade us
step of announcing that 'all ES
Kingdom civil defence must go
that nuclear war is survivable
circulars issued to local
ahead'. Mr Whitelaw has not
and possibly winnable. That
authorities may now be con-
yet sent in a public commis-
gives us just eight months to
sidered "open" and unclassi-
sioner to build bunkers and
rouse a massive shout of
fied" (ES2/1981). There were
draw up war plans, but he has
By John Field
protest and active resistance
some exceptions (ES5/1979,
clearly indicated that he is
against the cynical and elitist
on satellite accidents, and all
prepared to do so rather than
plans our rulers have drawn up
police plans), but in general
see our 'deterrent' posture
for surviving the holocaust.
this marked a surprising turn
weakened by the anti-nuclear
Operation Hard Rock is
Since NATO decided to site
towards opening the books.
councils.
due to take place in the
Cruise missiles in Britain,
The intention, however, has
Hard Rock offers CND
home defence has gradually
more to do with military
groups throughout Britain the
Autumn of this year. Part
expanded. The Home Office
propaganda than freedom of
chance to mount a nationwide
of a wider NATO nuclear
has made more resources
information.
campaign of protest and resis-
war rehearsal, it will be
available for local authorities
tance to the civil defence con-
the largest Civil Defence
to increase civil defence
Support
trick. The following check-list
exercise to take place for
spending, police and army
There is another reason why
is only meant as a kick-off; no
many years - setting the
training have been stepped up,
home defence will be particu-
doubt plenty of other sugges-
£400,000 has been given to the
tions will come in over the
seal on Civil Defence
larly important this year: there
health service to fund fourteen
are signs that the government
next eight months.
measures revived over
War Planning Advisors, the
intends to put pressure on the
ONE: Make sure your local
the last three years. CND
bunker system is being ex-
'nuclear-free' local authorities
authority has discussed Hard
tended, and Sir Leslie Mavor
Rock.
groups plan to get
to comply with its home de-
has been transferred from the
fence instructions. So far sev-
TWO: Ask local government
involved as well.
Home Defence College at Ea-
officers to discuss Hard Rock.
eral authorities, such as South
singwold to recruit voluntary
NALGO, the white-collar
Yorkshire and the Greater
organisations like church
union for local government
London Council, have an-
groups and first aid societies to
officers, decided at its last con-
nounced that they will suspend
train in civil defence.
ference to support members
further planning for nuclear
The Home Office and
who refuse to take part in civil
wars. But the government has
Ministry of Defence have also
defence exercises.
already started to reduce the
put their smooth-talking pub-
THREE: Labour Party
part played by elected coun-
lic relations departments into
branches should call coun-
cillors in home defence: places
top gear. Just before Christ-
cillors' attention to the NEC
for councillors on Home De-
mas I trudged through the
guidelines on Home Defence,
fence College courses have
Sheffield snow to take my
which were passed overwhel-
been slashed, to make way for
children to see Santa in Snig
mingly at last year's confer-
non-elected full-time officers,
Hill Police Station (well,
ence.
and the Home Office tried to
where else would he be these
CND campaigners near the
pass over councillors' heads
Exhibition
Polaris base at Faslane on
days?). While I was there I
when preparing for Hard Rock
FOUR: Gather information.
the Clyde Estuary taking
noticed a pile of free, glossy
last May.
green brochures on the in-
Before Hard Rock starts you
'direct action'. The road they
CND groups must come out
re-titled is an Essential
formation counter, with the
should prepare a briefing pack
in open support of the nuclear-
Service Route, which would
on home defence, which can
encouraging title: Civil De-
free zones. Last July the
be sealed off during the run-
fence: why we need it, and
be circulated to leading coun-
up to a nuclear war.
Home Secretary warned local
naturally I took one. Or, to be
cillors, church leaders, peace
authorities that 'we will
groups, and newspapers. Re-
gion 2 (Yorkshire and Hum-
Garel
berside) activists are currently
ESCAPE
ROUTE
preparing their own pack,
Helen
EVENT OF NUCLEAR
available from West Yorkshire
ATTACK OR ACCIDENT
Peace Newsletter, 2 Lascelles
Arroc
RN VEHICLES ONLY
Rd, Leeds'8.
FIVE: Publicise your objec-
tions to Hard Rock. It would
be nice if every household in
KEEP
Britain received a locally-pro-
SCOTLAND
duced leaflet, explaining what
is going on and why you op-
pose it.
SIX: Get together an exhibi-
tion on civil defence. Sheffield
CND put on a display during
the Sheffield Show last year,
which included a relief map of
PHOTO: HELENSBÜRG ADVERTISER
the city after a nuclear attack,
a Protect and Survive shelter,
and posters and photographs.
SEVEN: List the likely home
defence installations in your
area. Even in 'nuclear-free
continues over page
Sanity 1982
February/March
Page 9
continued from previous page
zones' the police, army and
Glimmer of hope from Group of 21
United Kingdom Warning and
Monitoring Organisation will
DURING THE four months
mament." It recommended
be co-operating with Hard
before the start of the
Rock. The UKWMO bunkers,
By Ray Hainton
that these negotiations
for instance, are listed in an
Second Special Session of
should be continued but
the United Nations on
appendix to the Royal Ob-
there should also be nego-
Disarmament, June 7 to
sion. They will have before
tiations on comprehensive
server Corp's history, Attack
Warning Red by Derek
July 13th, we have our last
them several working
measures leading to a
Woods.
chance to put pressure on
papers put forward by
treaty of general and com-
our Government to put be-
member nations.
plete disarmament under
EIGHT: Have an anti-nuclear
fore the Special Session
The UK, with Australia,
effective international
day out. One of our most
some proposals for actual
Belgium, Federal Republic
control. The Final Docu-
successful fund-raising activi-
disarmament.
of Germany and Japan,
ment gave nuclear disarma-
ties in Sheffield was a spon-
A massive letter lobby of
have produced a working
ment top priority for halting
sored walk to a UKWMO
MPs is needed NOW.
paper (obtainable from the
and reversing the arms
bunker eight miles away fol-
A 40-member Committee
Office of Arms Control and
race.
lowed by a festival.
on Disarmament, including
Disarmament, Foreign
The working paper put
representatives of all the
Office, King Charles Street,
forward at Geneva, which
NINE: Non-violent direct ac-
nuclear weapon states, was
London, SW1, Document
comes closest to the recom-
tion, as approved by the CND
set up in Geneva, following
No CD 205:CD/CPD/WP52)
mendations of the Final Do-
conference, may be appro-
the First UN Special Session
which, if accepted by the
cument, is the one put for-
priate. Some people have sug-
on Disarmament, to draw
Geneva Committee, will re-1
ward by the 21 neutral and
gested tying large plastic bags
up proposals to lay before
legate nuclear and conven-
non-aligned states. This
over the ventilation inlets of
the Second Special Session.
tional disarmament to the
proposes a four stage plan,
UKWMO bunkers; others
At Geneva the UK and
long term. It is not until
starting with large percen-
have suggested welding down
USA have vetoed the set-
the second and later
tage reductions of nuclear
the hatches; others recom-
ting up of separate working
phases (ie after 1990)
and conventional weapons
mend 'flying the CND flag'
groups on nuclear disarma-
that any negotiation on ces-
by the Superpowers and
over known home defence
ment and on a comprehen-
sation of weapon de-
other military significant
installations. The problem
sive test ban.
velopment and manufac-
States, and ending with
with all these, in my view, is
But there is a working
ture is considered or any
multilateral agreement
that they only draw attention
group on a Comprehensive
negotiation on reduction of
among all States to disband
to the less important home de-
Programme of Disarma-
nuclear weapon stockpiles
their armed forces down to
fence activities, and leave cen-
ment, in which nuclear
or prohibition of new
the levels needed for gen-
tral government and armed
disarmament could still be
weapons of mass destruc-
eral and complete disarma-
forces preparations more or
given priority if agreement
tion (such as lasers) is en-
ment.
less untouched. But they are
on doing so can be reached.
visaged.
still worth doing.
The Group of 21's pro-
The working group on the
The Final Document of
gramme puts nuclear disar-
Public issue
Comprehensive Pro-
the First Special Session de-
mament first. It calls for a
TEN: Ask your County Emer-
gramme will be meeting
clared that negotiations on
freeze in current levels of
gency Planning Officer to
again in mid-January to try
partial measures of disar-
military expenditure of the
address a public meeting.
to produce a consensus do-
mament have brought us a
nuclear weapon States and
Some EPOs are quite
cument in time for the
"little closer to the goal oT
an urgent start on actual
prepared to do this, and so far
Second UN Special Ses-
general and complete disar-
disarmament.
they seem to have been even
more effective at convincing
people of civil defence's intrin-
Nukespeak Monitor compiled by Richard Keeble
sic uselessness than CND has.
Garforth Anti-Nuclear Group
"The British submarine-launched ballistic
cutter."
held a highly successful meet-
missiles are pears in a basket of apples."
Report in The Daily Telegraph on the neutron
ing with speakers from West
Government spokesman reported in The
bomb.
Yorkshire Emergency
Observer.
Planning Department last
"My finger slipped, I hit the button, and
year, but some county councils
"US cools off heat over super bomb."
nuked Washington by mistake."
are unwilling to allow their
Headline in Daily Star over report on neutron
Big headline on advertisement for 'Computer
EPO to address potentially
bomb.
and Video Games' magazine.
controversial gatherings. If
this is the case, can we ask
Dr Desmond Ball has demonstrated in a
"The greatest peace movement of all times is
what they have to hide?
recently published International Institute for
NATO."
This list by no means ex-
Strategic Studies paper called 'Can nuclear
Mr Victor Goodhew, MP for St Albans and
hausts all the possibilities. But
war be controlled?', there are between 100
vice-chairman of the Conservative back-
it provides a framework of ac-
and 200 Soviet targets that could be attacked
bench defence committee, reported in The
tivities that is well within the
without causing any collateral damage, that
Daily Telegraph.
scope of any determined peace
is killing civilians."
groups, however small, pro-
Reported in The Observer.
"Ban-bomb Foot defies the mob".
vided that they are prepared to
Headline in Sunday People over report on
make this a serious public is-
"Can we be certain that Chicago would be
October 24 CND demonstration and rally.
sue. With courage, and a little
swapped for Hamburg or would the Soviet
luck, we can make one compe-
leaders calculate that America was bluffing?"
"The firing today was so beautiful."
titor in the arms race at least
Julian Critchley, Conservative MP for
Japanese colonel on the testing of US
limp a little. When the Home
Aldershot, writing in The Daily Telegraph on
Hercules surface-to-air missiles, reported in
Office wrote to local authori-
possible Third World War scenarios.
The Sunday Times.
ties about Hard Rock last
May, it called for even 'greater
"Its blast and heat effects would be very
"The F-16: The unleashed fury of the fighting
civil participation than in
much reduced extending perhaps only to a
Falcon."
"Square Leg". Let's give it to
couple of hundred yards radius thus earning
General Dynamics advertisement headline
them!
it the description of being 'clean' or a 'cookie
for the latest nuclear fighter-bomber.
Page 10
February/March
Sanity 1982
THE SCOTTISH Campaign
the Social Democrats have not
factor is a determination to
52%
Against Trident was formed in
affiliated to SCAT, although it
stop Trident.
September 1981. There are no
is interesting to note that the
Although individual mem-
individual members of SCAT
Tory Reform Group in Scot-
bership does not exist, provi-
as membership is restricted to
land has come out against Tri-
sion is made for those who
groups. The purpose of SCAT
dent.
wish to be put on a mailing list
FRONT COVER STORY
is to stop Trident and is not a
SCAT is involved in the pre-
and a small fee is charged for
unilateral nuclear disarma-
paration of materials under its
this service.
In December 1981 a
ment group. SCAT is not in
own name and in the organis-
The Trident issue is becom-
competition with CND for
ing of demonstrations and ral-
poll was published in
membership.
lies. A major event at Easter
ing a major issue in Scottish
this year will be SCAT's anti-
politics and should be a major
the Glasgow Herald
SCAT attracts groups which
which showed record
are simply determined that
Trident demonstration. All
issue in British politics as well.
members of SCAT are being
SCAT represents every sec-
Trident, for whatever reason,
support for CND in
asked to come to a demonstra-
tion of Scottish opinion and is
is unnecessary. The strength of
able to mobilise large numbers
Scotland. It showed
SCAT lies in its sole purpose
tion and rally in Glasgow.
SCAT is unique in that it is
of people. The first and im-
that CND has more
- stop Trident!
mediate demand made by
Membership consists of over
not demanding unilateral
SCAT is for a wide-ranging
supporters than any of
150 groups in Scotland ranging
disarmament as a general
the political parties and
from trade unions, individual
theme (although many of the
enquiry into the whole ques-
local authorities, church and
groups which are members of
tion surrounding the necessity
that large percentages
peace groups, CND groups
SCAT do demand that as part
of having Trident missiles. The
Government would be exceed-
of supporters of all
and political parties in Scot-
of their own beliefs).
land. Most of Scotland's politi-
Therefore SCAT is able to at-
ingly foolish to ignore this
political parties support
reasonable demand. The con-
cal parties are members of
tract the widest possible
sequence of ignoring public
CND. Summarised, the
SCAT with the exception of
support from all sections and it
the Tories and the Social De-
opinion is a matter for the
answers to the question
doesn't matter for the purpose
Government.
mocrats. It is remarkable that
of the campaign whether that
"How much do you
political parties can come to-
opposition to Trident is based
If democracy means any-
agree with CND?"
gether in the one room and
upon strategic, economic, en-
thing at all then a full ranging
jointly agree to be part of the
vironmental or social or reli-
enquiry must be granted fairly
were:
one campaign. The Tories and
gious reasons. The unifying
soon.
AGREE: 52%
NEITHER AGREE NOR
Trident: local & national issue
DISAGREE: 16%
DISAGREE: 26%
IF Coulport is mentioned and
powers available to the Coun-
nothing short of a farce and a
Faslane is also mentioned then
cil should it dislike what is pre-
charade designed, no doubt,
ON'T KNOW: 5%
those involved in the Peace
sented.
to get help from the local
In reply to another
movement would recognise
Dumbarton District Council
planning authority and to give
those names immediately and
made it clear to the Ministry of
the impression to local people
question, 58% thought
know the area concerned.
Defence that there will be no
that some element of local de-
that American nuclear
All of these areas in fact are
consultations on the basis of
mocracy was involved. The
within the Dumbarton
bases should be
outline planning and that all
District Council made it clear
District.
plans when finalised should
to the Secretary of State that it
removed from
The policy of Dumbarton
then be presented to the
wished a planning enquiry
Scotland.
District Council is to have no
District Council for its consid-
commission to consider the
negotiations with the Govern-
ered view. Of course this did
implications of the MoD plan.
Behind these results
ment over the siting of Trident
not suit the Ministry of De-
So far this has not ben
is the hard-slog of
at the Coulport base. The
fence who said that its final
granted, and the enquiry is
Government does not need
plans would not be available
now a major campaigning
campaigning by
planning permission for this
for years.
point.
Scottish CND and a
development and the purpose
The plans which were re-
The procedure governing
new organisation,
of consultation is similar to the
ceived were qualified in almost
consultation is set down in a
processing of a planning appli-
every detail. To sum it up, the
Scottish Development Depart-
SCAT
cation, but without any legal
process of consultations was
ment Circular issued in 1977.
In the event of any dispute
between the sponsoring de-
partment, in this case the
Ministry of Defence, and the
local authority concerned,
if that matter is referred to the
Secretary of State for Scotland
HOPE
by the sponsoring depart-
ment, the Secretary of State is
then free to consider what
method he should use to re-
solve the difficulties.
Since August of last year
there has been no consultation
between Dumbarton District
Council and the Ministry of
PHOTO: CRAIG M. JEFFREY
Defence. To date the M.O.D.
continues next page
PARENTS FOR
SURVIVAL hold a mid-
winter vigil near the
base.
Sanity 1982
February/March
Page 11
continued from previous page
has not approached the Secre-
tary of State. It is quite clear
Jobs key to Coulport campaign
that the Ministry of Defence
does not wish, in any shape or,
OPPOSITION to the planned
warded off complaints of pro-
Trident base on the pic-
By Chris Horrie
disarmament bias in his letters
form, for an enquiry into this
turesque Coulport peninsula
policy, pointing out that the
whole question. Why not?
on the Clyde estuary is wide-
& Grant Thompson
'vast majority' of letters he re-
The whole procedure
spread. The reasons for strong
cieves are anti-Trident and
involved in trying to get ap-
local feeling range from
pro-disarmament.
proval for a Trident de-
the danger posed to the local
velopment has sinister implica-
environment to the justifiable
poles in attempt to delay work
But there is a very serious
problem facing the campaign
tions. On the 10th May last
fear that the base will make
on the Trident base when it
year Viscount Trenchard led a
the area a prime target for
began in September last year.
on the peninsula. The problem
nuclear attack in the event of
delegation which gave a pre-
The group said that the would
is unemployment.
war between NATO and the
use "any device within their
sentation of the Trident pro-
Warsaw Pact.
capability to delay Trident" -
The unemployment rate in
ject to local authorities. The
Dumbarton District was 18%
Many people, like Myra
an approach that SCAT
in October 1981 when SCAT
question was clearly asked.
MacKay of Garelochead, a
neither condemns nor advo-
was launched and has been ris-
Would the Government's cal-
small town on the Polaris
cates, according to chairper-
culations on the non-nuclear
base's doorstep, are getting
son Ian Lietch, who is also an
ing steadily. Nearly 1,000 are
unemployed in the small town
safeguarding zone (or yellow
official of Dumbarton Council
involved with the campaign for
the first time. "I chickened out
in whose territory the MoD
of Helensburgh alone, with
line as it is known) be supplied
pklans to dump the base.
another 6,000 unemployed in
to Dumbarton District Coun-
of watching The War Game
cil? The answer from the Gov-
and admired the dedication of
'Direct Action' is already a
Dumbarton twenty miles east.
CND marchers from the com-
part of the campaign's tactics.
The jobs created by the Tri-
ernment Minister was an un-
When information about the
dent project won't dent the
qualified "yes". To date this
fort of my home", she said,
Government's 'essential ser-
Scottish or British unemploy-
has not been supplied and the
adding "I finally realised how
vice routes' leaked out in Oc-
ment statistics at all (about 350
Commodore Clyde and the
foolish and ignorant it is to be
complacent about the escala-
tober last year, campaigners
extra permanent jobs when
the base is established) but the
Ministry of Defence officials in
tion of the arms race.
pasted messages over
roadsigns on the main roads
jobs look very tempting to the
London have made it clear
Everybody who wants a future
that this will not in fact be
away from the area. Chillingly
unemployed of Helensburgh
for themselves and their
supplied. By implication either
and truthfully enough the signs
and Dumbarton. Already
children must pause and
read: ESCAPE ROUTE. IN
about 3,500 naval personnel
the Government Minister was
seriously consider what is hap-
EVENT OF NUCLEAR AT-
and about 4,000 civies work at
a complete incompetent and
pening now."
