THE ATOMIC BOMB
SIR,—Three main points seem to arise in regard to the use of the atomic bomb. (t) The trouble about the argument that it is justified because It shortened the war is that we vehemently denied the validity of that argument when advanced by the enemy for their employment of some- what similar, but far less devastating, weapons and methods. If we accept it now, it seems logically to follow that the real fault of the Germans was that they did not in fact shorten the war, because they did not inflict enough destruction. They were, to adopt a classic phrase, worse than criminals, they were blunderers. (2) It is a little awkward— and will, I fear, only confirm foreign observers in their opinion of British hypocrisy—that the accusations against major war criminals include " wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages or devastation not justi- fied by military necessity." I trust, at any rate, that the authorities are busily engaged in removing these items from the charge-sheets, for if we now bring them forward we shall lay ourselves open to a rather devasta- ting reply. (3) Many people maintain that it makes a great difference whether these all-shattering weapons are used by the aggressor or the defender. I largely sympathise with them, but the definition of an " aggressor " has always been the stumbling-block. We know that Ger- many was the aggressor, but many of the German people, and perha`ps many of their war leaders, were no doubt genuinely convinced by Hitler's subtle, diabolically clever and unremitting propaganda that the real aggressors were the Powers that, as they were given to understand, were trying to " encircle " them.
I sometimes fear that the rather depressing conclusion of the whole matter may be that the crimes of statesmen do indeed bring more misery, anguish -and terror upon the earth than the crimes of private persons, and are therefore far more worthy of moral condemnation ; but that, perhaps from their very, magnitude, they are not equally susceptible of judicial procedure and judicial purnshment.—I am, Sir, yours, &c.,
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