26 JANUARY 1940, Page 20

Snt,—Dr. Bevan has misunderstood my point about the sixth commandment.

The validity of the Commandments, as far as Christians are concerned, has nothing whatever to do with anyone's views about the Old Testament. It depends not on when or where or how the Commandments originated, but on the fact that Christ enjoined observance of them as the minimum qualification required of His followers. (The refer- ence is Mark x, 19—and, as it is the Marcan narrative, it will not be challenged even by " modernists.")

Thus, to the Christian of whatever denomination,, the command " Thou shalt not kill " is unequivocally binding and is, I repeat, sufficient as the sole ground for Christian : con- scientious objection to war.—I am, &c.,