TACK CIVILIANS TURN
the base. At the moment the
was talking rubbish at the time
choice seems to be between
Fear for children facing the
BACK, ROYAL NAVY
or in fact he was lying.
nuclear future is a theme that
VEHICLES ONLY.
economic devastation (now, if
Despite repeated requests
runs through the whole cam-
the base were to be closed) or
to try and clarify this issue no
paign near the base. A group
Living in one of the most
nuclear devastation (in a few
direct answers have come from
of parents in Dumbarton have
beautiful parts of the country
years, if the base goes ahead).
the Ministry of Defence.
established a group called
most people on the peninsula
When this particular choice
'Parents for Survival'. One of
are automatic 'friends of the
teams up with a problem that
Dumbarton District Council
the group's first actions was to
Earth'. The conservationists
CND as a whole faces - fatal-
welcomes all letters of objec-
lodge a formal objection to the
are well represented in the for-
ity, a feeling that nuclear war
tion, on whatever grounds, to
development of the Trident
midable political coalition the
is inevitable anyway many
be sent to the Council's head-
base with the Dumbarton
MoD have assembled against
people might opt to die with a
quarters at Crosslett House,
District Council.
themselves. Writing to the
pay-packet. And why not, if
Helensburgh Advertiser, fol-
the alternative is to die with-
Dumbarton, G82. Readers are
invited to send such letters. It
SCAT (Scottish Campaign
lowing a complaint from a
out one?
Against Trident) is an
matters not whether your ob-
Major James Carman that
umbrella organisation linking
jection is based on environ-
protesters 'damaged the envi-
The peninsula has a.
groups like Parents for Survi-
ronment,' one E. Thornton
strongly non-conformist reli-
mental or strategic economic
val with CND, the local
pointed out that "The Trident
gious tradition and the
or moral grounds or all of
authority, the clergy and all
programme will use eight
churches have done much to
them. Copies of these letters
the main local political parties
times the land area needed by
tackle the problem of fatalism.
are then sent to the Govern-
(except the Tories and SDP at
Polaris. This will not improve
The Presbytery of Dumbar-
ment. So far, about 1,000 let-
the moment). The contribu-
the landscape. If, like many
ton has come out in favour of
ters have been sent on by the
tion of the SNP has been parti-
feeling people in the area,
the campaign. A motion
Dumbarton District Council.
cularly active. Members of the
Major Carman wishes to
passed by the Presbytery
The Council would happily
party's West Dumbartonshire
preserve the natural beauty of
stated that "reliance on the
send on 50,000 such letters.
Constituency, led by their
our area he should applaud the
nuclear deterrent is an offence
chairperson Patricia Wallace,
protesters who want not only
to the Christian conscience."
Ian Leitch
tore up surveyors' marks and
to preserve flora and fauna but
One supporter of the motion,
human life too."
Rev David Read, said that
The columns of the Adver-
"The power to wipe out an
tiser have been carrying pages
entire population must not be
of letters like these for
ignored, and we can't say that
months. The editor has
the deterrent argument is feas-
ible anymore. Indeed, it has
become immoral and ineffec-
tive. There is a great deal of
feeling amongst ordinary
people that enough is
enough."
A spectacular view of the
As polls show more support
Clyde estuary clearly
in Scotland than any political
showing the floating
party gained at the last Gen-
PHOTO: ROBERT COWAN
submarine docks of the
eral Election, campaigners
Faslane-Coulport base.
realise that they may have to
Now the MoD plan to
get near-unanimous support
grab eight times as much
before the Government takes
land to accommodate
any notice. They believe this
the proposed Trident
can be done only if the 'jobs
base.
problem' is cracked.
Page 12
February/March
Sanity 1982
IRMINGHAM:
THE
EAT
EETHOVEN
& THE
OMB
ON THE FIRST Sunday
in December, Simon
Rattle, Principal
Conductor of the City
of Birmingham
Symphony Orchestra
and internationally re-
nowned, conducted
the first-ever or-
chestral 'Concert for
CND' in a packed Bir-
mingham Town Hall
- on a platform domi-
weapons originated in
nated by a large CND
the mind of a local
Phil
symbol. Top of the bill
CND member who
was a violinist in the
one of the world's
Birmingham Philharmonic for CND
SIMON RATTLE conducts the
was John Williams,
Braithwaite
CBSO until last sum-
great guitarists and a
mer, when she left to
long-standing CND
study medicine. Her
Reviews a
supporter. All the mu-
idea quickly won the
remarkable
sicians (of whom 35
support of Simon
classical concert.
were CBSO members)
Rattle - described by
gave their services
'Radio Times', in an
PHOTO: CBPO
free of charge and,
understatement, as
with all seats sold five
"probably the most
days in advance, over
brilliant conductor of
£4000 was raised for
his generation" and
STAGE FRIGHT IN THE
the campaign.
of a sufficient number
In a beautifully bal-
of CBSO and other
anced programme,
professional musi-
EUROPEAN THEATRE
Robert Johnston
cians. A little later the
(CBSO Principal Harp)
date was set - appro-
'LIFE IN THE European
Dave Wakeling: Most
pany and every
excelled even himself
priately not long after
Theatre' is a compila-
of the effective politi-
foreign licencee. It
in Debussy's 'Danse
Birmingham City
tion album featuring
cal works of the last
must have amounted
Sacrée et Danse
Council's declaration
many of today's most
five years have been
to more people with a
Profane'; Imogen
of a nuclear-free zone
popular bands. It is the
out of spray cans. You
vested interest than
Cooper (one of Eng-
- and well in time to
strongest anti-nuclear
should never suggest
will end up buying it.
land's most gifted
get out adequate pub-
statement made by
that people do that. It's
No, seriously, we
pianists) gave an awe-
licity, via CND groups
British bands. It will
illegal. So is mur-
thought that by doing
inspiring performance
and events.
raise thousands of
der, and you can go
a record, and putting
of Beethoven's 2nd
To many the most
pounds for CND
tell that to the
some money there, it
Piano Concerto; and
heartening aspect of
(national). Half the
marines!
might start making
John Williams "gave a
the concert was the
proceeds will be put in
In New York some of
people think on the
superb performance"
very distinct interac-
a fund for No Nukes
the walls on the tube
positive side a bit.
of Rodrigo's
tion between players
projects (apply c/o
trains definitely were
NNM: It's a major
Concerto de Aran-
and audience. As the
CND). DAVE WA-
'asking for it. They
public statement by
juez'. A sparkling in-
CBSO's stage man-
KELING is lead singer
look fantastic now.
the bands. I couldn't
terpretation of Mo-
ager said the next day,
of the Beat, and has
Nobody with imagi-
believe it when Bad
zart's 'Jupiter'
the musicians "played
been crucially
nation is going to say
Manners agreed to be
Symphony "rounded
their hearts out", dri-
involved in the album
what a horrible mess.
on it.
off a fine evening of
ven by a commitment
since the beginning.
DW: They're all right,
music" an evening
to a great cause. And
The Beat have played
in which 26-year-old
the audience, sensing
Positive
Bad Manners, they say
anti-nuclear concerts
a lot of things offstage.
Simon Rattle "brought
this, expressed their
since 1979, and
NNM: Did you feel a
out the very best in the
approval by clapping
donated £15,000 from
NNM: What do you
bit out on a limb when
orchestra" and which
extra hard, and by
think of the 'Life in the
their single 'Stand
you did 'stand down
earned "an enthusias-
keeping coughs and
Down Margaret' to
European Theatre' al-
Margaret?
tic reception by a
throat clearances to a
bum?
the movement read
DW: I didn't worry
mixture of classical
minimum (which is
on.
about it. In the same
music devotees and
why several players
DW: We saw the idea
No Nukes Music;
way as an audience at
anti-nuclear cam-
said we'd "not had the
of this album as what
What do you think of
a CND gig or an unem-
paigners" (quotes
usual type of
would be the ultimate
Marxism?
ployed gig. You get
from a rave review in
audience").
thing we could do. I'm
this strange sort of ca-
the mass-circulation
The CND message
amazed it ever came
The
tharsis by being sur-
Evening Mail, which,
was reinforced by the
together., Even for a
rounded by hundreds
editorially, is hawkish
introduction to our
No-Nukes
hard headed busi-
of other people who
and anti-CND).
printed programme by
nessman to manage to
are just as depressed
Bruce Kent and by the
Music
get a compilation al-
as you are - it's
Commitment
presence in the bar
Team
bum of that sort - the
something that cheers
from the early evening
number of vested in-
you up. You see the
onwards of Peter Ken-
Talks to Dave
terests. Not just the
audience smiling, and
This magnificent
nard's photo-montage
Wakeling of THE
management of each
I feel happier now to
musical statement of
exhibition 'Images for
band and the band,
BEAT.
opposition to nuclear
Disarmament'.
but the record com-
continues next page
Sanity 1982
Page 13
Much more than it me-
from previous page
still this idea of the
see that a lot of groups
rits on a world level.
deeply committed
do care. They always
political person who
reflected it in the
Youth CND
sits around checking
lyrics.
the Guardian to spot
It's a terrible temp-
CND, as an organisa-
the propaganda.
tation, pop music.
tion, doesn't seem to
There's a lot of money
NNM: News from the
have much respect for
and if you want to
Beat?
the pop kids. They
keep your eyes shut
don't seem to be mod-
and your mouth
DW: We've been out
ern enough. The vast
sweet, you can make a
majority of young
of synch these last
lot of money and f***
twelve months. We
people I talk to don't
off, and leave most of
mind calling them-
brought out this huge
the problems behind. I
selves CND, but they
plea for unity about
though it was good
want to be the 'young
ten days before Britain
that people were will-
CND'. They want to be
went up in the biggest
ing to make that sort
youthful flames it had
symptom of why capi-
their CND. They don't
of commitment be-
talism and commu-
want to be the 1958
ever seen. Bad timing!
cause it's not always a
nism are breaking
CND, because that
Who wants to go and
popular thing to do.
didn't work. Which is
sing about tolerance,
down to an equal de-
NNM: What made you
gree at the moment.
not to say that this
love and unity, when
get involved in polit-
There's something in-
time won't work but
you're looking for a
ics?
brick!
herently sick about
you can't use the same
DW: We never really
society now, and the
methods.
I'll have to censor
thought we were get-
arms race is the most
the rest. We talked
ting involved in polit-
glarifyingly obvious
NNM: What do you
about many other
ics, we just thought;
symptom.
think of the demos?
things. Not least on
'this is terrible.' Be-
NNM: I think the first
Dave's mind was that
cause it was on our
benefit you did was
DW: I thought the one
he's about to become
minds, we did songs
for the Welsh Anti-
with Tony Benn in
a father. The Beat have
about it. It was very
Nuclear Alliance, in
Hyde Park was good.
plans for another
natural and innocent.
Fishguard
That one moment
single at the end of
A lot of people didn't
DW: They are very
when he stopped
March, and a new al-
notice it was anything
worried about nuclear
talking and the whole
bum a couple of
to do with the first al-
weapons and nuclear
of Hyde Park seemed
months later. Dave re-
bum. It seemed much
sites in Wales. They al-
to lift four feet off the
counted the technical
more to do with the
ways thought that
floor. The guy's ob-
disasters their record
second album; it
England was daft any-
viously got some
company had made
started to become this
way and deserved
dodgy points. No mat-
with their last single;
big thing. 'You're very
them. It was a well put
ter how nice they
the crazy wiles of their
politically aware aren't
seem, the aristocracy
PHOTO: NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS
together concert, and
sixty-year-old sax
you?' Which we never
a fabulous vibe at the
always have a funny
player; a new member
thought we were.
end. They were just
look about them.
is joining, Saxa's son,
going around with a
Lionel.
Daft
bucket and people
Dave
NNW: Does apathy
We're gráteful for
were putting fivers in
annoy you?
the way that Dave and
and emptying their
NNM: How involved
Wakeling
the Beat, despite
jacket pockets into this
'DW: There's always
strong commercial
in CND are you?
bucket. Cigarette buts,
this fear in people
pressure, have given
DW: I don't think we
Rizla packets and all.
DW: I think it's good
about getting
continual support to
sing specifically about
NNM: How important
for pop music to get
involved. They haven't
the anti-nuclear move-
CND but certainly the
is the role that pop-
involved. Pop music
been told that they
ment. Their music isn't
arms race. It's prob-
music can play in the
gets an inordinate
don't have to do it 24
bad either. We'll write
ably the biggest
struggle?
amount of press.
hours a day. There's
about that next issue.
PHOTO: THE BEAT
Page 14
February/March
Sanity 1982
THE invisible tyranny
way, as heroes. He re-
of multinational cor-
vitalises the concept of
WHO SAID
porations, militarism,
artist as "connector".
ART & pousies
racism and food
"The word 'Euro-
DON'T MIX"?
ITMUST that
shortages are among
shima'," he explains,
the issues artist
'appeared on a
- BEEN ,BM, GE,
Conrad Atkinson con-
handwritten banner in
Exxon
CBS. THIERS OR
BBC ICI,CIA THE
fronted in his most
Japan, invented not by
ARD
publicised recent exhi-
an advertising agency
ACGB
bition, the ICA's 'At the
or copywriter but
Heart of the Matter' in
through the process of
OR
London. Information
collective creativity
in the form of
which emerges
newsclippings, type-
through struggle. If,
written statistics and
like me, you share the
May
quotes, as well as
attitude that the 'artist'
boxes and tins of
is not a pinnacle
overthow of the order be imprinted
foodstuffs and pesti-
outside and separate
cides were contained
from society, then you
on Ad paums our wands
within the outlines of
are free of the burdens
blue and red hearts.
of claiming that every-
el lizzasky
These hearts were
thing you do is solely
drawn roughly on
yours, simply perhaps
could have been ap-
tation. "The aim is to
of the relevance of
walls and on the floor
a set of new juxtaposi-
plied one can as
put together the ele-
'political art' arose - a
where two joined at
tions."
it were take a pair of
ments of a picture
question posed almost
their points - a piece
Atkinson says that it
scissors and cut it into
which has been shat-
as a dare, with the
which derived its
is not necessary to
individual pieces,
tered into a thousand
heroic image of mar-
content from Willy
read in total the mas-
which remain fully
fragments; the picture
tyred revolutionaries
Brandt's 'North/South'
sive amounts of
capable of life.")
of human beings rent
glowing in their ideo-
dissertation. In its enti-
written material his
Conrad Atkinson
asunder by a series of
logical shrines. Atkin-
rety, the exhibition
work contains - that it
does not utilise 'low'
overlapping and inhu-
son will speculate
conveyed an idea of
is a mosaic, episodic
art as a fashionable af-
man systems,
about the possible dif-
the body as "a meta-
in presentation. Yet at
front to 'high' art - he
paradoxically invented
ferences in society if
phor for society".
the ICA, one could ob-
consciously reduces
deliberately by human
its advisors were
Physically, our bo-
serve viewers attempt-
his use of abstract art
beings."
poets and artists. But
dies manifest the cir-
ing to read everything.
notations and adheres
Atkinson has been
he does not ever over-
cumstances of our
This says more about
to symbols that are
involved with the
estimate his role as a
lives: one portion of
the way in which
more generally
contradictions in our
"cultural producer" in
the exhibition was
people are taught to
known. "I've always
society for 10 years
society.
acutely painful in this
receive information
felt that it's pointless
and debate is of
This February New
respect, where Atkin-
and the hierarchy of
to imitate the sophis-
primary importance to
York's Ronald Feld-
son enlarged repro-
language over visuals
ticated polish and the
this involvement.
man Gallery is hosting
ductions of drawings
than the actual presen-
means of capitalism if
Coinciding with the
an exhibition entitled
by the victims of Hiro-
tation.
Brecht's
you are involved in an
ICA exhibit was a
'War Games', which
shima and Nagasaki
words on the attitude
oppositional culture
series of seminars
will include more anti-
that graphically de-
of epic writer Döblin
Although I have a
which discussed the
nuclear work by Atkin-
picted the devaluation
great pride in my
experiences of artists
son, and the gallery
of human life and its
Holly Metz
learned skills and in
past and present, in
will concurrently re-
expendability in the
face of vain gropings
is a writer
not advocating a gen-
conflict with their so-
lease an LP called
for power and profit.
working in New
teel or sloppy ama-
cieties. Atkinson parti-
Revolutions Per Min-
teurism," he states.
cipated in two; among
ute' to which he has
In his useage of
York who spoke
Unlike the claimed
other speakers were
contributed the cut
'found' imagery, news
to Conrad Atkin-
'balance' of the media,
Christopher Hampton
'Louis XIV Deterrent',
cuttings, statistics and
son in London
his selection of
(Socialism in a Crip-
about nuclear holo-
similar materials, At-
about 'At the
material and their jux-
pled World) and dra-
caust. The Feldman
kinson removes artists
Heart of the Mat-
taposition, is purpose-
matist Trevor Griffiths
Gallery is located at 33
from their position as
ter' and 'War
ful - a moral position
(Destiny, Reds). In-
East 74th St, New
the bearers of the
Games'.
guides their represen-
evitably, the question
York, NY USA.
torch that lights the
NATO SOLDATEN
Peace
Demonstration
81
Amsterdam
TEGEN KERNWAP
PHOTO: AMSTERDAMS FOTOGRAFENKOLLEKIEF
PEACE DEMONSTRATION 81 is the title of a
remarkable eighty page book of photographs
from the massive disarmament demonstration
that took place in Amsterdam in November
1981. The banner in the photo (left) reads
'NATO SOLDIERS AGAINST NUCLEAR
WEAPONS'. The photos were taken by the
Amsterdam Photographic Collective (above)
and is available at £2 from Heiermann & Co,
DER B
Van Hallstratt 685 1051 HG Amsterdam, Ne-
therlands. ISBN Number 90-70568-01-2.
Sanity 1982
February/March
Page 15
Peace
Before the peace camp at
"I had been concerned for
to pray or just to sit and think.
Greenham Common was
some time that there had been
It has the status of 'best room',
formed, the idea that camps
a lot of publicity about Green-
with soft comfortable chairs
should be set up at missile
ham and very little about Mo-
and a delicate smell of incense.
camp
bases was already simmering
lesworth" she says. "I thought
All three women are
in Jean Hutchinson's mind.
- the Government might say
Christians but insist that any-
Molesworth
Jean is one of the three women
- alright, we won't put any
one can join the camp and par-
who are now permanently
Cruise missiles at Greenham
ticipate in prayer or not, as
ensconsed in the People's
Common. We'll just put them
they please.
Peace Camp at Molesworth,
all at Molesworth!"
Although Angela describes
words: Alison Whyte
Cambridgeshire, where in the
So they, along with Helen
herself as a Christian feminist,
mid-1980s the Government
Young, an older woman with
she does not want to exclude
photos: Ed Barber
plans to place 64 Cruise
grandchildren, unflinchingly
men from the camp. "I would
missiles.
pitched their tents on a small
be worried if I thought there
On the coldest day for
Jean is not new to the disar-
patch of County Council land
were men involved who were
one hundred years a
mament campaign. It was dur-
outside the base on December
behaving in a macho manner,"
ing a Fellowship of Reconcilia-
28th and the People's Peace
she says, "but most of the men
group of Christian
tion Pilgrimage from Iona to
Camp came into being. The
who have been at the camp are
Pacifists set up Britain's
Canterbury, that she and one
camp consists of a huddle of
very aware that the kind of
or two others struck on the
second Peace Camp at
pup tents plus two caravans,
world where men do all the
idea. When another group of
surrounded by a Swiss-family-
leading and women stay in the
RAF Molesworth near
women formed the camp at
Robinson type wall of wood
background and cook the
Northampton.
