14 JULY 1950, Page 20

The Impact of Korea

SIR,—M. Vishinsky (who knows the West a good deal better than some of Stalin's other advisers) is said to have cautioned against the invasion of South Korea on the grounds that it would unite Britain and the United States too strongly. If this is so, he may have been even more right than he knew. Wherever one goes one hears people say the same: that since the fighting began they have felt an overwhelming conscious- ness of how precious the heritage—political and cultural—that we share with the Americans is,-and how infinitely worth defending. Those of us who grew uyibetween the wars were born into a negative age—an age with few -ideals or enthusiasms. We hungered for a faith, but were unable to find one. I-believe that thanks to the Kremlin's actions this has come to an end. The United Nations should be a centre, a rallying- ground, for our highest endeavours. If ever there was a faith worth fighting for, we have it now.—I am, Sir, yours, etc.,

CANTABRIAN.