26 JANUARY 1940, Page 20

THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT

Snt,—Dr. Bevan's letter is at pains to demolish a molehill which has not yet been thrown up. No pacifist, arguing against war from the command " Thou shalt not kill " does so on the ground that it is ascribed to the God of the Hebrews

at one point in the Old Testament. He does so, if he adopts a moral standpoint, because he is convinced that there is a moral obligation not to kill, that to kill is wrong, or, if he adopts a Christian standpoint, because our Lord took those words of the Old Testament and made them a vital part of the teaching which the Christian professes to accept and in which the Christian pacifist can find nothing which condones war.—I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

MORTIMER BENNETt.

76 Vandon Court, Petty France, S.W. 1.