25 DECEMBER 1915, Page 11

[TO THE EDITOR OF TAR " SPECTATOR-1

SI11,—In respect to the " Drink " question, you say that " we must fight the war on the basis on which Russia is fighting it." Will you please inform us what this " basis " is ? In last Saturday's Morning Post (p. 8, col. 3), under the heading of " New Taxes in Russia," it is stated that " in the matter of indirect taxation . . . special taxes on wines . . will be introduced." Russia, therefore, does not propose to prohibit the sale of wino, whereas you do. What, then, do you mean by your statement that " we must fight the war on the basis on which Russia is fighting it " I—I am, Sir, Sze., [Russian prohibition is chiefly aimed at vodka, which is in many parts of the Empire the only intoxicant used, except by a minute minority. Here we could not treat wine on the principle of de minimis. The basis on which Russia is fighting is, nevertheless, prohibition of the popular intoxicants, and this is the basis on which we desire that Britain should also fight, Our correspondent should not fail to read the letter which follows this.—lip. Spectator.]