Greenham Common, some-
and straw. Jean sleeps in the
meals is not a good one and
thing which had previously
caravan which doubles as a
has even created the warlike
Molesworth is the
been a figment of her imagi-
communal living-room, but
society we now have."
second of two RAF
nation, suddenly became real.
the other women prefer to co-
Angela disagrees with fe-
"The original idea was to start
coon themselves in tents which
minists who believe that
bases in Britain due to
in the spring, but when we
are barely visible in the deep
women should not work along-
receive American
went to the CND demonstra-
snow.
side men to achieve disarma-
ground-launched
tion on October 24th and
For those of us who
ment, in the belief that a
heard Ann Pettit talking about
trembled at the thought of
society dominated by men
Cruise missiles. The
digging in for the winter, it
leaving the fireside to venture
could never be a peaceful one.
first missiles are
seemed rather weak-kneed to
outside over Christmas, such
"We are people working to-
plan comfortably in our warm
planned to arrive at
commitment can only be won-
gether", she says, "and the
semi-detached boxes for the
dered at. A very special place
fact that we are women or
Greenham Common,
spring."
at the heart of the camp is oc-
men, Christian or agnostic
where a Peace Camp
Angela Needham, who
cupied by the second caravan,
shouldn't alter the fact that we
started the camp with Jean,
which acts as a church-come-
all care passionately to bring
has also been set up, in
was just as firm in her resolve.
ashram. The women go there
peace and justice to the world.
about 18 months' time.
That must override any other
More will arrive at
A MESSAGE FROM MOLESWORTH
differences that there may be
between us."
Molesworth 'by the
We would like people to join us - come for a cup of tea, come to
The women see the camp as
stay the night (we always have spare bedding and bed space) or
mid-1980s'. But not if
become a resident. We hope to see peace camps outside every
a permanent reminder to the
military base and factory. We are responsible for our govern-
Government that many people
Angela Needham and
ment. The taxes that we pay help them to spend £16 each week
in this country do not want
Jean Hutchinson have
on defence for every family in the land. Only by building a new
nuclear weapons. "It's all very
society can people take control of their own lives, rather than
feeling like pawns in the power of our leaders.
well having a rally where quar-
anything to do with it.
We need building materials (timber, cladding, roofing, straw
ter of a million people turn up,
Since this interview
bales) neatly baled newspapers (for fuel and insulation). Wood
but at the end of the day, they
stoves, firewood, asbestos sheets for roofing). Wooden furni-
took place a third camp
all go home and it's easy for
ture tables, tools, cupboards, trestles, shelving, old crockery and
has been set-up at
cutlery and many other things to help us to hold large
the press and the Government
meetings at weekends and to grow steadily during the
to forget about them, whereas
Bridgend outside a
weekdays.
we're here all the time. Like
The Peoples' Peace Camp Old Weston Road, Brington, near
water constantly dripping on a
Government nuclear
Huntingdon, Cambs. Local contact: Helen Lowe, Clopton 257.
stone."
Other contacts: Tim Eiloart, St. Ives (0480) 65856/67446. Peter
shelter.
Cadogan: 01-794 5590.
The fact that the camp has
largely been ignored by the
media does not surprise any-
one. It was precisely because
of a complete lack of media
coverage of a womens' march
from Cardiff to Greenham
Common last summer that it
was decided to set up a peace
camp there. On arrival at the
base, a few of the women
chained themselves to the
gates in a desperate bid to
draw publicity, only to find
that bondage type photo-
graphs appeared in
continues over page
PHOTO: ED BARBER
Jean Hutchinson (left) and An-
gela Needham (centre) Two
Christians who practice what
they preach. (More photos
overleaf)
What they call a
removed
work
the papers the
democracy, and yet the
begins on preparing
following day.
decision was taken
the site for Cruise
Publicity is not the
without even a
missiles. In this bleak
only reason for the
discussion in
landscape, visitors are
camp. The women
Parliament, let alone
welcomed by the
have inspired local
the public being
campers, although not
groups who visit them
consulted about it."
all have felt at ease in
to exchange ideas.
Behind the camp,
such a strange setting.
"We're not just a few
Ministry of Defence
When the postman
people sitting at a
land stretches as far as
delivered a telegram
base," explains Jean.
the eye can see, and in
on the second day, he
"We're in solidarity
the distance, the
was astonished to find
with the women at
ghostly silhouettes of
himself being
Greenham Common
earth diggers can be
photographed and
and all the people in
seen making jerky
leapt back, saying "I
this country who are
movements between
don't want to get
determined that Cruise
huge mounds of earth.
involved!"
missiles will not come
A disused concrete
here, despite the fact
runway is being
that Mrs. Thatcher has
welcomed them with
open arms. This is
Peace
Camp
NORTH-
SOU
EAST-
WEST
YOU WAA
SURVIVE
PROTEST YOU GOTT
Members of the Molesworth Peace
Molesworth
Camp (above, right). A woman
from the Greenham Peace Camp
(left) on a Lobby of Parliament.
The women at
end hunger, to prevent
CND groups, they
solidly behind them
lesworth see
avoidable disease and
know that many people
and they symbolise, for
emselves as non-
to teach every child to
in other European
some, the idea that
olent witnesses for
read and write. We are
countries feel the same
there are many in this
ace. They do not
not against the
way. Recently a similar
country who will take
lieve that peace can
American people, but
camp was set up at
action to stop the siting
had by preparing for
for the US Government
Comiso in Sicily,
of these missiles on
ar, but rather by
to site their missiles on
another proposed
our soil. As Jean
orking for trust and
our land would put us
Cruise base. The
Hutchinson says:
derstanding instead
at a deadly risk."
strength of the peace
"Psychologically it
fear.
The women are
movement in Europe is
must be easier to
'Fear feeds the arms
optimistic about
growing. The peace
prevent more weapons
ce. The money that's
stopping Cruise. Apart
camps are becoming
coming in rather than
ent on the arms race
from the half a million
one of many important
removing ones that are
uld be used to clear
or so supporters who
focal points for a
already here. But we've
e world's slums, to
are members of local
movement which is
got to do that as well of
course."
AND Sc
REENHAM
CAUTION
you ARENOVENTERING A
DE MILITARISED
ZONE
No
Nomen
or
Members
be
encouraged
&
The
Tirms
residents
zone
the
Zips
for
the
MoD
or
The
military
in
that
research
family
preparations
outside
for
positive
BE.
Page 18
February/March
Sanity 1982
Bang goes
IN THE 1960s, Britain sought
plane, this means that it can
duction in Britain was 40 in
to collaborate with France in
carry a load almost as large as
1981 and is expected to be 43
another
developing a multi-role swing-
the biggest World War II
this year and 44 next year, pos-
wing military jet. This was
bombers like the Super For-
sibly rising to 60 a year later in
abandoned in 1967 but the
tress.
the decade.
£10,000m
idea was resurrected in con-
Moreover the Tornado can
Around 40 Tornados had
junction with West Germany
approach its target at high
been delivered to RAF Cottes-
and Italy.
speed at very low altitudes,
more by March 1981 and a
A company called Panavia
down to just 200 feet above
weapons training unit has now
By Paul Rogers
was set up and shared between
ground level, making it very
been set up at RAF Honington
British Aerospace, Messersch-
difficult to detect. After such
in Suffolk. The deployment of
mitt-Bolkow-Blohm of
an attack it climbs to a high
the Tornados over the next
Munich and Aeritalia of
altitude to return to its base at
few years will probably be in
In the midst of all the
Naples, with the British and
maximum speed.
the form of six squadrons at
campaigning against
German companies taking a
Because of these features
the current Vulcan bomber
42.5 per cent share each and
the Tornado needs a very
bases at RAF Scampton and
Cruise and Trident
the Italians the remaining 15
strong and expensive airframe
RAF Waddington near Lin-
missiles we run the risk
per cent.
to withstand the buffeting
coln, two further squadrons at
of forgetting about the
The idea was to develop an
from ground turbulence to-
RAF Marham in Norfolk and
aircraft able to act as a bomber
gether with advanced naviga-
another seven squadrons in
Tornado a new
against land and marine tar-
tion aids and highly trained
West Germany, four at RAF
aircraft now being
gets, to undertake reconnais-
crews. In order to provide the
Bruggen and three at RAF
sance and also to serve as a
latter, incidentally, a large
Laarbruck.
produced in large
fighter. It was initially called
part of Scotland has been set
numbers for the RAF.
the multi-role combat aircraft
aside for low level flight
Expanding
(MRCA) but was eventually
practice for four days each
Tornado is important
named the Tornado and the
week.
The Tornado GR1 pro-
because:
first prototype flew in West
The Tornado has a strike
gramme represents a huge ex-
The programme
Germany in August 1974.
radius of over 800 miles and
pansion in Britain's nuclear ca-
From these beginnings the
can therefore reach the
pability, and recent
involves a massive and
Tornado developed into a very
western-most part of the So-
announcements indicate that
almost entirely
expensive project. It is being
viet Union from bases in West
this is even greater than was
produced in two versions. All
Germany, even without aerial
first thought. The original idea
unrecognised
three countries are to buy the
re-fuelling.
was that the 220 Tornados
expansion of Britain's
strike or bomber version
would replace the existing
theatre nuclear forces;
known as the Tornado GR1
Service
force of 48 Vulcans and 60
(sometimes called IDS or in-
Buccaneers. This represented
It is vastly
terdictor strike) and a total of
The Tornado entered ser-
almost a doubling in numbers,
expensive, probably the
644 will be produced, Britain
vice with the RAF on July 1,
besides being a replacement of
taking 220. In addition, a
1980 at the newly established
ageing and largely obsolete
most expensive project
specifically fighter version is
Tornado Trinational Training
aircraft with' highly sophis-
in the history of
being produced just for
Establishment at RAF Cottes-
ticated planes.
Britain, the air defence variant
more near Peterborough.
We now know, however,
Britain's armed forces;
(ADV) known as the Tornado
Three assembly lines have
that two of the squadrons of
It may well replace
F2, of which Britain is taking
been set up, one in each coun-
Buccaneers are going to be
165.
try. Seven different British
kept in service and only 36 are
Trident if that project
Tornado
Aerospace plants are involved
being replaced. This means
gets cancelled, forming
in Tornado production in
the escalation in nuclear capa-
a new all-British
Britain. Component manufac-
bility is even greater - some-
This is a two-seater, twin-jet
ture takes place at Bristol and
what strange in a country with
deterrent by being
swing-wing nuclear-capable
Hurn (near Bournemouth)
a supposed commitment to
armed with a new home
plane designed to fly at over
and major assembly at Wey-
arms control.
twice the speed of sound and
bridge, Prestwick in Scotland
In a recent paper for the
produced Cruise missile.
to carry a bomb load of nearly
and Preston, Samlesbury and
NATO Review Mr Nott,
8 tons. Even though a small
Warton in Lancashire. Pro-
the Minister of Defence,
stated that "the Tornado GR1
will have a nuclear capability
similar to the Vulcans and
Buccaneers." This suggests
that it will be able to carry a
range of nuclear weapons in-
cluding very destructive large
H-bombs up to one megaton
in effect.
Ever since the RAF handed
over responsibility for the stra-
tegic "deterrent" to the Navy
with its Polaris submarines, it
has been wanting to maintain a
medium range bomber capa-
bility. The Tornado enables it
to do this but at a great cost.
PHOTO: PANAVIA
Multi-million
We have been told by the
government that the total cost
of the Tornado programme
TORNADO MULTI-ROLE COMBAT PLANE. 385 at about £20 million each
continues next page
Sanity 1982
February/March
Page 19
will be £4,874 million at Sep-
tember 1980 prices, and this
includes all 385 planes of both
types. Even though this is
nearly as large as the claimed
cost of the Trident missile
submarine programme it is still
a highly misleading underesti-
mate. The figures given in-
clude just the basic cost of
each plane they exclude all
the development work and
also an important category
known as "support" costs
made up of expensive items
such as weapons and spares.
FLIGHT magazine estimates
the full cost of each GR1, in-
cluding support, at £19½ mil-
lion, giving a total of £4,290
million at September 1980
prices for this part of the pro-
gramme alone.
We have then got to add the
development costs, estimated
at £800 million for Britain's
share, before we even look at
the costs of the other version,
the F2. This is predicted to be
PHOTO: PANAVIA
a more expensive plane but if
we assume a similar cost of
FINGERS ON the button - but which one? Inside the Tornado Cockpit.
£19.5 million a plane we get
£3,200 million for the 165 of
with the RAF and Navy on
1980s, and is small enough to
range versions and could be
them to be built.
Tornado, Buccaneer and Sea
be carried at the rate of four
designed to carry nuclear war-
Add this all together and we
Harrier aircraft in the early
per plane. Its significance is
heads.
get a figure of around £8,300
1980s. It is a £400 million pro-
that British Aerospace are
Thus we might imagine the
million, still at September
gramme and the missile itself
now using the Sea Eagle as the
1980 prices. With inflation
has a similar speed to the
basis for a tactical cruise
scene in a couple of years
running at around 12 per cent
American cruise missiles but is
missile for the mid-1980s, the
time. Trident is cancelled
a year we are heading for
slightly smaller 14 feet long
P5T.
amidst great publicity, and
£10,000 ar current prices. That
with slim 4 foot diameter
They are reported to be
everyone in CND breathes a
is something like the true cost
wings. It is powered by a TRI-
investigating the possibility of
sigh of relief. Meanwhile, and
of Tornado and it makes it
60 turbo-jet and can carry an
a 400 mile range Cruise missile
very quietly, plans proceed for
Britain's most expensive mili-
80 lb warhead. For the final
carrying conventional war-
the adding of nuclear armed
tary project so far - no
phase of its flight it is des-
heads for use against airfields
Cruise missiles to the large
wonder the RAF are cock-a-
cribed as a sea-skimming
and high-value targets and are
numbers of Tornados then
hoop about getting it through
missile using an active radar
studying a terrain profile
flying and, surprise, surprise,
without people noticing.
target seeker developed by
matching navigation system
we are back to square one with
Marconi.
analogous to that used on the
Deterrent
a super new all-British deter-
On its own the Sea Eagle is
American Cruise missiles.
rent. Don't be surprised if it
The story does not end
fairly typical of the expensive
In practice such missiles
happens. Now is the time to try
there. Not only is Tornado a
new anti-ship missiles of the
could be developed in longer
and stop it.
major nuclear escalation and a
very expensive one at that, but
it could well be used as a basis
for a new strategic deterrent,
all ready to replace the Trident
programme should that get
cancelled some time in the
next two or three years. Even
within the Ministry of De-
fence, people are getting both-
ered about the Trident pro-
gramme and are casting
around for a possible replace-
ment. There are strong indica-
Panavia MRCA Tornado.
tions that Tornado is a likely
candidate.
MAX SPEED: 1,320 mph (MACH TWO)
The plan could be to use it
ARMAMENTS: Two 27mm Mauser Cannon
as an airborne launching plat-
each with 125 rpg and
form for a new all-British
6,500 kgs of bombs and rockets.
cruise missile based on the Sea
MAX RANGE: 745 miles (further if re-fueled
are
Eagle, an anti-shipping cruise
in flight by tankers).
missile under development by
OPERATING HEIGHT: Maximum speed at
British Aerospace
36,000 ft. Unlike the Vulcan it partly replaces
The Sea Eagle is an air-to-
the Tornado can operate at very high speeds
(up to 1.1MACH) at ground level.
surface missile now being
WORLD MILITARY AVIATION
tested and due to enter service
Page 20
February/March
Sanity 1982
The
IN HIS BOOK "Nuclear
people in military occupations
Not 10 per cent of them
Radiation in Warfare" Profes-
as there are doctors, nurses
were immunized against the
sor Joseph Rotblat emphasises
and teachers. Two fifths of the
six most common and danger-
the increased risk to children,
world's scientific research and
ous diseases of childhood. Yet
Silent
due to their greater intrinsic
development is now devoted
the cost of immunizing all of
sensitivity to radiation; the
to military purposes and
the Third World's infants
chances of survival for babies
twenty times as much is spent
works out roughly at $5 a
Emergency
and infants in a nuclear war,
on the military as on aid to the
child. And this year again, a
he says, are very much smaller
developing countries.
further 17 million will be dead
than for adults exposed to the
before their fifth birthday.
By Norma Turner
same radiation level.
Poorest
1981, reports UNICEF, was
When you think about it,
just another twelve months of
that is perfectly obvious -
According to the 1981/82
silent emergency; of over 500
children will naturally be the
United Nations Children's
children quietly going blind
"During the ten years
first to suffer and die. Ninety
Fund (UNICEF) a child's life
every twenty-four hours; of
ending 1980, the world
per cent of the growth of the
in those countries, far from
40,000 children quietly dying
human brain and 50 per cent
spent on the military
being priceless, was worth less
each day; of 10 million
of the growth of the human
than $100 (approximately £50)
children quietly becoming
four million, million
body occurs during the first
in 1981. Fifty pounds wisely
disabled in mind or body; of
dollars at 1978 prices.
five years of life.
spent on each of the poorest
100 million children quietly
The very susceptibility of
500 million mothers and young
going to sleep hungry at night;
We have let our
those years demands that
children could have brought
of 200 million 6-11 year-olds
children down; we
adults, both in family life and
them the basics of life im-
quietly watching other, richer,
have betrayed them".
in world affairs, give priority
proved diets, easier pregnan-
children going to school; of
to the needs of the young.
cies, elementary education,
one-fifth of the world's people
They who are powerless to de-
basic health care, safer sanita-
quietly struggling for life itself
fend themselves have little
tion and more water.
while we, who consume
strength, no economic sanc-
It could have slowed down
two-thirds of Third World re-
tion, no vote, no union, no
population growth too, for it
sources, spent limitless
ability to organise. They are
has been found that improve-
amounts of money on the pre-
entirely at our mercy.
ments in health care, the de-
paration for war.
But we have let them down;
cline of infant mortality and
we have betrayed them. We in
the spread of education, espe-
Spending Boom
the rich, market-orientated
cially for girls, is closely con-
West, have allowed ourselves
nected with an acceptance of
During the ten years ending
to be brainwashed with regard
family planning and a decline
1980 the world spent on the
to priorities. By default, we
in birth rates. All that for just
military about $4 million mil-
have condoned the expendi-
£50.
lion, at constant 1978 prices
ture of millions upon millions
But says UNICEF, "it
and dollars. For many years
of pounds for methods of
proved too high a price for the
now world military spending in
WHILST more than half of the
death and destruction at the
world community to pay. And
real terms has increased at a
world's children go to bed hun-
expense of school meals, free
so, every two seconds of 1981,
rate of some 2 per cent. Last
gry, we spend billions on
milk, hospitals, day nurseries,
a child paid that price with its
nuclear weapons. A conference
year, at current 1980 prices,
welfare services, full employ-
life."
organised by several groups in-
the total world spending was in
cluding the World Disarma-
ment, et cetera, let alone
excess of $500 thousand mil-
ment Campaign, the United
condoning also the horrific
Going Blind
lion.
Nations Association and Jour-
possibility of nuclear war
Having decided to increase
nalists Against Nuclear Exter-
itself.
Last year 17 million children
its own military expenditure
mination is to take place to
And if we have betrayed our
under five died for us in the
the US Administration put
spotlight the scandal. Under
own young, how much more
greedy West and for the arms
pressure on its allies during the
the title Professions for World
then have we abdicated our
race. In the countries where
latter half of 1980 to do the
Disarmament and De-
responsibility towards the in-
UNICEF works, four out of
velopment it will take place at
same, and NATO countries
fants and children of the
five children had no modern
Imperial College, Exhibition
commited themselves to an an-
Third World?
Road, London SW7 on Satur-
health care; in rural areas,
nual target increase of 3 per
day, 13th February (all day).
There are now, throughout
four out of five had neither
cent real growth. However,
the globe, about twice as many
adequate water nor sanitation.
continues next page
PHOTO: HENNING CHRISTOPH/UNICEF
Sanity 1982
February/March
Page 21
from previous page.
