15 JANUARY 1983, Page 19

Deterrent effect

Sir: Colin Welch can't have it both ways (1 January). He condemns the unilateralists for a policy that might lead Russia to believe we would not fight back, having first tried to convince Spectator readers that Mrs Thatcher wouldn't use her nuclear arsenal anyway. No, a nuclear weapon is only effective as a deterrent if we, and then the enemy, are persuaded it will be used in the event of an attack. After all, Russians read the Spectator too.

A. S. Hull

7 Barford Street, London NI