SIR.—One would like the author of Britain's Peace Aims to
define more closely—if such a thing is possible—what it is that " it is essential to defend," this being the crux of the whole matter. In the context the words "this democratic way. of life" could mean simply the system of democratic government (in this Western sense of the term) which is common to North-west Europe. This would seem inconsistent with the declaration later in the article that we ought not to interfere with attempts even by minority cliques to alter the form of government.
But the phrase is presumably meant to be read in a wider sense. Since " way of life" has become such a cliché, and "democratic" means such different things to different people, we need to search for a clearer definition of the things which we in this country are, or should be, prepared ultimately to defend at the risk of atomic war. Could we be
given a further lead ?—Yours faithfully, G. E. HUBBARD. The Swan House, Wye, Kent.
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