"In 1981 over 500 children went blind;
Nerve gas leaks out
40,000 children died of poverty; 100
O
NCE AGAIN the Reagan administration has
million children went to sleep hungry;
been thrown into disarray by unexpected
leaks of US military strategy. This time it was
10 million became disabled in mind or
Amoretta Hoeber, the US Army's Assistant Deputy
body each and every day.
Secretary who hit the headlines. She hinted that
the Americans want to base nerve gas in Britain.
In the same year Britain spent more
From her Californian holiday retreat she quickly
on defence than ever before and made
issued the usual denial. But a Pentagon official
a massive cut in overseas aid."
suggested the denial was prompted more by the
secrecy of the document than by a desire to
contradict what she had said before.
NATO Europe did not in fact
Yet in December last, the
TO SEASONED CND campaigners its another piece
keep up that committment in
Government announced a re-
slotted into the limited war jigsaw. Its almost
1979 and 1980 with one ex-
duction of 11 per cent in real
exactly a year since I warned Sanity readers that
ception Britain. The UK
terms on overseas aid for
sinister developments on the chemical weapons
went in for a military spending
1982/83, compared with
front were being planned in the US. CND's
boom, with an average annual
1981/82. This is the largest
pamphlet, The Silent Killers, outlined the issues
volume increase over the three
drop ever in one year, in the
and is selling out fast. A second, updated edition is
years 1977 to 1980 of 4.5 per
British aid programme. The
planned.
cent (SIPRI Yearbook 1981).
question is, shall we continue
JULIAN PERRY ROBINSON an expert on chemical
This incredibly high figure
to condone all that is said and
weapons, has described the potential effect of the
was carried out during a time
done in our name? Shall we
nerve gas Sarin. He has estimated that "on-target
of inflation, growing unem-
leave the Third World to its
Sarin contamination intended to cause 20%
ployment, savage cuts in pub-
silent emergency?
casualties among soldiers carrying respirators but
lic expenditure - and cut-
Or shall we break the si-
not at first wearing them could, under weather
backs in aid to the Third
lence and demand, not in our
conditions frequent in central Germany, kill
World. Last year Mrs Thatch-
thousands but in our millions,
unprotected people 20km or more downwind and
er's Government spent £131/4
an end to poverty, death, des-
seriously incapacitate people to about twice that
thousand million on the mili-
truction, and a beginning to
distance. Civilian casualties of the order of millions
tary, and this year it will
detente, to peace and to a de-
could result from chemical warfare in Europe".
doubtless be even more.
cent way of life?
SOME INDICATION of the 'collateral' effect can be
seen from the accident at the US's Dugway proving
The 2nd Special Session of the United Nations on the question
of disarmament will meet in New York in June of this year.
ground in 1969 - 30 miles away from the site 6,400
Spurred on by the need to divert massive arms bills into
sheep died when caught downwind of a release of
development the 'group of 21' third world nations will present
VX gas, a nerve gas more deadly than Sarin.
far-reaching proposals to the meeting.
Curiously enough, the military commander of
Dugway cancelled a planned appearance at an
United Nations
American Association for the Advancement of
General Assembly
Science meeting at the beginning of this year. His
Second Special
substitute speaker, none other than Amoretta
Hoeber, then withdrew at the last minute, pleading
Session 1982
pressure of work!
PRESIDENT REAGAN is trying vainly to stop what
Disarmament
one White House official has called a "virtual
haemorrhage of leaks of classified information".
But it's too late - the cat's out of the bag. We now
know what we suspected before, that the US are
heading for a chemical arms race with the Soviet
Union - a race in which Britain, as US Airstrip One,
will inevitably be dragged in.
DR. ARTHUR WESTING, Professor of Ecology,
told the American Association conference in
January; "although the US already possesses major
stocks of chemical weapons, it appears to be
tooling up to produce lethal new anti-personnel
agents, the so-called binary weapons which can be
extraordinarily inhumane and environmentally
devastating". Binary weapons are a new class of
chemical weapon where two relatively non-toxic
chemicals combine in flight to produce a deadly
nerve agent.
IT MAY seem relatively small-scale but a "limited"
chemical war in Europe could rapidly escalate to a
tactical nuclear exchange and so on. The US are
using allegations of the use of 'yellow rain' in
South East Asia to fuel a new type of arms race.
Experts remain sceptical about these allegations;
PHOTO: UNITED NATIONS
yet they are being used as an excuse to foist a
deadly cocktail on to an unsuspecting public.
Protests have already been made by CND groups in
East Anglia. Its all up to all groups to expose the
implications of chemical warfare.
By David Bays
Page 22
February/March
Sanity 1982
Joan
THE SPRING of 1980 was a
Labour Party at the time and
the Women's movement and,
turning point in the life of
was a prospective parliamen-
like her predecessor Lord
CND's new national chairper-
tary candidate for the
Hugh Jenkins, to Labour's de-
son Joan Ruddock. Although
Newbury constituency in May
mocratic left, she is insistent
of
she has been a CND supporter
1979. The Greenham base is in
that CND must remain
for several years, it was NA-
the constituency.
broadly based and open to all.
TO's decision to station
"On the very day that the
She warns against too much
Newbury
ninety-six Cruise missiles ten
announcement was made in
reliance on the Labour Party.
miles from her Burghfield
the local press we set up an
"I think that in the past people
Common home at RAF
opposition campaign. We de-
within the leadership of CND,
Greenham Common which
cided from the start that we
as we know from history, de-
By Chris Horrie
prompted her to help set up a
should not be a party political
pended too much on winning
local campaigning group and
organisation; we would be a
the Labour Party to CND's
AT CND's annual
submerge herself in cam-
broad based campaign. It was
cause. And when the Labour
conference in
paigning for nuclear disarma-
launched on a limited plat-
Party failed CND, then I think
November 1981,
ment.
form. We held a very large
the political direction was lost.
She was a teenager when
meeting and from there we set
That is something we have to
Joan Ruddock, a
CND first hit the headlines.
up Newbury Campaign
guard against. It is a complex
thirty-eight year old
Living in South Wales and
Against Cruise Missiles and
situation, we may find that we
studying for entrance to Lon-
we started sorting out the basis
won't have the opportunity to
citizen's advice
don's Imperial College, she
for a regional campaign which
elect a Labour government
bureau worker from
wasn't involved in CND in
has now become the Southern
and we, as a campaign, have to
those days. Later she became
Region CND."
look to the possibility of inf-
Burghfield Common
very active in the Labour Party
luencing a government of
near the proposed
(she is on the left of the party)
Women
whatever composition."
Cruise missile base at
"and" the explains, "that led
When prompted, Joan Rud-
me to an interest in CND.
dock will indulge in every
RAF Greenham
Like many people at the time
The Newbury campaign
CND campaigner's favourite
Common was elected
the development of the Neu-
goes from strength to strength.
guessing game and nightmare.
CND national
tron bomb brought it to my.
Recently they distributed a
How was it that the massive
attention. After that I became
well-produced newspaper to
CND campaign of the sixties
chairperson for 1982.
active, mainly in the Labour
19,000 homes in the area. It's
almost disappeared, and why
She talked to Sanity
Party, but when we had the
this sort of experience of set-
didn't it win its main goals?.
NATO announcement about
ting up local campaign groups
"Perhaps where CND failed
about her
the deployment of Cruise
that Joan Ruddock believes
in the past, and I only speak
involvement in the
missiles in Britain and Europe
qualifies her for the tough job
from second-hand opinion, is
in December 1979, I felt it was
of CND's top elected official.
that it didn't politicise its
campaign, the
time to play a more active
And it's the experience, she
membership. The central or-
reasons for her
part."
says, of most of the CND
ganisation did think politi-
election victory and
That announcement was
members who voted for her at
cally, but didn't take the grass-
followed by news that the
CND's annual conference in
roots with them. As I go round
her view of the
missiles would be based at
November, "because most
the country now I find much
campaign's
Greenham Common and Mo-
people in CND have joined in
greater discussion of the role,
lesworth. Joan Ruddock was
recent years."
for example, of the trade
development over the
chairperson of Newbury
"The other thing I feel cer-
union movement and the poli-
next twelve months.
Labour Party at the time and a
tain influenced the vote for the
tical parties than perhaps there
chair was the fact that I am a
was in the past.
woman. There has been a lot
If discussion brings with it
of pressure in the campaign for
the possibility of political
the role of women to be recog-
clashes within the movement,
nised, although one women in
perhaps even disastrous splits,
the leadership doesn't in any
Joan Ruddock believes that
way succeed in doing that.
the movement will remain
She believes that CND re-
united by keeping in mind the
cognises the role and impor-
basic aims which, she says,
tance of women and the femin-
"are quite clear; unilateral
ist movement. "It's apparent
nuclear disarmament by
in what CND is now doing,"
Britain."
she said. "We have got wider
"As a stepping stone to
elected representation on
disarmament I see stopping
CND's governing national
Cruise and Trident as a begin-
council with representation
ning and if we keep those ís-
from the regions and the grass-
sues before us then it is pos-
roots. And we've made it clear
sible to stay together. It
that the women's role should
requires enormous tolerance
be recognised. Of the five
and I think that the most im-
delegates elected to go to the
pressive thing about the CND
national council from my own
campaign is that at every level
region, Southern CND, three
people are tolerant, more
are women. And I have no
tolerant than you will find in
doubt that there has been posi-
any individual party
tive discrimination and I wel-
structure."
come it. We are beginning to
see the influence of women
Direct Action
PHOTO: ED BARBER
and perhaps different ways of
If policy questions can cause
organising and working being
splits, so can campaign tactics
fed into the whole of the cam-
and priorities. In the '60s CND
paign."
declined as activists fell out
Despite her commitment to
continues next page
Sanity 1982
February/March
Page 23
Youth Culture
By Margaret Smith
YOUTH CND, a group of
under-21 year olds
pledged to forward the
aims of CND amongst
young people, is one of
the fastest growing of
the disarmament move-
ment's many wings. Re-
founded in April 1981
after years of virtual inac-
tivity YCND already has
over 2,600 national mem-
PHOTO: ED BARBER
bers, each paying a
PHOTO: ED BARBER
pocket-money 50p and
thousands more mem-
bers in over 170 local
groups - and, as the edi-
Youth CND's Annajoy David
"I see stopping Cruise and Trident as a
tor of YCND's own
stepping stone to disarmament. If we
national magazine Second Generation, Annajoy David,
keep these aims before us then it is
told me, "that's as many members as the whole of CND
had just two years ago."
possible to stay together."
Organising amongst young people has its own very
special set of problems - - not least lack of money. But, as
trying to decide if CND should
women who are doing it.
Annajoy was eager to point out, there are special opportu-
support 'direct action' or not.
"But at the same time, she
nities and advantages. "I think there is a need for a
Joan Ruddock isn't haunted
says there are people who
separate Youth section fo CND because young people
by the ghosts of those splits. "I
would not regard the camps as
need something that they can identify with in their own
think we have to manage to
direct action. People who re-
particular way like Youth Culture, music, art, drama and
campaign in several ways at
gard direct action as some-
disco. And I think that if you don't have that you won't get
the same time; direct action,
thing essentially confrontatio-
concentration on the Labour
them motevated." This, she says, is true even though
nal. This type of action is a
movement, an 'education'
possibility for the campaign,
many perhaps most, CND members are quite young any-
based campaign and so on. I
but she has reservations. "We
way, "but if you have an organisation that young people
think all these approaches are
simply couldn't do it as an or-
can identify with separately, something of theirs to build
necessary. But not every single
ganisation at the moment. If
up, then you'll get young people far more involved. Like
member of CND will want to
there is to be what has in the
the record 'life in the European Theatre', it's a way of
participate in all of them.
past been called 'civil disobe-
young people getting involved in their own way and feel-
Some will want to participate
dience' then we will have to
ing that they are not depending on older people."
in one aspect alone. I think it's
plan for it very carefully and
Young people certainly are getting involved - and
essential to allow each other to
all those who participate will
Youth CND has a very ambitious programme of activities.
do what we do best and allow
have to be quite clear what
the campaign to be one of di-
they are doing and why they
Still uncertain of the final details Annajoy told me of plans
versity.
are doing it. And we will then,
for a major youth festival to take place this summer.
"I think there is a role for
as a national campaign, need
"What we're trying to do is get all our regions organised
mass demonstrations because
to examine how we give
and then they'll put on their own activities as well as
there you get a sense that the
support for that type of action.
national ones. We'll be working with END and CND, and
campaign is enormous and a
I don't rule it out, it may come
Youth CND is calling for its own national demonstration
sense that we are demonstrat-
quite soon but all I will say is
and festival in September. CND is helping us with this and
ing to the public at large. But
that we will have to prepare
we hope to have worked out things with the GLC and
by themselves demonstrations
very well if the CND mem-
fund-raisers by March.
will not be enough.
bership wants that type of ac-
"All Youth CND people will be involved in moving to-
"There is clearly a role for
tion as well as all the other
working within the Labour
types of action.
wards that by regional events happening: now is the time
movement. We haven't man-
Joan Ruddock's election to
for action, people are motivated, they want to 'do' some-
aged to mobilise nearly
CND's national chair was seen
thing and you've got to show them what can be done and
enough trade unionists. And
by many as a victory for 'new
give them confidence and resources.
direct action is something that
forces' in CND. There is a
YCND's paper Second Generation is taking off as fast as
many people in the movement
great deal of truth in this. But
the movement. It aims, says Annajoy, to show the nuclear
are demanding.
at the same time she will at-
arms race through young people's eyes. And she has a
By 'direct action' Joan
tempt to steer CND along the
message for readers of Sanity: "Buy 2nd. Generation. If
means something quite
same political path which has
you're a parent or know lots of young people give them a
specific. "I mean non-violent
enabled the movement to
copy. It's a magazine that's produced by young people, for
direct action which, I think,
grow into the biggest mass
has a spectrum. The 'Peace
young people, aimed at young people showing what
protest since suffragettes.
Camps' at Greenham Com-
Open, democratic and diverse
young people are doing. We have a right to a future and
mon and Molesworth for
with a simple message. There
nobody decides whether we live or die.
example. They are useful to us
is no secure future until we rid
Second Generation. February issue out now, available from YCND, II Goodwin Street, London N4 3HQ.
20p + postage.
all. They attract an enormous
Britain and the world of
Life in the European Theatre. Featuring The Jam, The Beat The Specials and many other groups is
amount of admiration for the
nuclear weapons.
distributed by WEA and is available inall record shops and at branches of W. H. Smiths, Virgin Records etc.
Page 24
February/March
Sanity 1982
BRUCE KENT: What we
Ministers know what was
John
Do you think that there can
really want to know is, in your
going on with this expendi-
be such a thing?
opinion, would a Labour Gov-
ture?
OHN SILKIN: I take the
ernment coming into power
JOHN SILKIN: I don't know.
Mountbatten view, which was
Silkin
give up the idea of an indepen-
I assume some did because it's
first expressed twelve or thir-
dent British nuclear weapon of
no secret that there is no de-
teen years ago, and I see that
any kind and would such a
fence committee, as it hap-
is what a lot of people are say-
government refuse to accept
pens, under successive govern-
ing at the moment. I don't see
MP
Cruise missiles in this country?
ments. No doubt it changes it's
how you could stop a nuclear
JOHN SILKIN: I've no doubt
name from time to time - I
war once you start.
at all that that is what will hap-
don't know what its name
BRUCE KENT: The United
Talks to Bruce Kent
pen. I regard my own occupa-
would be now.
Nations Special Session on
tion of the Shadow Defence
But I listened to David
Disarmament is starting in
THE LABOUR PARTY
Secretary post as being an ear-
Owen on television when he
June of this year. Were you to
nest that that is so.
was saying this, and I'm not
be in a position to directly in-
(not for the first time) is
Of course there are people
conscious of this coming out at
fluence things, what would
that don't agree, there is abso-
all when I was a cabinet Minis-
committed by
you be proposing to the
lutely nothing socialist or un-
ter.
Special Session? What unilate-
conference policy to
socialist in whether you be-
I think that, implicit in what
ral initiatives would you like to
nuclear disarmament. If
lieve your country should
you say, is quite another ques-
push here in this country by
a Labour Government
possess nuclear weapons. It
tion altogether. Forgetting
way of peacemaking as a con-
may be a somewhat contorted
Chevaline and anything else -
sequence of the Special Ses-
were to come to power
view of Socialism, but there is
is it not possible for things to
sion?
the man with more
no question that Russia is not
be done which in fact govern-
JOHN SILKIN: I think that
a socialist country and as far as
ments know nothing about?
the United Nations, imperfect
responsibility than any
I know Russia is not in favour
And I agree. This is one of
as it is, is the most important,
other for carrying out
of unilateral disarmament. So
those things that will have to
indeed the only structure, for
that it isn't the question and
be looked into. I don't know
coming to terms with the arms
this policy would be the
people in the Labour Party are
what the answer is, I wish I
race. The most important of
Secretary of State for
entitled to take a different
did, beyond saying that
the problems is between the
Defence. The man who
view. But in the end it's a
perhaps it's half knowing the
two empires and away from
party's general view that
answer to know the question.
our own particular problem,
would be given that job
comes across and frankly the
BRUCE KENT: Do you think
which I see as something dif-
is John Silkin - - a mild
Labour Party is about unilate-
that there's too much secrecy
ferent. What the UN should
ral nuclear disarmament. It's
in this whole business?
be doing in practical terms is
mannered lawyer on
in the spirit, particularly, of
JOHN SILKIN: The very pos-
to see how not just we, but
Labour's centre-left. He
the young people who are
sesion of weapons implies
everybody, can move away
talked to CND's
coming along in the party, and
there has to be a certain
from possession of these des-
I respect their views. The
amount of secrecy, and that is
tructive weapons to a position
General Secretary
people who don't agree are
partly what it's all about.
where we are manufacturing
Bruce Kent, starting
not madmen, 'Nuclear
There is a justifiable amount
useful things, things that the
Yorkshire Rippers' deter-
and an unjustifiable amount -
people of the world really
with the sixty-four
mined on destroying the
and I would have thought that
need. A practical programme
million dollar question
world. I don't happen to agree
when you start talking about
that people could accept. Nor-
with them but they are entitled
very large sums of money, or
mal 'arms control', as I said is
to their point of view.
differences in quality and
not enough.
SEPTEMBER 1959: Labour leader
BRUCE KENT: David Owen
direction of military policy,
The two giants, for various
Hugh Gaitskell (below left) with
recently said that the Cheva-
then you have reached the
reasons, are a little reluctant
Shadow Foreign Secretary
line programme, which cost
limit of secrecy and people are
to talk in either weaponry or in
Aneurin Bevan (below right). In the
early 1960s Bevan upheld the
£1,000 million to update the
entitled to say 'stop a moment
general terms by using terms
disarmament cause in
Polaris nuclear missiles but
and consider'. The logic at the
like 'peace' and 'love', but
the Labour
wasn't debated in Par-
moment defeats me - there is
when you look at it the words
Cabinet.
liament, was known
the Government's Defence
mean my peace and my love,
Today
about in the
Secretary John Nott saying
unilateralism
continues next page
is much
Labour cabinet by
that he's going to have to stag-
more firmly
people like Tony
ger Tornado because it's
rooted in
Benn and Michael
proved too expensive, though
the Labour
Foot. Did, in fact,
that's not what he said in the
Party.
senior Labour
Defence White paper in 1980.
I haven't got a panacea for
seeing this sort of thing doesn't
happen but one will try.
BRUCE KENT: Mr Haig and
President Reagan have said re-
cently that they could see how
there could be a 'limited'
nuclear war in Europe.
