4 JANUARY 1963, Page 15

PISTOL-PACKING

SIR,—In his eagerness to prove my 'eagerness to equate democratic and Communist societies,' David Rees forgot to read my letter. I equated 'democratic' and Communist (and Fascist) espionage, not society, just as I would equate 'democratic' and Commun- ist (and Fascist) mendacity or murder.

Is it really an example of 'quaint relativist in- difference to the problem of motive in hurd'an affairs' to repeat that the end does not justify the means? Isn't this exactly what we all say when we quarrel with Communists (and Fascists)? Or is this only said nowadays by the 'dotty Left'?

Are we seriously meant to join the 'clear- thinking dem6crats' like Constantine FitzGibbon, display a Machiavellian (rather than 13urkean) contempt for principle like Angus Maude, and in- sist that a 'noble lie' isn't really a lie, a 'necessary murder' isn't really a murder, and a pistol in good hands isn't really a pistol? Are we seriously meant to believe that it is all right to do the wrong thing for the right reason? If so, no wonder some people are eager to equate 'democratic' and Communist

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