17 FEBRUARY 1967, Page 4

McNamara's Prayer

Dear Lord, Oh how we wish that there were peace In Israel, Yemen, Vietnam and Greece

And, as you say, it would be nicer still If only everyone would cease to kill And sing with soul and voice and mind and heart 'The Whole is always greater than the Part.'

We quite agree that it would do no harm If everyone all round would just disarm, But, as it is, with things so very fissile,

We'll make an anti-anti-missile-missile.

CHRISTOPHER HOLLIS