Sanity 1982
February/March
Page 25
not yours. So somebody has
posed by END?
got to act as a bridge, or a
JOHN SILKIN: I think these
catalyst that starts something
I've no doubt at all
contacts are useful, but let me
else, and I would have thought
put another point to you.
that was our job. I believed
that a future Labour
There is something of value in
when I took over this job that
Government would give
having the ability of being able
there was a practical job to be
to talk as one large bloc to
done, which is why I asked
up the 'independent'
another. In the end, and I
that a particularly intelligent
British nuclear weapon
would like this to be done by
woman, Oonagh McDonald,
the United Nations, those two
should be part of my team.
and refuse to accept
blocs must come down, not
She will work with industry to
Cruise missiles. I reg-
just controlled but diminished.
see how we can make life bet-
ard my own occupation
Therefore there is something
ter for our people - not
in NATO talking to Warsaw
worse. Now that expertise -
of this job as an earnest
and Warsaw talking to NATO.
and the government just has to
to that.
But I do agree that a little bur-
PHOTO: LABOUR PARTY LIBRARY
push a button and they've got
rowing at the two edificies is
all the expertise they need -
not a bad thing either.
will help us to get a practical
BRUCE KENT: What about
the world would have been in
blocs
along the lines pro-
policy. That is what we should
the arms trade. How would
a more dangerous position
of the more usual 'nuclear de-
be pulling for.
than it is now, that's the logic
terrent'. Does this mean that
you set about the business of
BRUCE KENT: You are very
of it. That's nonsense. The
running down what Mr Healey
you don't believe nuclear
committed to Britain playing a
has called 'our valuable share
world is in a much more dan-
weapons are a deterrent?
full role in NATO. A lot of
gerous position because of
JOHN SILKIN: Certainly
of a large export market?'
CND members will disagree
nuclear weapons and that is
Britain's nuclear weapons
JOHN SILKIN: One has to
with you on that. Do you be-
why I oppose them.
aren't. They are only about 3
cease to be dependent on it.
lieve, as Denis Healey says,
As far as NATO is con-
per cent of the American total.
The argument used to be that
that it is impossible for Britain
cerned, the overwhelming
Maybe the Russians in a war
you could cut the costs of your
to remain in NATO and get
majority of nations involved in
would think 'let's get those out
own arms by selling them
rid of nuclear weapons?
it are non-nuclear. The only
of the way first' but it wouldn't
abroad as well. We used to call
JOHN SILKIN: I don't know
two who are, at the moment,
stop them - they'd be consid-
them, in the 30's when it was
what Denis Healey's view is at
are the United States and
ering the thousands that the
all private enterprise, the
present; we all have to recon-
Great Britain. Now as far as
Americans had, even if we had
'Merchants of Death' - a
sider things anyway. I don't
the United Kingdom is con-
the D-5, improved Trident
term nobody seems to use
believe that it is impossible at
cerned, in any event, it isn't
missiles.
these days. The argument was
all. One of the things that irri-
even an independent nuclear
BRUCE KENT: If you were in
that you couldn't have a
tates me is the way some
weapon that we have - we
Government, would you
proper defence policy without
people still talk about shelter-
pretend it is, but of course it
promote the bi-lateral contacts
an arms trade. I don't think
ing under a 'nuclear umbrella'
isn't.
between countries in Western
this is true any longer. I don't
- as though if nuclear
BRUCE KENT: You use the
and Eastern European blocs in
very much approve of the arms
weapons hadn't been invented
term 'nuclear weapon' instead
order to try and break up the
trade as such, I think it is bad.
PANdemonium
"P.A.N." it said at the top. "Pagans
participants placed the stones in holes
Against,Nukes" it explained at the
dug with the wood and "the Pan peace
bottom.
chant raised a cone of power". There
Like me, you probably missed their
was dancing and more chanting until the
banner at the big London demonstration
worshippers ("under the scrutiny of an
in October, but practitioners of the Old
inquisitive badger" - pagans are not
Religion, The Craft, witchcraft - call it
without a sense of humour") returned
what you will - are, many of them, on
to their cars.
our side. We have always known that the
The words they spoke are not known
nuclear arms race isn't exactly Christian;
to me, so I quote instead the second half
now it seems that it isn't permissible to
of "Chant - by Brian":
pagans either. That goes, in some Craft
"Building of sickness, death and
circles, for nuclear power too.
destruction, fall to the ground, rumble
A sign of the times?
Phil Cousins, the organiser of
tumble. The Gods command it so shall
P.A.N., runs a Sister Centre of the
be.
Fellowship of Isis, but as the magazine
One brick, two brick, three brick and
Reading." That is, incidentally, where
Pipes of Pan states, the pressure group
four, and a thousand more."
to contact Phil Cousins and P.A.N.
is "for all pagans without sectarian
It might not have occurred to the
Phil does not feel there is anything
barriers". One of the aims is "to involve
more conventional of us to put it quite
particularly outlandish about The Craft,
pagans actively within organisations
like that, any more than we would say
even if it does involve worship of the
such as CND" (what's this, Tory MPs
of the Greenham Common peace camp,
Horned God and the (non-horned)
will be asking, yet another Fifth
on which there has been a pagan
Goddess; nor does he think it
Column lurking inside the Campaign?)
presence, "this is just the sort of activity
extraordinary that pagans should have a
and "to do ritual workings on or near
that moves the astral forces". But
point of view on the nuclear issue.
nuclear sites themselves".
however the path to the conclusion,
"It is not strange that the Australian
One such ritual took place at a
what matters is that we get there,
aborigines and American Indians object
location which I shall refer to merely as
whether we are dressed in flowing robes
to their land being taken. We as pagans
a Berkshire wood. On the way there,
or jeans.
don't like to see our land occupied by
everyone found a suitable stone and
Talking of garments, "Does your
the nuclear powers."
piece of wood for use in the ritual; but
coven look like something the familiar's
There is no arguing with that, at least,
one element was missing: "Being on
dragged in after a hard night on the
not by me. He can count on a helping
National Trust land we couldn't have a
astral?" asks a small ad in Pipes of Pan.
hand with his banner any time.
balefire. That's a sort of bonfire."
"Time to get them new robes/cloaks
After calling on the Old Gods, who
from Kate and Janet's pagan robing
included, of course, Pan, the robed
emporium, c/o 69 Cranbury Road,
By Jonathan Sale
Page 26
February/March
Sanity 1982
LIFE IN THE EUROPEAN THEATRE
NATIONAL UNION
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Sanity 1982
February/March
Page 27
Britain
Plutonium is produced in all commercial
nuclear industry to speak out against this
nuclear reactors but the US has so far re-
deal, but he ignores the likelihood that the
lied for its home-produced plutonium on
US has already made bombs with pluto-
other, purpose-built reactors which don't
nium from British "civil" power stations.
fuels
generate electricity. When fuel is with-
There is a huge discrepancy between the
drawn from a reactor, plutonium is then
amount of plutonium produced in the
extracted from it ("reprocessing" this is
British nuclear power programme and the
called). Unless it imports, the US pluto-
sums publicly admitted to be stockpiled, to
Nuclear
nium-production system cannot meet the
have been exported or to have been used in
increased demand from the MX and other
fast reactor fuel experiments. The obvious
weapons systems except by introducing a
explanation to account for this "missing"
Arsenal
new form of reprocessing - laser isotope
plutonium is that it has been used for
separation - to extract plutonium from
weapons - British or American.
the stocks of spent fuel from commercial
The US has relied on Britain in the past
stations. At the moment, this is merely
to make good its shortage of plutonium,
Howard Clark
stored and not reprocessed.
and Britain has had no qualms about
Britain, however, has ample plutonium.
supplying the US with plutonium explicitly
Most British commercial stations are of the
for bombs. In 1958 the US and UK agreed
The author of CND
"Magnox" type, developed from the first
to exchange "special nuclear materials".
dual-purpose nuclear stations which pro-
This agreement has been repeatedly ex-
Publication's forthcoming
vided, and still provide, plutonium for
tended, most recently in 1979. It may seem
pamphlet 'Atoms for War'
weapons and electricity as a bonus. Mag-
hypocritical for two parties to the Non-
nox reactors produce plutonium which is
Proliferation Treaty to help each other
looks into the murky world
more suitable for use in weapons and as
make nuclear weapons - it is hypocritical
of plutonium sales and
fuel than that produced in pressurised
- but this traffic does not in fact violate
finds still more evidence
water reactors (the type used in US com-
the Treaty.
mercial stations). Furthermore, much of
that nuclear energy and
this has already been reprocessed at
Talks
nuclear power programmes
Windscale where there is a plutonium
stockpile of around 12 tonnes at present
are inseparable.
(enough for 24,000 bombs).
Britain has also sold plutonium to
another nuclear weapons state - France
Brave
- beginning in 1963 when France was still
a member of NATO. This plutonium is
also said to be for use in fast reactors,
R. V. Hesketh, a nuclear physicist
though it too has made other plutonium
working for the Central Electricity Gener-
available for weapons production.
ating Board (CEGB), has already written
One idea for campaigning against this
to The Times protesting. He has previously
new plutonium deal is to take advantage of
assured critics "that civil nuclear energy is
the CEGB Talks Service. Each region of
distinct from military nuclear energy
the CEGB will send a speaker to talk about
(If the UK) were to sell plutonium to the
nuclear power. Your group could ask for
Reagan administration, I do not think it
someone to explain the Board's policy
could be rationally maintained that we, the
about the export. You may find that some
United Kingdom, have distinguished civil
of them, like R. V. Hesketh, are having
use from military use" (October 30, 1981).
second thoughts about the links between
It is brave for someone inside the
nuclear energy and nuclear weapons.
THE BRITISH Government has agreed in
principle to sell plutonium to the United
States, "subject to commercial negotia-
Roger Woddis
Regret
tions". The government describes this as
"civil plutonium", for "civil use" by the
USA, but the overriding reason for the
'If only / had known, / should have become a watchmaker.' - Albert Einstein, pioneer
deal is that the USA is acutely short of the
nuclear physicist, born 14 March 1879. Died 18th April 1955.
plutonium it needs for its nuclear weapons
I should have listened to a softer chime,
programme.
My world a workbench spread with coils and springs;
Commercial
I should have done far less impressive things
Than probed the mysteries of space and time.
The Reagan administration is committed
I should have left the infinite alone,
to a vast increase in manufacturing nuclear
If only I had known.
warheads and at the same time intends to
revive research into fast reactors (these are
I should have kept my findings out of sight
fuelled by plutonium). The British pluto-
And worn the most improbable of masks,
nium will ostensibly be for the fast reactor
Not spent my energy on massive tasks,
and the British Government will ask the
International Atomic Energy Agency
Or squared the symbol for the speed of light.
(IAEA) to "safeguard" any plutonium it
I should have left the universe alone,
sells to the US, checking that it is not used
If only I had known.
for weapons. But the retiring head of the
IAEA is reported to be alarmed by the
I should have screwed the eyeglass in my eye,
deal as the application of safeguards in this
And looked at harmless filigrees of steel
case will obviously be no more than a ruse:
To check the defects of a balance-wheel,
a specific batch of British plutonium may
Not measured movement in the restless sky.
be used as fast reactor fuel; at the same
time, however, total US stocks of pluto-
I should have left the consequence alone,
nium will increase and more plutonium will
If only I had known.
be released for making nuclear weapons.
Page 28
February/March
Sanity 1982
The case for and against the bomb
TWO BOOKS could hardly
Nevertheless I recommend
McMahan includes American
differ more. Churchill advo-
PAUL ROGERS
this book for its revelations of
nuclear systems based in
cates re-armament and be-
current establishment
Britain. The book is heavy
lieves the Soviet Union is
Reviews Defending
thinking. Churchill, after all,
going at times and some of the
ahead of the West in almost
the West by Winston
has been a Conservative party
arguments examined are, to
every respect and threatens all
S. Churchill. Published
opposition spokesman on de-
say the least, tortuous.
our freedoms. McMahan takes
by Temple Smith,
fence and Vice-Chairman of
Yet the book is generally
a clinical look at arguments for
1981, and British
the Conservative Defence
illuminating and merits some
and against nuclear weapons
Nuclear Weapons: For
Committee.
perseverance. It is well orga-
and comes down in favour of
and Against by Jeff
British Nuclear Weapons:
nised, has a very helpful sum-
unilateral nuclear disarma-
McMahan, Junction
For and Against examines the
mary and, above all, takes on
ment by Britain. For quite dif-
ferent reasons each book
Books, 1981. £3.95.
many arguments concerning
the many different arguments
British nuclear weapons in a
about nuclear weapons policy
should be widely read by CND
calm and logical way. The title
and subjects them to critical
supporters.
He then goes on to extraploate
is something of a misnomer as
appraisal.
Defending the West is a re-
through to 1986 estimating
markable mixture of selectiv-
that the Soviet total will rise
ity and disinformation. By
from 6,282 for 1980 to 10,000
concentrating on exaggerated
by 1986 whereas the American
views of Soviet forces and by
total will stabilise at 9,139, the
ignoring many highly signifi-
level for 1980. He completely
cant western comparisons,
ignores the 3,400 air-launched
Churchill succeeds in pre-
Cruise missile warheads due to
senting a picture of rampant
be deployed on B52 bombers.
Soviet expansionism. At times
He ignores the B1 bomber and
his use (or rather mis-use) of
the new MX missile and he
statistics is astonishing. There
even ignores the rapid expan-
are many examples but one
sion of America's Trident
particularly glaring illustration
missile fleet including the giant
will suffice. On page 77 he has
new Ohio class of submarine.
a table comparing US and So-
This is disinformation of a
viet strategic warheads, show-
remarkable kind, for inclusion
ing that over the last decade or
of these systems demonstrates
so the United States has lead
the American plans to main-
PHOTOMONTAGE: PETER KENNARD
the Soviet Union in total war-
tain their strategic warhead
heads by a substantial margin.
superiority.
ADVERTISEMENT
PORTON DOWN
Jobs down the drain
MANUFACTURING
ALAN SAPPER
The policy of the Labour
Party and the TUC for unilate-
WAR WITH
ral disarmament will mean, if
implemented, a reduction in
ANIMALS'
arms and allied expenditure
which will release considerable
resources for the manufactur-
LIVES
ing and service industries of
our nation, thus benefiting the
community as a whole instead
Reviews The Arms
of international arms
Drain: Job risk and in-
profiteers. The resultant more
dustrial decline by Tim
stable situation will encourage
Webb. Published by
fuller and more useful employ-
CND Publications,
ment and a higher quality of
1982. 48pp. 50p.
life for all our people.
National
The Arms Drain: Job Risk
and Industrial Decline is,
Demonstration
therefore, a timely document
to protest against
THE 1981 Trades Union Con-
and the trade union movement
gress in Blackpool made
welcomes the initiative of its
the use of animals
history by adopting overwhel-
author. It both considers and
in chemical and
mingly a resolution calling for
endorses the need for a policy
unilateral nuclear disarma-
of reallocation of labour aris-
biological warfare research.
ment - a resolution emulated
ing from the implementation
The demonstration will take place on
by the Labour Party at its Con-
of unilateral disarmament.
ference. The adoption of these
The booklet will be of great
Saturday April 24th - World Day for
resolutions was followed, even
value to CND and the trade
Laboratory Animals starting in Salisbury
more recently, by demonstra-
union movement when for-
then marching to Porton Down.
tions throughout the major ci-
mulating the comprehensive
Meet at the Coach Station, Castle Street,
ties of Europe - demonstra-
plan to be submitted to the
Salisbury at 11am.
tions of a size unprecedented
1982 Trade Union Congress
and which make CND a force
under the terms of the
For further information contact:
to be heeded by governments
Blackpool resolution.
British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection,
committed to the madness of
Alan Sapper is chairman
143 Charing Cross Road, London WC2. 01-734 2691.
nuclear stockpiling.
of the TUC.
Sanity 1982
February/March
Page 29
Definitely NOT the Dimbleby lecture
BRUCE KENT
hall in November of last year
very much a vision of the
much as we can and then blow
by E. P. Thompson. He has
future and a source of inspira-
the place up'.
given us something new.
tion. "Time runs out' is the
Despite massive propa-
Reviews BEYOND THE
There must be by now, on the
urgent message. This is not
ganda to the contrary the
COLD WAR by E. P.
shelves of those who care
only the vision of EPT. It is
events of Poland, which came
Thompson. Published
about ending the arms race,
also that of one of the moving
after the lecture, strengthen
by the Merlin Press
many admirable bits of litera-
forces in his life. His brother'
rather than weaken its mes-
and END. 36pp 60p.
ture which describe the techni-
who was killed fighting with
sage. They are a sympton of
Available from CND
calities of weaponry and each
the partisans in Bulgaria dur-
Europe's sickness and a sign of
sales dept.
new turn of the scientific
ing the war, had the same clear
the coming unfreezing and
screw.
picture of a Europe united
fracture within the existing
But this lecture, given by
which would be worth working
bloc divisions. They have
THIS magnificent pamphlet is,
one who would have to try
and even dying for. Perhaps he
outlived whatever time they
as the cover says, 'not the
very hard indeed if he wanted
was the founding father of
had and it is high time that we
'Dimbleby lecture'. It is what
to be boring, has produced
END.
began to be, not satellites of
might have been that lecture
something different. This is an
EPT has the ability to unite
East or West, but ourselves. A
but for high level BBC panic
analysis of the cold war, a look
us all. The creed is a simple
thousand peaceful links must
and conformity. Perhaps
at its odd history, and an
one and simple ones have
be built across the unnatural
'Nation shall speak status quo
examination both of its recip-
more chance of being heard
fracture which now exists.
to Nation' might be a more
rocal character and its ex-
than those born out of compli-
The trouble with EPT is that
appropriate slogan for our
hausted rationale. 'What is the
cations. Our common busi-
he actually makes us all start
High Priests of broadcasting.
Cold War about? It is about
ness, in charge temporarily of
to think. That is a disturbing
Instead the lecture was
itself.' This is not just the past
the world's resources is some-
experience and one that is cer-
given in Worcester City Guild-
and the present. It is also
thing more than to consume as
tainly very well worth 60p.
"Nobody asked what women thought"
"Fight on!' the Arma-
Catherine Reilly, a Man-
soon be repeated, but on a far
FRANK ALLAUN
ment-kings besought:
chester woman, has chosen as
more vast and more final
Nobody asked what the
the title for her book part of a
scale. This book should steel
Reviews SCARS
women thought."
quotation from a Vera Brittain
our determination not to let it
UPON MY HEART
poem: "Your battle wounds
happen.
edited by Catherine
Absolutely true. Nobody
are scars upon my heart." It is
There will be no war poems
Reilly. Published by
asked what the women
the first anthology of women's
penned in World War III.
Virago Press. £3.75.
thought. The belief that all
war poems for over sixty
There won't be time to write
women were busy distributing
years.
them! And few, if any, left to
White Feathers to those who
The great crime of 1914 may
read them.
ALTHOUGH I was in nap-
refused to kill was a myth. Mil-
pies at the time, the horrors of
lions of women were separated
the 1914 war, one of the great
from their husbands, lovers
crimes of history, drove me
and sons for years and many
into the peace movement
for all time - German women
when I left school.
too. The pity of it all.
The anti-war poets Wilfred
Owen, Siegfried Sassoon,
It is true, of course, that a
Collet's
Alfred Noyes and others were
number of the women poets,
Gods, whom I remember
mostly middle class and edu-
quoting at public meetings. I
cated privately at home, be-
never knew there were women
lieved in the justice of the war
writing similar poetry - until
and in the false patriotism and
this month.
false religion which sur-
Then I read these powerful
rounded it.
war poems collected clearly
Most of these verses were
with tremendous care by
penned after direct experience
Catherine Reilly in "Scars
of service as nurses near the
PEACE AND WAR
Upon My Heart" (Virago
front line in war hospitals or
Press £3.75). And these
else from deep personal affec-
women were writing before the
tion for the absent and dead.
AT THE INTERNATIONAL BOOKSHOP
male poets, in 1915.
Mary Henderson, about
What mother could fail to
whom the editor, Catherine
be moved by the poem written
Reilly, was unable to discover
A wide range of books, pamphlets. posters. badges,
by Teresa Hooley after seeing
any details at all, wrote in "An
stickers. postcards and even herets TO HELP YOU:
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Incident":
the following extract?
"I was making tea in the
END THE NUCLEAR AGE
tent where they,
"When the day was
The wounded, came in
done
their agony;
My little son
And the boy turned
Wondered at bath-time
- NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS
when his wounds were
why I kissed him so,
dressed,
Naked upon my knee
Held up his face like a
- NO NUCLEAR ENERGY —
How could he know
child at the breast,
The sudden terror that
assaulted me?
Turned and held his
tired face up,
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I find most poetry hard to
For he could not hold
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the spoon or cup,
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And I fed him
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thy feet have trod."
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February/March
Sanity 1982
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February/March
Sanity 1982
APPOINTMENTS
TYNE & WEAR
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Full-time
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Processing of membership forms
The County Council has recently declared the Administrative County
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Assisting in information services
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employer
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Applications with CV to:
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Nancy Dangerfield, SCND,
Further details from the Personnel Officer, Tyne and Wear
146 Holland Street, Glasgow
County Council, Sandyford House, Archbold Terrace, Newcastle
upon Tyne, NE2 1ED. The closing date for applications is 12th
February, 1982.
THE OPEN UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF SCIENCE
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UNIVERSITY OF
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Lecturer in Design (Faculty of Technology).
BRADFORD
Applicants should hold a good first degree in a science subject,
preferably in Physics, and some familiarity with computing will be
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M.A. In Peace Studies
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subject to a satisfactory probation period.
Salary will be on the Research and Analogue 1B scale £5,285-£7,700
Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for
this one- year course (two years part-time). The syllabus covers
p.a.
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ment, processes of social change and non-violent social move-
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DEATH
THOUSANDS
AGONIZING
WALKING
LINGERING
SOVIET
DEAD:
Tens of
DEATH:
YELLOW
HEMORRHAGES:
EFFECTS:
Most
LINK:
YELLOW RAIN
thousands of innocent
RAIN is a sophisticated
Victims of YELLOW RAIN
victims die soon after a
has been undeniably
people (perhaps as high
weapon which has been
become "walking hem-
YELLOW RAIN attack.
linked to the Soviet
as 20,000 members of
sprayed on heavily pop-
orrhages.' Blood flows
But those who are
Union. Soviet scientists
one tribe in Laos alone!)
ulated areas in Afghan-
from all body orifices,
exposed to the poison
have developed it; Soviet
have died an agonizing
istan, Laos, and
including the eyes, ears,
and live suffer con-
technicians have trans-
death at the hands of the
Kampuchea. Survivors
and nose. Massive quan-
stant pain and medical
ported it; and Soviet per-
Soviet Union's newest
report that individuals
tities of blood are
disorders. Many die
sonnel have sprayed it.
terror-weapon: YELLOW
who come into contact
vomited and coughed up
later. At least 35 Laotian
RAIN.
with this substance have
by the victims. Convul-
refugees in the United
died an agonizing death.
sions begin-victims in
States, apparently
Afghanistan were
"cured," have inexplic-
described by survivors as
ably died in their sleep.
"jerking like dogs with
broken backs,' in Kam-
puchea "jerking like fish
when you take them out
of water. Death follows
convulsions, and the
bodies soon turn black.
DEATH-TO INNOCENT CIVILIANS WILL
CONTINUE UNLESS YOU STOP IT!
PROTEST THIS
TELL YOUR
ALERT YOUR
URGE
For information on The
Committee to Stop
BARBARIC
FRIENDS &
COMMUNITY!
GOVERNMENT
Chemical Atrocities,
WEAPON!
NEIGHBORS!
Write letters to local
ACTION!
and free copies of our
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brochure, research
We must protest the
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Write your U.S. Senators
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Soviet deployment of
brochure explaining how
Put copies of this poster
and Congressmen in
(specify # you can
chemical arms, banned
we can stop chemical
around your school,
Washington. Urge them
distribute), and a
by the laws of human
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"STOP YELLOW RAIN"
decency and two inter-
a 14-page analysis of the
hood. (Copies are avail-
situation before more
button (35¢ each), and
national treaties. Only a
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able free)
lives are lost.
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"STOP YELLOW RAIN"
will stop this deploy-
Stop Chemical Atrocities.
protest, call or write:
ment! Innocent civilians
Distribute these door-to-
-including children—
door, to local organiza-
THE COMMITTEE
will be killed in large
tions, and to interested
TO STOP
numbers unless we act!
friends.
CHEMICAL
Join in protests spon-
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ATROCITIES
to Stop Chemical Atro-
413 East Capitol Street, SE
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Washington, D.C. 20003
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202-543-1286
What is the Answer??
What then should be the policy of those
dedicated to the continued prevention of nu-
clear war? For them, history provides only one
answer: War is prevented by deterrence and
deterrence is achieved by strategic balance. To
Washington, D.C. 20003
413 East Capitol Street
NUCLEAR WAR
TO PREVENT
those seriously determined to prevent nuclear
THE COMMITTEE
war, there is only one way to reduce nuclear
arsenals: A mutual, balanced reduction which
depends not on empty promises but on iron-
clad treaties and reliable, confidence-building
provisions for verifying compliance.
A balanced, verifiable mutual arms cut will
continue to prevent nuclear holocaust. A
freeze which freezes imbalance will danger-
ously erode the tried and tested deterrence
and actually make nuclear war more likely.
Do not be fooled by simplistic slogans. Sup-
PREVENTING
port only those policies which history has
demonstrated can prevent nuclear war. Join the
NUCLEAR
and Committee to Prevent Nuclear War.
WAR:
For more information or free copies of this brochure,
contact:
THE COMMITTEE
TO PREVENT NUCLEAR WAR
A Few
International Headquarters
European Headquarters
413 East Capitol Street
Arrow House-4th Floor
Simple Facts
Washington, D.C. 20003
27/31 Whitehall
USA
London SW1A 2BX
SPECIAL REPORT BY
(202) 543-1286
England
THE COMMITTEE TO PREVENT
01-839-3951
NUCLEAR WAR
Do you want to prevent nuclear war? We
It is thus a fact that the U.S. nuclear deterrence policy
In the early 1970's, however, as the U.S. reduced its
do. And we believe that just about every
has been a remarkably successful and sane policy. It has
defenses while the Soviets increased theirs, an ominous
American wants to also. The question is: How
also been a remarkably inexpensive one. Less than 3
new trend appeared. One nation after another fell under
percent of the total federal budget is devoted to the
the Soviet influence: South Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia,
do we do it? By a unilateral freeze? By alerting
nuclear deterrent. This means that the average taxpayer
South Yemen, Angola, Ethiopia-and other African
the public through terrifying Ground Zero
earning about $20,000 a year is contributing approximate-
countries.
rallies? By negotiating with Moscow-from
ly $120 a year to pay for this insurance policy against
Just recently-for the first time since the end of World
weakness or from strength? By restoring
nuclear war and foreign domination.
War II-the USSR abandoned all pretence of using proxy
strategic balance and preserving nuclear
These are the facts. The challenge to those who truly
powers and openly invaded a neutral nation-
want to prevent nuclear war is to make certain that these
Afghanistan-with Soviet troops.
deterrence?
remain facts. For the deterrent to continue to be success-
The answer requires careful analysis. The
ful, it is essential that the USSR and the world perceives a
current national debate over the military nu-
rough balance of power between the two superstates. If
A Bold
clear issue seems to be creating more confu-
the Soviet leaders believed that they were in a superior
sion than understanding. For those who want
position it is possible that they would try to take advan-
Initiative
tage of it. Such a situation would, of course, make war
to prevent nuclear war, the time has come to
more likely.
insist on a few simple facts.
It is clear that as the balance of power has been shifting
In calculating this critical possibility, the experience of
in the Soviet direction, America's deterrence policy is
the last 37 years is instructive.
becoming slowly less effective.
It is a fact that Americans do not want a nuclear war.
But, as some say, would not Soviet behavior be different
It is a fact that Americans do not want a war of any
A Historical
if Moscow did not-rightly or wrongly-perceive the
kind. It is also a fact, however, that Americans do not
West as a threat? If only the U.S. would take a bold
want to suffer the fate of the people of Poland-and the
initiative and reduce arms-it is possible that the Soviets
other countries dominated by Moscow.
Perspective
would follow. Why not, these people say, give peace a
It is a fact that when a few Western tourists tried to
chance?
unfurl a "peace" banner in Red Square they were
From 1945 to 1950, the United States and Britain had
The fact is that we have already tried this bold initia-
immediately arrested by the KGB.
complete and unchallenged nuclear superiority. During
tive. The U.S. did substantially reduce its military spend-
The arguments for a nuclear arms freeze now heard
in the U.S. and Western (not Eastern) Europe would be
this time, they did not use their superior power to domi-
ing and the size of our armed forces since 1968. In that
nate others. The U.S. and Britain even acquiesced in the
year the U.S. spent 9.5% of its GNP on defense; by 1979
seriously debatable if the same kind of free debate were
Soviet annexation of Eastern Europe, accepting Soviet
the defense share of U.S. GNP had been cut almost in
taking place in the Soviet Empire.
promises of "free elections". Both the Americans and the
half, to 5%. The Soviet response was to steadily increase
British freed their territorial possessions, rehabilitated
its armed forces until they are now more than double the
West Germany and Japan, and gave them democratic
size of the American forces. The USSR also expanded
governments and independence.
military spending, when adjusted for inflation, over the
The USSR, on the other hand, occupied Eastern
same period by about one-third.
A Successful
Europe and continues to do so. In the late 1940's, it tried
In addition, during a time when NATO deployed no
to occupy Greece, Turkey, Iran and West Berlin. The
new middle range nuclear missiles, and even withdrew
Nuclear
Soviet dictator at that time withdrew when faced with
1000 nuclear warheads, the Soviets deployed more than
Western diplomatic firmness supported by a clearly su-
750 new nuclear warheads and advanced SS-20 missiles
Deterrence
perior military deterrent.
alone.
Throughout the 1950's and 1960's the same basic
The Soviet nuclear arsenal has been growing at a rate of
policy prevailed; for instance, in 1962 the USSR ulti-
at least 8 percent a year for more than 20 years. As a result,
Policy
mately withdrew its missiles from Cuba.
any sudden "freeze" would penalize the West for showing
considerable restraint during the same period the Soviets were
America's 37 year old policy of nuclear deterrence
having the largest military build-up in world history. Such a
coupled with conventional preparedness and a continuous
freeze would reward the Soviets for initiating a new arms race
diplomatic dialogue with the Soviet leaders is the only
and would remove all incentive for them to seriously negotiate
a REDUCTION in nuclear arms to LOWER AND
U.S. government policy, foreign or domestic, which has
EQUAL NUMBERS on both sides.
been 100 percent successful.
And, most important, it is a fact that in 37 years-since
the dawn of the nuclear age-there has not been a nuclear
war anywhere. There has been no war between the Super-
powers and there has been no war in Europe. Europe has
enjoyed its longest period of peace since the fall of the
Roman Empire.
United States Department of State
THE
NUCLEAR
FREEZE
April 1982
The Nuclear
Freeze
In recent months, a proposal for a U.S.-Soviet
nuclear weapons freeze has attracted
widespread attention. A resolution supporting
such a freeze has been submitted to Congress,
and versions have been placed on the
November ballot in several states. While the
wording of different versions varies, and some
call for eventual reductions in arms levels, the
basic idea is this:
The President should immediately propose
that the United States and the Soviet
Union adopt a mutual freeze on the
testing, production, and deployment of
nuclear weapons and missiles and new air-
craft designed primarily to deliver nuclear
weapons, subject to strict verification.
The U.S. Government recognizes that the
proposal represents the best of intentions: to
reduce the likelihood of nuclear war and en-
courage more rapid progress in a critical and
exceptionally complex area of arms control.
We all share these objectives. But, after
carefully reviewing the proposal, we have con-
cluded that a freeze at existing nuclear levels
would have adverse implications for inter-
national security and stability and would
frustrate attempts to achieve the goal on
which we all agree: the negotiation of substan-
tial reductions in the nuclear arsenals of both
sides.
1
What Kind of Arms Control Agreements Do
A freeze at existing levels would lock the
We Seek?
United States and our allies into a position of
Four principles underlie the U.S. approach to
military disadvantage and vulnerability. The
arms control. We seek agreements that:
freeze would prevent us from correcting exist-
Produce significant reductions in the
ing dangerous deficiencies in our nuclear
arsenals of both sides;
forces caused by the sustained Soviet buildup.
Result in equal levels of arms on both
The substantial improvements in the Soviet
force of intercontinental ballistic missiles
sides, since an unequal agreement, like an un-
equal balance of forces, can encourage coer-
(ICBMs), for example, have given the Soviet.
cion or aggression;
Union the means to destroy a large part of our
Are verifiable, because when our na-
ICBM force. In addition, there are about 600
tional security is at stake, agreements cannot
Soviet intermediate-range nuclear missiles
be based upon trust alone; and
capable of striking our NATO allies. These
Enhance U.S. and allied security and
missiles are not offset by any comparable U.S.
reduce the risk of war, because arms control is
systems. In this case, a freeze would prevent
not an end in itself but an important means
us from restoring the balance.
toward securing peace and international
A freeze is not good enough. We do not
stability.
want to cap deployments at current levels; we
want significant reductions in the nuclear
These four principles were highlighted by
arms of both sides, reductions that will lead to
the President in his speech of November 18,
a stable military balance. The United States
1981. They are the foundation for the U.S.
has already offered a bold new arms control
position in the current Geneva negotiations
initiative at the negotiations in Geneva on
between the United States and the U.S.S.R.
land-based intermediate-range nuclear
on intermediate-range nuclear forces (INF).
missiles. We proposed a "zero option" under
They also form the basis for our approach to
which the United States would cancel the plan-
strategic arms negotiations with the Soviet
ned deployment of Pershing II missiles and
Union, negotiations we will call START-
ground-launched cruise missiles in exchange
Strategic Arms Reduction Talks.
for the elimination of comparable Soviet
intermediate-range nuclear missiles. Our objec-
What Are the Drawbacks of a Freeze
tive in negotiating strategic arms control
Proposal?
agreements is also to achieve significant reduc-
tions.
While the Administration shares the genuine
A freeze would make significant arms
and deeply felt convictions that have given rise
control more difficult. The Soviets would have
to the freeze proposal, we believe the proposal
little incentive to agree to reductions in strate-
does not constitute sound defense or effective
gic and intermediate-range nuclear arms if
arms control policy, and thus we cannot sup-
they knew they could simply freeze the ex-
port the freeze itself. A freeze would be
isting military situation. This has already been
dangerous to security, stability, and the cause
demonstrated in the area of intermediate-
of peace for the following reasons:
range forces, where the U.S.S.R. initially
refused our offers to negotiate while steadily
deploying some 300 SS-20 missile systems.
The Soviets agreed to come to the negotiating
2
3
Introduction of Strategic Weapons by the U.S. and U.S.S.R. 1972-1982
ICBM-Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
SLBM-Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile
SSBN-Nuclear-Powered Ballistic Missile Submarine
ALCM-Air-Launched Cruise Missile
ALCM
Trident
SLBM
Trident
(Ohio Class)
U.S.
SSBN
1972
1982
Backfire
Bomber
SS-11
SS-N-8
SS-17 SS-19 SS-18
SS-N-18 SS-N-17
Mod 2/3
SLBM
ICBM ICBM ICBM
SLBM
SLBM
Delta SSBN
Delta II SSBN
Delta III SSBN
Typhoon SSBN
U.S.S.R.
5
1972
1982
This trend has been harmful to the securi-
table only when it became clear that we and
ty interests of the United States and its allies
our NATO allies were determined to take
and to global stability. It is not just a question
steps to counter those SS-20 deployments.
of numbers. As their military capability has
A freeze would cast serious doubt on
grown, the Soviets have increasingly resorted
American leadership of the NATO alliance. In
to the use of military force directly, or through
1979, in the face of continuing Soviet deploy-
proxies such as Cuba, to intervene in areas
ments, the members of the alliance agreed to
farther and farther from their borders. The in-
begin deployment in 1983 of U.S. Pershing II
creased assertiveness of Soviet behavior-the
and ground-launched cruise missiles and to
invasion of Afghanistan, pressure on Poland,
seek a U.S.-U.S.S.R. arms control agreement
support for insurgency in Central America-
to reduce intermediate-range nuclear forces. A
reflects growing Soviet confidence in their
freeze now would, in effect, be a unilateral
military capabilities.
decision by the United States to withdraw
from this joint allied undertaking.
ICBMs. Since 1972, the Soviets have
A freeze on all testing, production, and
developed and deployed at least 10 different
deployment of nuclear weapons would include
variants of three new types of ICBMs. In the
important elements that cannot be verified. The
same period, the United States deployed no
practical result is that the United States would
new types of ICBMs and only one variant of
live up to a freeze in all its aspects, while
the existing Minuteman. In 1986, we plan to
there would be considerable doubt that the
begin deployment of the MX, the first new
Soviets would also live up to it. We simply
U.S. intercontinental ballistic missile in 16
cannot afford to base our national security on
years.
trust of the Soviets.
Sea-Based Forces. The commissioning of
the first U.S. Trident submarine in 1982
A Freeze and the Soviet Buildup
marked the end of a 15-year period during
During the past decade, the Soviet Union has
which the United States did not build any new
mounted a sustained buildup across the entire
ballistic missile-firing submarines. In this same
range of its nuclear forces. Soviet moderniza-
period, the U.S.S.R. added over 60 missile-
tion efforts have far outstripped ours, par-
firing submarines in four new or improved
ticularly in the development and deployment
classes. The Soviets are now deploying two
of intercontinental ballistic missiles, which
new types of missile submarines-the Typhoon
now pose a major threat to a large part of our
and the Delta III-while we are building only
land-based ICBM force. In the last 10 years,
the Trident.
the Soviets introduced an unprecedented array
Bombers. When the first B-1 bomber be-
of new strategic weapons into their arsenals,
comes operational in 1985, it will have been
including the SS-17, SS-18, and SS-19
nearly a quarter of a century since the last
ICBMs, the Typhoon and Delta submarines
U.S. heavy bomber was produced. In contrast,
and several new types of submarine-launched
the Soviets have produced more than 250
missiles, and the Backfire bomber. During this
modern Backfire bombers that have inherent
same period, the United States exercised
intercontinental capabilities. The Soviets also
restraint and only introduced the Trident
have improved their large air defense system
missile and submarine and the cruise missile.
designed to counter our bomber force. A
freeze would not constrain these Soviet air
defenses.
7
6
The chart on pages 4 and 5 compares the
introduction of new strategic weapons by the
United States and the U.S.S.R. and shows the
momentum of the Soviet buildup over the last
decade. As the chart shows, the Soviets intro-
duced 12 new or improved nuclear weapons
systems, while the United States only in-
troduced three, and they upgraded or expand-
ed every area of their nuclear arsenal.
Moreover, in most significant measures
used to judge strategic forces-total number
of systems, total number of ballistic missiles,
total destructive potential-the Soviets now
surpass the United States. Soon they could
equal and surpass us in number of warheads,
the one area where the United States has
traditionally had an advantage.
The President entered office with a man-
date to correct these trends. The moderniza-
tion program he announced in October 1981 is
designed to restore the strategic balance and
prevent nuclear war. In so doing, it will give
the Soviet Union a strong incentive to
negotiate with us to achieve genuine arms
reductions.
Conclusion
The Reagan Administration is committed to
equitable and verifiable arms control aimed at
substantial reductions in military forces. While
the freeze proposal reflects the desire of peo-
ple everywhere to reduce the threat of nuclear
war, it would not promote reductions, equality,
or verifiability. Rather, it would accomplish
the opposite. A freeze at existing levels would
lock in existing nuclear inequalities while mak-
ing further progress in arms control difficult,
if not impossible. For these reasons, our goal
in arms control must be the negotiation of
substantial reductions in the nuclear arsenals
of both sides. We can do better than a freeze.
8
Bureau of Public Affairs
Postage and Fees Paid
United States Department of State
Department of State
Washington, D.C. 20520
STA-501
U.S.MAIL
Official Business
RGENT
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Only a very strong international cry of outrage can stop
Washington, D.C. 20003
413 East Capitol Street, SE
ATROCITIES
CHEMICAL
TO STOP
Learn about the use of chemical weapons. You can get a
THE COMMITTEE
Nuclear War
is a terrifying
the use of chemical weapons. You can raise your voice against
continued chemical atrocities. Among the actions you can
take:
free copy (and as many copies as you can distribute) of a 14-
URGENT
possibility
page paper on the subject, prepared by a major Washlngton
think-tank, by sending your name and address to The Commit-
tee to Stop Chemical Atrocities. You can read Sterling Sea-
grave's new book Yellow Rain (available in hardback In most
bookstores), and the October 1980 and August 1981 Yellow
Rain articles in "Reader's Digest. You can also obtaln copies
ing your U.S. Senator or Congressman.
URGENT
BUT
of the State Department White Papers on Yeilow Rain by wrlt-
Tell your neighbors about the horrifying effects of Yeliow
Rain. Distribute these brochures to local civic, service and re-
ligious organizations. Write or call the editor of your home-
CHEMICAL
town newspapers expressing outrage about the use of Yellow
Rain on innocent civilians. Write your U.S. Senator or Con-
gressman, President Ronald Reagan, and the U.S. State De-
partment and ask them what the U.S. is doing to stop this re-
URGENT
WARFARE
pugnant form of warfare. Call your local radio taik shows to tell
others about Yeliow Rain and how they can learn more about
it.
Let the world community know that you oppose the use
of chemical weapons. Organize or attend a rally opposing
IS A
chemical warfare. The Committee to Stop Chemical Atrocities
can tell you about rallies in your area or help you organize your
own rally.
Above all, do something! The use of chemical weapons
1972 Biological Warfare convention, both signed by the Soviet
Union. Chemical weapons should be opposed on humani-
tarian and legal grounds. Only strong international action can
URGENT
TERRIFYING
have been outlawed by both the 1925 Geneva Protocol and the
save more innocent civilians from succumbing to this agoniz-
REALITY.
ing death.
For more information on chemical warfare/Yellow
Rain, including free copies of this brochure and copies of
the research paper (please specify how many copies you
can distribute), contact:
THE COMMITTEE TO STOP
CHEMICAL ATROCITIES
URGENT
NOW.
International Headquarters
European Headquarters
413 East Capital Street
Arrow House
Washington, D.C. 20003 USA
27-31 Whitehall
202/543-1286
London SW1 England
01-839-3951
URGE
THOUSANDS HAVE DIED
THE KILLER ELUDED
force in Afghanistan and have been reported in Laos.
AN AGONIZING DEATH.
IDENTIFICATION.
Most chemical attacks apparently have been left to Viet-
namese, Kampuchean, and Pathet Lao Soviet allies, but
evidence also exists of direct Soviet action. Bi-planes
Fifteen to twenty thousand dead in Laos.
Experts investigating Yellow Rain initially found ex-
used as crop dusters in the USSR have spread Yellow
Thousands dead in Afghanistan. Thousands more killed
treme difficulty identifying the substance. The first
Rain over Laos. A Vietnamese defector observed two
in Kampuchea.
problem was obtaining physical evidence of Yellow Rain
Soviet "advisors" fire a round of chemical munitions at
Professional soldiers? Sometimes. Innocent civi-
attacks. Solid evidence was elusive because the attacks
Khmer Rouge guerrillas inside Kampuchea. Both Thai
lians, children? Often. The cause: Highly sophisticated
were in remote locations and the attackers seemed to be
and American military radio monitors have recorded
weapons of chemical warfare, often called "Yellow
taking special precautions against chemical-identifica-
conversations of Russian officers giving instructions for
Rain."
tion by using Napalm to destroy attack residue. Sur-
shipment of chemical warheads in Laos; another radio
Beginning in the mid-1970's damning evidence
vivors understandably had not thought of gathering
intercept recorded an exchange about a high-ranking
has mounted of the use of chemical weapons in South-
physical evidence while comrades writhed in agony
Soviet general touring several chemical munitions
east Asia and Afghanistan. By 1976, terror-striken re-
nearby. Survivors could not be expected to risk con-
depots.
fugees began streaming out of Laos carrying news of a
tamination to gather evidence, and some who did at-
The most damning evidence of Soviet complicity is
new weapon bringing agonizing death. Villagers called
tempt to collect proof and transport it died from expo-
the production of these Yellow Rain mycotoxins.
this new phenomenon "Yellow Rain" because small,
sure to the evidence that they were carrying. Other prob-
Among the world's communist states, only the USSR
yellow, raindrop-like particles, delivered by airplane, fell
lems included dissipation of the chemical evidence
has the knowledge, personnel and facilities necessary to
on their huts and fields. Direct exposure to Yellow Rain
through excessive rain or snow, and, in Afghanistan,
produce Yellow Rain. The mycotoxins identified in Yel-
brought breathing difficulties, extreme irritation to the
the difficulty of obtaining a corpse to use as evidence be-
low Rain do not occur naturally in Southeast Asia, but
eyes, nose, throat and lungs. Victims began coughing
cause of the Moslem custom of burying the deceased on
the fusarium fungus producing them thrive throughout
up and vomiting great quantities of blood and experienc-
the day of death.
much of the USSR. Large-scale epidemics caused by
ing multiple hemorrhaging of membranes, the seeping
Despite these difficulties, the riddle has been
these elements have long been a serious threat to the
of blood from body orifices, dizziness, convulsions, and
solved. U.S. Secretary of State Alexander Haig an-
Soviet population, and Soviet scientists have been
death.
nounced on September 13, 1981 that the United States
studying these toxins intensively since the 1930's. In-
Initial reports of Yellow Rain were confined to
has identified the critical lethal agent as a compound
terestingly, in recent years 22 of 50 articles on these tox-
Laos. Soon tales began to trickle in from Kampuchea
composed of three tricothecene mycotoxins. These
ins in open source Soviet literature deal with finding the
(Cambodia) and Afghanistan. The Kampucheans re-
mycotoxins were found at the site of a Yellow Rain at-
optimum conditions for biosynthesis of these com-
ported that victims in their death throes were "jerking
tack at levels twenty times higher than they occur in na-
pounds-a clear sign that the Soviets have more than a
like fish when you take them out of the water"; the Af-
ture; furthermore, they produce all the poisoning
passing interest in obtaining large quantities of the
ghans recounted scenes of compatriots "jerking like
symptoms reported and none not reported.
poisons. Research done on mycotoxins is also done at
dogs with broken backs."
institutes long involved with chemical and biological
The description given by the survivors in each area
TOXIC CHEMICALS WERE
weapons research.
was remarkably similar. These similarities, coming
Finally, as if to tacitly admit that it has something to
from people from rural communities with minimal con-
THE CULPRIT.
.AND THE
hide by an investigation, Moscow has repeatedly tried to
tact with the outside world or one another, make it im-
block creation of an impartial United Nations Commis-
possible to discount their statements as politically-in-
SOVIET UNION WAS
sion to investigate the situation in Laos, Kampuchea,
spired inventions.
and Afghanistan. Moscow and its allies have denied the
THE SOURCE.
United Nations access to the sites of chemical attacks
and made strong objections to impartial investigations.
There is extremely strong evidence that Yellow
Despite this, the United Nations began an independent
Rain is Soviet-made and Soviet-supplied. Yellow Rain
investigation in November of 1981. Early findings "sug-
and other chemical weapons are being delivered from
gest a possible use of some sort of chemical warfare
Soviet-made aircraft, rockets, and artillery. Members of
agents" in the three Yellow Rain areas, and investiga-
the USSR Chemical Corps are part of the Soviet invasion
tions are continuing.
Reader's Digest
REPRINT
GAS WARFARE
IN LAOS:
Communism's Drive to
Annihilate a People
The article that follows is about genocide-the extermination of thou-
sands of people whose only "crime" is that they were friends of America.
By JANE HAMILTON-MERRITT
T
HE PLACE is not a pretty sight.
nounced Mong) tribal refugees from
I.V.s drip fluid into skinny
the mountains of Laos. They suffer
arms. Doctors and nurses
from severe malnutrition, malaria,
scurry from one wooden-slab bed to
amoebic dysentery, tuberculosis,
another, responding to pleas for
pneumonia and a host of parasites.
help. I am at Ban Vinai, a refugee
For many there is a tragic complica-
camp along the Mekong River just
tion: they have been gassed.
inside northern Thailand. It is popu-
One of them is a friend of mine;
lated by some 35,000 H'mong (pro-
yet I don't recognize him, although I
1
THE READER'S DIGEST
COMMUNISM'S DRIVE TO ANNIHILATE A PEOPLE
3
2
have passed his pallet at least 20
in Laos. Today, perhaps 70,000 are
"my people gave
times. Finally, through his pain, he
still alive there, many of them sick
12,000 lives. All of
CHINA
Tribal Refugee Camps
recognizes me and sends a relative to
or dying of malnutrition. Another
that was secret, but
BURMA
Gassed Areas
bring me to him.
50,000 are in Thai refugee camps,
now I want the
LAOS
Nhia Yang Vang, about 40, had
and some 35,000 have been resettled
American people
CHINA
once been vigorous, energetic. Now
in Western countries. The H'mong
to know."
THAILAND
he is a skeleton with sunken, haunt-
survivors in Laos now face a terri-
When
the
ed eyes. In a weak voice he tells me
ble future, for they are the targets
Americans pulled
he had returned to Laos after I saw
of a deliberate, calculated policy of
out of Vietnam
him in January. Concerned about
extermination.
and Laos, the
South
relatives, he had gone back there
This policy is the tragic heritage of
H'mong-and the
China Sea
with a party of I9 men for three
the H'mong commitment to Ameri-
sacrifices they had
months. During that time, he says,
ca's effort to prevent a communist
made-remained
his team had been in areas sprayed by
takeover in Vietnam and Laos. The
largely unknown.
LAOS
poisonous chemicals nine times.
United States, unwilling to send its
But the Vietnam-
PLAIN OF
Every few minutes his talk is
own troops into Laos, opted for
ese and Pathet Lao
broken by a racking cough that near-
another kind of army-a guerrilla
did not forget. Li
ly strangles him. He spits bloody
army recruited mostly from the
Chai, who now
Mekong River
IARS
VIETNAM
sputum into a tin can. A H'mong
H'mong, but also from other Lao-
lives in Denver,
Phu Bia
nurse tells me that he has chest pains,
tian tribes, such as the Yao, Lahu,
Colo., and is a
Vang
Lao Teung. Trained by the U.S.
leader of the
Vieng
Vientiane
finds breathing difficult, cannot eat.
Nhia continues: "They hit us at
military and the CIA, the H'mong
H'mong refugee
Ban Vinai
the end of May at Nam Khing with
formed the backbone of the resis-
group there, tells
THAILAND
the yellow chemicals. It was a white
tance against the communist forces
why: "The com-
Miles
100
plane like a Soviet helicopter-low
in Laos that were supported by
munists know that
enough so that I could see the figures
North Vietnam, China and the
we were the Americans' hands, arms,
and disease, or were shot trying to
of two pilots. Immediately when
U.S.S.R. They sabotaged war sup-
feet and mouths. That's why they
escape to Thailand."
they dropped the gas I fell to the
plies moving south along the Ho Chi
believe they must kill all H'mong-
Today, in tribal refugee camps in
ground vomiting blood. My eyes
Minh Trail, and rescued American
soldiers, farmers, children. We suffer
northern Thailand, H'mong refu-
burned; I could not see. I have the
pilots shot down in Laos. They
and die just like the Jews in World
gees tell of starvation, rape, the crip-
'red' diarrhea.
proved adept at intelligence work,
War II, but the world ignores us."
pling of children whose fathers
"It was a powder. When it
gathering vital information on
Hide in Caves. Gen. Vang Pao
worked for the United States, of
touched my skin it became sticky,
troop, tank and supply movements.
says, "Communist gassing of the
massacres. But what frightens them
like an ointment, and when water is
Gen. Vang Pao, who commanded
H'mong people began in August
most are the poisons, which they call
put on it, it becomes liquid." He
the H'mong forces and now lives in
1975, at Mung Om and Nam Fen,
"rain," "gas," or "smoke," for they
stops for another bout of coughing.
the United States, told me recently
south of Phu Bia, where 17,000 men,
cannot hide from the chemicals that
"You know, after a rain the chemi-
that his forces destroyed millions of
women and children were killed. I
poison them, their water, animals,
cals will get into the water and poison
dollars' worth of military equip-
learned from a Pathet Lao defector
plants and fields.
it. Now that it is the rainy season, it
ment, medical and food supplies
that from 1975 to 1978 the gassing
Survivors speak of several kinds
will be so easy to poison us all."
moving down the Ho Chi Minh
had killed 50,000 H'mong in the Phu
of "rain." Yellow and red are very
"Just Like the Jews." In 1960,
Trail into South Vietnam between
Bia area alone. During that time
serious, and a direct hit means sure
there were at least 500,000 H'mong
1962 and 1975. "To do that," he said,
some 45,000 died from starvation
death. Green and blue-green rains
4
THE READER'S DIGEST
COMMUNISM'S DRIVE TO ANNIHILATE A PEOPLE
5
are not as immediately lethal. A
managed to bring, he quietly reads:
Vang, who had just escaped from a
medics gave my people injections
small bit of opium often enables
"On 15 May 1980, two Soviet
Vietnamese prison camp in Laos,
and green pills, others injections and
victims to survive, but they suffer
helicopters dropped yellow powder
told me a story not only of genocide,
white pills. Nothing happened for I2
vomiting, bloody diarrhea, fever,
on a H'mong village of 200 at co-
but of an added horror: medically
hours; then they have trouble seeing,
bleeding through the nose, and
ordinate TF 9376. Thirty-five died
supervised experimentation that
can't speak and black out. Fifteen
dizziness.*
within seven days; the remaining are
uses chemical agents on imprisoned
died; the rest are very sick for a long
Recently, still another chemical,
very sick."
H'mong men, women and children:
time. The medics wrote reports
a light-yellow powder, has been
He recites another attack. Then,
"In November 1978, a Vietnam-
on the people given medicine."
dropped by four-engine planes or by
carefully turning the tattered pages
ese force of 3500 captured about
helicopters. The latter, a U.S. mili-
of his diary to check dates, figures
1200 H'mong men, women, and
tary spokesman tells me, resemble
and locations, he chronicles what
children-including mine-in the
Soviet MI-4s or MI-8s.
happened to him after the American
jungle where the red and yellow
A H'mong farmer, looking much
withdrawal from Laos in April 1975:
smoke had forced us to live. We were
older than his 40 years, says: "For
"The first gas attack was in Octo-
taken to a camp called Tong Mien,
JANE
two years they attack my area in
ber 1975. The communists couldn't
which held 2000 H'mong prisoners.
Laos. The planes cover us with red
take our village by fighting, but they
We were given only a small portion
smoke, and the people and animals
came back with airplanes. One car-
of rìce every 15 days, and many of my
die. We cannot grow rice or farm.
ried red gas, another yellow. Those
people were shot trying to get to the
We must hide in caves.
near where the chemical rockets ex-
forest for food.
"They drop poison on us 200
ploded fell unconscious, with bleed-
"Then, on March 25, two MiG
times in 1978 and 1979. The first
ing from the mouth and nose. Many
jets flew low over our prison camp
time five people die immediately.
died. Soon afterward a yellow water
and sprayed us with white rain. One
Red smoke rolls over the area and
flowed from their bodies.
hundred people died immediately.
everyone is sick. It smells like burn-
"They hit us with gas for three
The rest of us had diarrhea for 20
ing rubber. I swallow a bit of opium,
days. Seventy-five people died im-
days, then fever; we cannot walk or
but slide to the ground unable to
mediately. Five hundred more died
raise our arms. Many more people
move. In about an hour I can get up,
within a short time. I was lucky, for I
die.
but I cannot eat or drink. I become
was not in the village at the time.
"In May, four Pathet Lao medics
very skinny. Twelve more people in
"For three years we were con-
gave injections in the arm to 30
H'mong women, clad in traditional
my village die of being skinny."
stantly attacked like this. We must
H'mong, including me. It was the
dress, who escaped to Thailand
Chronicle of Horror. The stories
color of water. I immediately became
before the gassing began
live in the jungle like animals. Since
are countless. One man sits before
early 1980, people are so hungry that
dizzy and could not breathe. Blood
WHAT HAS BEEN the response of the
me in Ban Vinai refugee camp in
they eat leaves exposed to the chemi-
spurted from my nose and I fell to
United States to these atrocities? In
Thailand carrying "evidence" of the
cals, and 715 people have died in my
the ground unconscious. A relative
my view, it has been appallingly
continued gassing in Laos. Trained
area. I dig in the ground for roots
blew opium smoke over me for
weak and ineffectual.
by the Americans in intelligence in
and water, but many are too weak to
several hours and finally the bleed-
The House Subcommittee on
the 1970s, this former H'mong lieu-
do this. We have no cloth to cover
ing stopped. In I2 hours I could see
Asian and Pacific Affairs has taken
tenant had crossed the Mekong Riv-
our bodies from mosquitoes, so we
again and by the next day I could
testimony on the gassings. And the
er to Thailand on June 6. From a
all have malaria. We have no medi-
walk.
State Department and Department
miniature diary that he miraculously
cine, so we are all sick."
"The next day four new medics
of Defense have made their own
Shot in the Arm. On a visit to
*Opium has for centuries been used medicinally
came. This time they had injections
investigations. But they and other
for severe gastro-intestinal disturbances.
Thailand in January, my friend Nhia
and pills for 40 gassing victims. Some
U.S. officials, including those in the
6
THE READER'S DIGEST
COMMUNISM'S DRIVE TO ANNIHILATE A PEOPLE
7
White House, refuse to acknowl-
Urgent Mission. What govern-
medical Laboratory for analysis,
lethal chemical agents by the Soviet-
edge that the evidence is conclusive.
ment agencies want for "conclusive
and to establish a medical team, on a
backed regimes of Hanoi and the
After listening to testimony at the
evidence" is a body for autopsy. But
standby basis, prepared to travel to
Pathet Lao, the Vietnamese govern-
subcommittee hearings in April,
there are serious logistical difficulties
the site of future allegations to con-
ment applauds its army's chemical-
Congressman Jim Leach (R., Iowa)
in obtaining recently gassed victims
duct interviews/examinations." The
warfare branch by awarding it a Ho
stated: "I personally interviewed
and fresh chemicals because the gas-
final recommendation read: "From
Chi Minh medal. According to Ha-
these refugees. I read State Depart-
sing occurs in the remote mountains
a military defense position, it would
noi radio monitored in Thailand in
of Laos, many days' walk through
seem to be an extremely urgent mis-
April 1980, Gen. Le Trong Tan told
enemy territory to the Thai border.
sion to initiate every effort possible
the unit: "Chemical weapons con-
JANE MERRITT
One H'mong found a dispensed gas
to identify the chemical agents that
tributed to winning the great victory
canister, wrapped it heavily in old
have been used and to develop ap-
in the great anti-U.S. salvation resist-
clothes, and started to walk it out of
propriate countermeasures, anti-
ance struggle" and in "tasks in the
Laos to Thailand. The chemical resi-
dotes, etc."
new situation." The "new situation"
due in the canister killed him before
Unfortunately-indeed, unbeliev-
undoubtedly refers to Laos, Cambo-
he reached the Mekong.
ably-those recommendations have
dia-and possibly to Afghanistan.
I asked Vang Neng, H'mong chief
been ignored. On June 30, 1980, I
The State Department calls evi-
at Ban Vinai, about the U.S. insist-
reported to the U.S. embassy in Bang-
dence suggesting a Soviet role "cir-
ence on having a body for autopsy. In
kok that I had located two men in a
cumstantial," but it is more than
a voice of frustration and anger, he
refugee-camp hospital who reported
that. Independent intelligence
said, "Yes, I have bodies for autopsy.
being gassed in the latter part of May.
sources have confirmed the presence
I learned yesterday that the commu-
The timing for testing was within the
of Soviet Gen. V. K. Pikolov's
nists gassed a village on May 14,
six-week limit recommended by the
chemical-warfare forces in Laos
killing ten immediately. This is
Surgeon General. After 14 days of
-and subsequently in Kabul, Af-
many days' walk from the Mekong.
evasive and false information by the
ghanistan. In addition, Soviet chemi-
By the time we carry one body out, it
embassy and other U.S. officials in
cal-warfare experts are said to have
will be spoiled."
Thailand, I returned to the camp
visited several cities and areas in Laos
Last fall, a step in the right direc-
myself to speak directly to the two
to inspect "chemical explosives"-
tion was made when a team from the
men recently gassed and to the camp
artillery shells, bombs, rockets. In
office of the Army Surgeon General
medical personnel.
sum, it is hard to escape the conclu-
was sent to Thailand to investigate
Only then did I learn that medical
sion that the Soviets are involved,
the gassing allegations. They inter-
experts familiar with gassing had not
certainly in the production and dis-
Newly arrived from Laos, a starving child
illustrates the plight of the H'mong
viewed 40 men, two women and a
conducted the investigations. We
tribution of chemical agents, and
12-year-old girl, all of whom were
had sent a Thai nurse and an Ameri-
probably in on-site surveillance and
ment and Defense Department re-
witnesses to, and survivors of, gas-
can public-health worker, who ad-
medical experimentation.
ports which are so numerous and so
sing attacks in Laos, and concluded
mitted he was a "novice" with regard
Meanwhile, the H'mong continue
persuasive that they cannot be de-
in a report withheld from the public
to chemical warfare and, in his own
to die. A H'mong leader who is
nied. No one in the White House
that chemical agents had been used
words, had "very little" instruction
responsible for almost 30,000 civil-
ever saw a person being gassed in
against the H'mong. Two recom-
even in how to collect samples. When
ians in Laos recently crossed into
Auschwitz, but we know it occurred.
mendations were: to "develop a plan
I left Bangkok on July 18, the speci-
Thailand. His words haunt me: "I
I think this Administration has a
whereby blood, tissue or other speci-
mens were still there.
have come to see if anyone has food,
moral responsibility to tell the peo-
mens may be rapidly transported
"Will You Help?" While the West
clothing or medicine to protect us
ple of the world what is happening."
from the suspect area to the Bio-
refuses to acknowledge the use of
from the gassing. Someone must
8
THE READER'S DIGEST
help, soon, or we will all die. We are
Finally, since Vietnam is a client
friends of the Americans. We fought
state of the Soviets (apparently the
for freedom. Will you help?"
source of the lethal chemicals), the
Will we? How?
United States should inform the So-
First, a fully publicized Congres-
viets that any discussions of other
sional hearing-both Senate and
issues will be put off until we are
House-into the gassing of the
satisfied that chemical warfare in
H'mong should be held. This would
Laos has ceased.
inform the U.S. people and attract
world-press coverage of the atrocity.
AT BAN VINAI CAMP, Vang Chue, an
And the U.S. government should
18-year-old boy who has been
make communist gas warfare a ma-
gassed, is carried into the hospital.
jor issue before the United Nations
His chest heaves with erratic contrac-
and every international forum.
tions and he struggles to breathe. His
Second, direct pressure should be
face is heavy with sweat and I see a
applied on Hanoi by Free World
tear looming-the first H'mong-sol-
industrial nations on whom Hanoi
dier tear that I have ever seen. I lean
greatly relies for the technology and
down to talk with him.
financial aid to rebuild Vietnam.
"I'm so sorry that my country is
This must be done at the highest
dying," he says in a voice of pain.
private "hot-line" leader-to-leader
"Please do something."
level. Hanoi should be told that this
For information on prices and availability of reprints
inhuman policy must stop or aid will
write: Reprint Editor, Reader's Digest, Pleasantville,
be halted.
N.Y. 10570, or call: 914-769-7000.
REPRINTED FROM THE OCTOBER 1980 ISSUE OF READER'S DIGEST
© 1980 THE READER'S DIGEST ASSOCIATION, INC., PLEASANTVILLE. N.Y. 10570 PRINTED IN U.S.A.
This reprint does not constitute an endorsement. implied or otherwise by Reader Digest 11 may not be used in any way
for advertising or promotional purposes without prior written permission of Reader S Digest The reprint may not be sold
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August 1981
Reader's
Digest
LIFE AFTER
Life After Death: The Growing Evidence McCall's
51
The Many Faces of Jack Lemmon Maurice Zolotow
56
How Japan Does It-Can We Do It Too?
Time
61
DEATH:
Inferno on U.S. 17
Drama in Real Life
66
Women Who Have Babies for Other Women
Good Housekeeping
70
THE
Are Judges Abusing Our Rights?
Rep. John Ashbrook
77
The Lovable, Hateable Burro
Arizona Highways
81
GROWING
New Hope for Problem Sleepers
Walter S. Ross
84
The Great and Only P.T. Barnum Kiwanis Magazine
90
Tragic Legacy From Laos
Jane Hamilton-Merritt
96
EVIDENCE
A Family When
N.Y. Times
101
Trident
Harriss 107
She
111
PAGE 51
D
Tragic Legacy
PARENTS
From Laos
PAGE 127
130
Art
By JANE HAMILTON-MERRITT
137
Jordan's
Reed
149
Thank You,
Mild
Peterson 163
PAGE 157
The Riddle of Lake Callabonna
Olaf Ruhen 169
SURE-FIRE
Who Said That?
Minneapolis Tribune 179
How to Burglar-Proof Your Home
Ira A. Lipman 185
WAYS TO
Book
Call Sign: "Bat-21"
"Bat-21" 197
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Tragic Legacy
From Laos
By JANE HAMILTON-MERRITT
Last October, in "Gas Warfare in Laos: Communism's Drive to
Annihilate a People," Reader's Digest told a horrifying story of modern-
day genocide. Jane Hamilton-Merritt, a reporter-photographer and Ph.D.
in Asian studies, disclosed the extermination by poison gas of thousands of
H'mong, a fiercely independent tribal minority in Laos-people who had
formed the backbone of a U.S.-supported guerrilla resistance against
communist forces during the Vietnam war. In the following article she
describes what has happened since. And what-tragically-has not.
N
LONGER can the gassing of
1976. A number of refugee experts
the H'mong be considered a
fear that fewer than 100,000 are
faraway problem in South-
alive in Laos. Many died of starva-
east Asia. Now the problem is here,
tion, but thousands were killed by
on our own doorstep, among the
gas attacks, which still continue.
H'mong refugees who have settled
I crisscrossed America recently,
throughout the United States.
interviewing H'mong refugees,
In the five years I reported on
and I discovered a new dimension
refugees in northern Thailand, I
to their story of terror.
heard countless detailed accounts of
One H'mong leader estimates that
poison-gas attacks by the Soviet-
of those who have arrived here,
backed Lao-Vietnamese regime on
about 20,000 may have been exposed
H'mong villages-and of the dead-
to the "poisonous rains" of chemical
ly results. In 1960, there were an
warfare. Many are chronically ill-
estimated 500,000 H'mong in
because of the gassings, they believe.
Laos.* Today, some 100,000 are
They complain of pulmonary prob-
either in Thai refugee camps or
lems, constant headaches, painful
resettled in Western countries, in-
muscles and joints, eye and hearing
cluding about 40,000 who have
disorders. Medical and public-health
come to the United States since
personnel who have worked with
*All population figures are approximate, as
the H'mong are persuaded that their
precise information is unavailable.
infant-mortality rate is high and that
2
For information on prices and availability of reprints write:
Reprint Editor, Reader's Digest, Pleasantville, N.Y. 10570,
or call: 914-769-7000.
3
a large percentage suffer from can-
'boat people.' Many of us still suffer
cer. More frightening, in the last few
from being gassed, but American
years in the United States, at least
doctors either don't believe us
35 young H'mong men and women
when we try to tell them or never
have succumbed to a mysterious
ask us about our life in Laos."
sudden death that occurs during
"Why aren't Americans con-
sleep. The Centers for Disease
cerned about the gassing?" the
Control in Atlanta have confirmed
H'mong ask. The answer, in large
that 20 of these deaths are indeed
part, lies with the U.S. State De-
unexplainable. (The other 15 were
partment's position that no "con-
insufficiently documented.) Studies
clusive evidence" exists that gassing
made in Portland, Ore., a large
is occurring in Laos.
H'mong resettlement area, show the
Consider the State Department's
H'mong death rate to be five times
response under both the Carter and
that of the non-Lao population.
Reagan administrations to those
Some of the heartbreaking cases
who have asked about the gassing
I have witnessed:
of the H'mong. The letter, still
A woman on the West Coast,
being mailed out as this article went
age 49, suffers from constant, terrible
to press, fails to acknowledge the
headaches. Her husband has pain in
H'mong as U.S. allies. It presents
all his muscles. They have three
instead the Pathet Lao (communist)
children. The other eight were killed
government's propaganda, without
in gas attacks or in fighting.
comment or explanation:
A 33-year-old man lives in a
The Lao government has used a
rundown apartment in a Midwest
combination of persuasion and
city. He moves slowly and has obvi-
force to bring the H'mong out of
ous difficulty breathing. "If I stand
their highland homes to new set-
up or sit down fast, I faint," he says.
tlements in the lowlands. The
In a housing project, also in
Lao government argues that the
the Midwest, a 24-year-old man
H'mong method of agriculture
suffers from heavy coughing and
destroys valuable hardwood for-
shortness of breath, and complains,
ests, Laos' principal natural re-
source. The Lao also argue that,
"After the gassing, my mind is
by bringing the H'mong popula-
slower."
tion to the lowlands, the gov-
These are the survivors, the
ernment can better limit the
lucky ones, but also the pathetic,
production of opium, a principal
lonely victims of chemical warfare.
H'mong crop which supplies the
"Few Americans know who we
heroin markets of the world
are, what we did for the United
through illicit channels.
States during the Vietnam war,"
Those unfamiliar with Laos
says one young H'mong man.
could infer from this official letter
"Many think we are Vietnamese or
that the H'mong were wretched
READER'S DIGEST
4
traffickers of heroin and conclude
has been limited improvement in
that gassing might be their just
some aspects of human rights.
deserts. To be sure, the H'mong did
There is no evidence that the gov-
grow opium poppies-opium has
ernment is seeking to destroy any
long been used medicinally by
particular ethnic group, per se, such
many tribal groups in Southeast
as the H'mong. There have been
Asia. But H'mong tribespeople do
numerous refugee accounts of at-
not convert poppy sap into heroin
tacks using lethal chemical agents
or traffic it through the illicit drug
against the H'mong.
This
channels of the world.
charge has been denied by the Lao
Anyone who has studied the
government." That is the only ref-
H'mong, from U.S. Drug Enforce-
erence to the use of chemical agents
ment Agency investigators to on-
in the entire section on Laos.
the-scene diplomats, knows that
Not surprisingly, Gen. Vang Pao
these people are not involved in the
and other leaders of the H'mong
heroin business. "Associating the
community in this country are ap-
H'mong with heroin is a part of the
palled by the report. "There has
Big Lie," says former U.S. ambas-
been overwhelming evidence of the
sador to Laos G. McMurtie Godley.
gassing of men, women and chil-
The State Department letter
dren in Laos for years," says the
continues:
general. "Yet the State Department
By 1978, the United States had
not only avoids the subject but
enough information to bring the
doesn't recognize the fact that my
matter [of chemical warfare] to
people are being eliminated because
the attention of the government
we were the U.S. allies in Laos."
of Laos, which denied the validity
While the State Department
of the reports. We received the
keeps telling the inquiring public,
same response when we asked the
including members of Congress,
Soviet and Vietnamese govern-
that there is no "conclusive evi-
ments to look into the reports and
dence," it fails to mention its own
end the practice if true.
recently prepared report, which re-
Did our government really ex-
cords the testimony of scores of
pect the Lao, Vietnamese or Soviet
eyewitnesses to chemical attacks in
governments to acknowledge the
Laos, documenting over 13,000
use of chemical warfare-a prac-
dead from gassing.
tice banned by international treaty
And if that were not enough,
and abhorred by most of the world?
evidence is now available from the
Eyewitness Testimony. A 1980
communist side itself. For example,
State Department publication,
last November, a Pathet Lao pilot
"Country Reports on Human
who defected to Thailand admitted
Rights Practices," says of Laos:
flying numerous gas missions be-
"During the past three years, there
tween 1976 and 1978 to "cause the
TRAGIC LEGACY FROM LAOS
H'mong people to die out com-
from this investigation, I talked
pletely.' He adds that pilots flying
to people in the chemical-warfare
these missions were granted special
business and no one knew. Every-
privileges and were closely moni-
one was surprised. We had better
tored by doctors and nurses after
find out in order to be able to
each mission.
defend against them."
Will the Reagan Administration
In early December 1980, the U.N.
continue to honor the avoid-the-
General Assembly by a vote of 78-17
H'mong policy generated during
adopted a resolution calling for a
the Carter years? In a meeting with
U.N. investigation into the use of
several members of the foreign dip-
chemical warfare in various parts of
lomatic corps, John Holdridge,
the world. Among those voting
newly appointed Assistant Secre-
against the resolution were Laos,
tary of State for Asian and Pacific
Vietnam, Afghanistan, the Soviet
Affairs, said that the United States
Union and Cuba. However, the proj-
has no evidence to bring to "court"
ect appears to be on the back burner,
on the reported gassing in Laos.
and in any case, Laos can reject U.N.
Yet, human and moral consider-
requests for on-site investigations.
ations aside, the chemical agents
"Sudden Death." Meanwhile,
used against the defenseless
the gassing attacks against the
H'mong should be of considerable
H'mong continue. H'mong who
national-security concern to the
crossed into Thailand in February
United States. The fact is we don't
1981 reported that between January
know what these agents are. Even
6 and 20, 1981, Soviet-made heli-
Defense Department experts are
copters flew 20 chemical missions,
baffled. Victims suffer from pro-
killing 1260 H'mong friendly to the
fuse bleeding from the nose, throat,
Pathet Lao. On April 2, 1981, a
eyes, stomach and intestines-re-
Soviet M-17 dropped yellow chem-
sulting in death by hemorrhaging.
icals on Ban Thong Hak, killing
Recently, I spoke with Col.
24 H'mong outright, including II
Charles W. Lewis, M.D., a member
children. Two weeks later, a
of the Department of Army Sur-
H'mong party reached Thailand
geon General's team sent to Thai-
with samples of the chemical resi-
land in 1979 to interview survivors
due gathered from stones, ground
of chemical attacks in Laos. I asked
and leaves. The samples were given
what chemicals he thought could
to U.S. authorities on April 23 but
be causing such profuse bleeding.
didn't arrive in the United States
"That's what I want to know," he
until the second week of May.
said. "I hope someone is working
Under the best of circumstances,
on finding out. Nerve agents don't
a chemical analysis is difficult. Ex-
cause hemorrhaging. These are all
perts say that, since gas disappears
new symptoms. When I returned
into the atmosphere, samples gath-
READER'S DIGEST
6
ered from an exposed area may
What is the answer? What
not contain any identifiable lethal
can-what must-be done?
properties. Incredibly, there is no
First, public hearings should
U.S. team of chemical-warfare ex-
be held before all relevant com-
perts in Thailand to conduct on-
mittees in the House and in the
the-spot analysis.
Senate, presenting the situation in
The H'mong in this country con-
its totality.
tinue to suffer as well. In early 1981,
Second, Secretary of Health
the U.S. press picked up on the
and Human Services Richard
mysterious "sudden death" syn-
Schweiker should designate an
drome, and some public-health per-
agency to alert all doctors to the
sonnel became interested. But the
potential H'mong health problems,
interest is limited only to the sudden
to establish guidelines for conduct-
deaths. According to the Centers for
ing appropriate biopsies and treat-
Disease Control, there is no national-
ments, and to establish a way for
ly coordinated plan to study the
the H'mong exposed to the chemi-
problem of the chronically ill
cals to report their problems.
H'mong who believe they are sick
Third, the United Nations
because of the gassings.
should be used as a forum to keep
On the other hand, Richard Har-
the issue of poison gas before the
ruff, a doctor with special training in
international community until it is
pathology who spent six months last
resolved.
year in a H'mong refugee camp in
Fourth, our government
Thailand, is concerned about the
should tie any arms-control negoti-
long-range effects of the lethal agents
ations with the Soviets to their cur-
used on the H'mong. According to
tailment of chemical warfare by
Dr. Harruff's research on survivors
client regimes.
who were exposed, "Males complain
Fifth, the Administration
of impotence, and females report a
should assign the highest priority to
high rate of spontaneous abortions.
the identification of these lethal
Infants born to exposed mothers are
agents. This is crucial in developing
often very weak and lethargic, and
strategic defenses and medical treat-
die within a few days to months of
ment for those exposed.
apparent respiratory failure. These
For too many years, the United
victims of unknown poisons need
States has swept the gassing in Laos
special care." Harruff is outraged
under a cover of words. Now, the
that no one in the U.S. health com-
problem is our responsibility and
munity has systematically investi-
we must deal with it. "There is no
gated the medical condition of
place to hide from the poisonous
those H'mong exposed to chemical
rains." This H'mong saying has
agents.
become our harsh reality.
REPRINTED FROM THE AUGUST 1981 ISSUE OF READER'S DIGEST
© 1981 THE READER'S DIGEST ASSOCIATION, INC., PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. 10570 PRINTED IN U.S.A.
This reprint does not constitute an endorsement. implied or otherwise. by Reader's Digest. It may not be used in any way
for advertising or promotional purposes without prior written permission of Reader's Digest. The reprint may not be sold
by anyone other than Reader's Digest and no message. with the exception of the donor $ name. may be imprinted on it.